Hashem asks Aharon to direct the Kohanim in every generation to bless Bnei Yisrael (Birkas Kohanim) with the three-line blessing, “May Hashem bless you and safeguard you; may Hashem illuminate His countenance for you and be gracious to you; may Hashem turn His countenance to you and establish peace for you” (Bamidbar 6:23-26).
The Ba’al Ha’Akeidah (R’ Yitzchak Arama 1420-1494, a Spanish rabbi and author) asks: Why is there a need for Birkas Kohanim? What is the purpose of this commandment? Hashem is the source of all blessing in this world. Does Hashem need the assistance of mortal man to bless His children?
The tzaddik gives a remarkable observation. He explains that an individual’s success and all the good he has in life is primarily contingent on the strength of his emunah. It is a conviction and confidence that all the blessing and beneficence come to this world from Hashem, and it is He alone who guides the world. Nothing happens by chance, is driven by man, or influenced by the constellations. One’s success is not because the individual is so smart, charismatic, or capable. It is only the power and force of Hashem that grants man contentment and prosperity. Likewise, when a person experiences challenging situations presented by neighbors, friends, or family, they are merely messengers from Heaven.
That is the meaning of “may Hashem turn His countenance to you.” May Hashem’s messengers serve to heighten and increase our emunah that, indeed, everything – good and otherwise – come from Hashem.
With regard to the Birkas Kohanim, the Zohar comments that actions performed in this earthly world inspire astounding conduct in Heaven. When the Kohanim spread their fingers to bless the Jewish people, it rouses the Divine Presence to dwell upon His people. It is a favorable time in the upper and lower worlds, a moment when strict judgment is reversed to mercy, because when the Kohanim ascend to the bimah, mercy abounds in all of the worlds. One who is affected by a dream can have his dream ameliorated.
R’ Shimshon Fuchs was giving a shiur in Eretz Yisrael. After the shiur, one of the participants, dressed in a uniform, came over to speak to him.
“Tomorrow, I return to the front lines to join my battalion after a few days off. However, I must tell you something that is difficult for me to understand or to explain logically.
We were searching one of the buildings in Gaza for terrorists or hidden weapons. As the commanding officer, I entered the building first, followed by my troop. We saw there were no hidden weapons or people hiding anywhere, and we prepared to take the stairs leading up to the second floor. And then,” he paused, “something crazy happened.
“As I led the soldiers up the stairs, I suddenly saw an elderly man, who looked like a rav, coming down the stairs towards me. He had a long white beard, and wore a rabbinical coat and hat. I was certain I was hallucinating. A rav with a long white beard in a building in Gaza?
“We all drew our weapons, as we thought it was a disguised terrorist. With a compassionate look, the ‘rav’ begged me in Hebrew not to go up the stairs because it was very dangerous. I told him to move out of the way and not to interfere with our search. However, the ‘rav’ insisted, ‘Sakanah, sakanah – it is dangerous. Do not go up.’
“What should I do at that moment? We were under tremendous pressure, as we could be ambushed in an instant, or the building could explode. However, his sincerity pierced my heart, and I believed that he had been sent from Heaven to save us. I just had this feeling that we should listen to his pleas.
“I immediately ordered my men to leave the building,” the officer related in a choked voice. “We rushed out of the building, and it was not more than two minutes later that the entire structure exploded and was totally destroyed.
“I turned to another officer, who was not yet observant, and asked him, ‘When you experience such miracles, why don’t you publicize it?’
“He answered me, ‘You know that we are forbidden to reveal many aspects of our ground operations. And if I would talk about this, people would not believe me and think I’m not normal.’
The officer concluded, “I see that you are a rav who believes in Hashem, so I am telling you this. You should know that there are many other miracles that my friends and I have witnessed, but we don’t speak about most of them.”
When Naomi was left a poor widow after the death of her wealthy husband, Elimelech, in Moav, she decided to return to her hometown, Bais Lechem. She states (Megillas Rus 1:21), “I went away full, and Hashem has brought me back empty.” The Shevet Sofer explains her words in the context of what we have discussed.
When a person is successful in this world, he believes “I went away full,” i.e. he enjoys affluence and prosperity due to his own merits. However, when he is not successful, and he is not doing well, “Hashem has brought me back empty,” i.e. his failure is due to Hashem. Once the person acknowledges that his decline comes from Hashem, he can then reach the awareness that, in fact, there is nothing great or small, good or otherwise, that does not come directly from Hashem. May we all merit great blessing in all aspects of our lives.
