Thinking Torah Blog

This week in Parashat Nasso, we encounter the Priestly Benediction, the profound three-fold blessing our ancestor priests offered to the people on behalf of God. Today, Jews invoke this blessing during special moments, often when blessing children at the Shabbat table. In some communities, though typically not Reform communities, Jews who trace their ancestry to the Cohanim, still bless the entire congregation, continuing this ancient tradition.

The structure of the prayer, expanding from three to five to seven words, signifies a journey toward wholeness and completeness. It culminates in the final verse: “May God’s face be lifted up to you and may God give you peace.” This verse resonates deeply for several reasons.

Firstly, while God doesn’t have a literal face, the imagery is evocative. It suggests an intimate, personal connection between the divine and the human. The association of this divine attention with peace emphasizes the tranquility and harmony that come from being truly seen by God.

The poetic structure of seven words in this final blessing is also significant, symbolizing spiritual perfection and completeness. However, it is the underlying meaning that inspires me the most. This final line of the blessing is a profound request for God to notice us, to see us fully, and for us to behold God in return.

This line offers a remedy, in part, to our hectic lives. It invites us into a sacred moment of mutual recognition with the Divine. When God’s face is lifted to meet ours, we find a profound sense of peace, a reassurance that we are seen, valued, and guided. Our purpose, I’d suggest, is to do our best to emulate God in this respect, to try and truly see others and offer them peace in so doing.