Shemoneh Esrei 58 - Kohanim: Messengers of Hashem

We now move on to Birkas Kohanim. According to some, receiving these brachos from the kohanim when they bentch us, is a mitzvah min haTorah. Some have the minhag to bentch their children on the eve of Shabbos with these p’sukim, and we all say these p’sukim every morning after Birkas HaTorah. Let us work on deepening our understanding of these b’rachos, which are p’sukim in the Torah, based on the Midrash, Rishonim, and Acharonim.

The first brachah, “ יברכך –Y’varech’cha...,” contains three words corresponding to the weekdays when we have three aliyos in the k’rias haTorah. During these days, we pursue our physical needs. Y’varech’cha represents a brachah that Hashem should bless us with those physical needs. Included are long life, livelihood in abundance, and all that each person needs, based on his or her life setting. Y’varech’cha also means that Hashem should increase the b’rachos that we already have. “ –וישמרך v’yishm’recha” means preserving those b’rachos that we have already been granted, like good health and all the myriad of gifts Hashem has bestowed upon us. It also alludes to facilitating our utilizing the b’rachos that Hashem grants us for the good and for overcoming challenges, helping us to use those gifts, like monetary gifts, to perform mitzvos. We ask Hashem to protect us from squandering those gifts and from using them as the yeitzer ha’ra would like us to do.

The second brachah, “ יאר –Ya’eir…,” represents spiritual b’rachos. It contains five words, which correspond to the number of aliyos on Yom Tov, a time when we are closer to Hashem than on regular weekdays.

In this brachah, we are blessed with the brachah that Hashem should light us up with the light of Torah, to achieve proper levels of yir’as Hashem and ahavas Hashem, to have children (and grandchildren) who are talmidei chachamim, and to understand that all that we receive is a gift from Hashem. We are also blessed that Hashem should help us to find favor in His eyes and in the eyes of man.

The final brachah, “ ישא –Yisa...,” contains seven words corresponding to the number of aliyos on Shabbos kodesh. Shabbos is the greatest day of all. On this day, it is as if all our needs have been taken care of. It is a day to achieve m’nuchah, mental peace of mind. The highest form of peace is the peace and tranquility we feel with ourselves.

We end these b’rachos as we end Shemoneh Esrei, Birkas HaMazon, and more – with “shalom.” Shalom is the vessel that holds all of the other b’rachos. Without shalom, we cannot truly enjoy any brachah. We need peace with Hashem, peace with other people, and peace of mind ourselves. Only when we have all three are we truly blessed.