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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Naso
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- Kohanim
The Ramban (Bamidbar 6:23) posits that there were two commandments given concerning the same blessing on that day: Aharon, specifically, was to recite it on a one-time basis; all kohanim would recite it throughout history. However, he continues, there is always a special connection between the berachot and the Mishkan/Mikdash – it is performed in a special, higher-level manner in the Mikdash (Sota 37b).
It is likely that Birkat Kohanim is alluded to one more time in the Torah: "At that time (Rashi – when the Levi’im did not sin with the Golden Calf) Hashem separated the Tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of Hashem, to stand before Hashem and serve Him and bless in His Name (levarech bishmo) until this day" (Devarim 10:8). Rashi and several others claim that this blessing in Hashem’s Name is Birkat Kohanim.
Usually when a person blesses his friend, he makes up his own text, and when he blesses Hashem, he uses a set text (some found in the Torah, most composed by the Rabbis). Birkat Kohanim has a set text, and is one of the few recitations that can only be done in Lashon Hakodesh (Mishna, Sota 7:2). There are a few indications that it is not that the kohanim were given the power to bless others, like Avraham was (see Rashi, Bereishit 12:2), but that they simply do Hashem’s bidding by reciting Birkat Kohanim. In the pasuk in Devarim (above) it is presented in the context of service of Hashem (carrying the aron, serving Him, and blessing).
The term used there, levarech bishmo, can be explained two ways – bless by means of using His Name (which is what makes it effective); bless Bnei Yisrael on Hashem’s behalf. These two possibilities also find expression in our parasha. The section of Birkat Kohanim concludes with the pasuk: "They shall place My Name on Bnei Yisrael, and I will bless them." Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael disagree (Chulin 49a). Rabbi Yishmael says that "I will bless them" means that Hashem will bless the kohanim, as the rest of the nation are blessed by the kohanim. However, Rabbi Akiva claims that Hashem will bless all of the people, and all the kohanim do is "place Hashem’s Name on Bnei Yisrael." In other words, it is not the kohanim’s beracha but Hashem’s. The kohanim only assist by saying the words for Bnei Yisrael, upon which Hashem attaches his beracha, i.e., the real beracha. This connects further to a dilemma (Kiddushin 23b) whether kohanim are agents of Hashem or of Bnei Yisrael. Perhaps when people follow the practice of blessing their children with Birkat Kohanim, they are tapping into the approach that it is a beracha that humans give to humans, with there being different contexts in which it is appropriate.
Being blessed is most viable when both Hashem and man take part in the beracha. Let us strive to act in such a way that we will find favor in the eyes of Hashem and man.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.