Would you look at that! The longest single parsha of the year, Parshat Naso, is also the last parsha of the 2022-2023 Buzz season. A parsha jam packed with major concepts, each one more complex and difficult to understand. There is one portion of this week’s parsha that stands out amongst them all - Birkat Kohanim, the blessing of the Kohen.
דַּבֵּ֤ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶל־בָּנָ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֥ה תְבָרְכ֖וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אָמ֖וֹר לָהֶֽם׃ יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ יָאֵ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ יִשָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ וְשָׂמ֥וּ אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י עַל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַאֲנִ֖י אֲבָרְכֵֽם׃
Speak to Aharon and his sons saying that this is how you should bless the people of Israel saying (1) Hashem bless you and protect you, (2) Hashem deal kindly and graciously with you, and (3) Hashem, bestow divine favor upon you and grant you peace. Thus they shall link My name with the people of Israel and I will bless them. - Bamidbar 6: 23-27
These three blessings are mentioned in our tefillot daily. In Ashkenazi communities by the chazan and in Sefardi communities by the kohanim in the shul each day. This blessing is one that was given to the people at the time of the Mishkan and, in Hashem’s wisdom, he bestows it upon the kohanim for time immemorial to share it with them as a reminder of the values that should drive us all.
What exactly is this message and how should it drive us today?
Rashi, the Ramban and Sforno all regard these three phrases as a mini guide to the Jewish people in how to direct their religious lives and growth:
(1) Hashem bless you and protect you: A blessing for material wealth and financial support
(2) Hashem deal kindly and graciously with you: Awareness of the beauty that Hashem bestows upon us by being an active participant in our daily existence
(3) Hashem, bestow divine favor upon you and grant you peace: Awareness that this world is a platform for us to engage the morals and values outlined by Hashem in the Torah to build a world that ought to be from the one that is
The message is clear - to be successful in any goal, there is a need to have the tools and the sense of self in order to reach the finish line. Without material wealth and firm footing of financial stability, we would not have the mind space to be invested in personal and communal development. Without a full and deep appreciation for those who have supported us along the way, we would not be mindful of tasks that we are called upon to complete. Once we have those two in line, then we can view the promised land and go for the gold.
Just a day removed from our 12th grade Commencement Ceremony, the feelings expressed in Birkat Kohanim are in line with the sentiments and reflections that our students shared. A firm foundation, an appreciation of what has been done for them to this point and a clear vision of what their mission beyond our halls are. It is a testament to the culture and the environment that we have and are cultivating for them. We are so proud of the people our graduates have become and the path they are paving for themselves.
This message is one that we can take with us as well. First we must ensure that our foundations are solid, addressing any potential cracks along the way. Then, we must remain grounded in the knowledge that nothing we have was by accident, it was supported by many known and unknown contributors. Lastly, we must stay vigilant on the goal in mind - in this case a world envisioned by Hashem and built with His blessing by His people - as we remain dedicated to this most important outcome.