The Rokeach, one of the earlier Chumash commentaries, makes the following observation: The words starting from Bechukosai [Vayikra 26:3] until the words “V’Olech Eschem Komemiyus” [Vayikra 26:13] contain every single letter in the Hebrew alphabet except for the letter Samech. This symbolizes, he says, that all these blessings were given on condition – “If you follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them....” The promised blessings will all happen – but only if you keep theMitzvos. They are all conditional—except for the “Samech Osiyos” (the sixty letters) present in the Birkas Kohanim.
The Priestly Blessings contains exactly sixty letters, and those blessings are guaranteed regardless of our behavior, whether good, bad, or ugly! The Rokeach gives no further elaboration or explanation of this very mysterious formulation. What is the meaning of the Rokeach’s terse statement?
I saw the following explanation in the sefer Darash Mordechai: Birkas Kohanim follows the Blessing of Thanksgiving (Modim anachnu Lach) in the morning shemoneh esrei. If a person is already thanking the Almighty and is aware of our debt of gratitude to Him, that alone suffices to raise the person to a level where he deserves blessing. The Blessing that follows our expression of thanksgiving to the Almighty comes without any strings attached.
My good friend, Rav Shragi Neuberger, offered a different interpretation: He suggested that Birkas Kohanim is the legacy of Aharon HaKohen. Aharon HaKohen was the quintessential “lover of peace and pursuer of peace.” Aharon HaKohen is so precious and so dear to the Ribono shel Olam that his blessing comes with no strings attached.
I myself had a third thought on the matter: Birkas Kohanim is a very difficult Mitzvah. The Kohanim are commanded to bless the Jewish people out of love (b’Ahavah). The Kohanim need to wish each of their fellow Jews every possible good that they can imagine, no matter what their own personal lives are like. It could be that a particular Kohen does NOT have shalom (peace) in his house. It could be that the Kohen does not have parnasa (a good livelihood) in his house. But he must bless his Israelite neighbor that he should have shalom and paransa in his house. It is a blessing that is totally altruistic.
We once mentioned that following the Birkas Kohanim, theKohanim say a brief prayer including the phrase “we have done what you have DECREED upon us.” What kind of DECREE was it to have to bless the Jewish people? The DECREE is that they need to give the full bracha with their full heart, no matter what is going on in their own lives. That is hard. But if the Kohanim are willing to do that, and they do in fact do that, then their Bracha comes with no strings attached. They give it in such a spirit of generosity and altruism that the blessing which flows from such generosity of spirit is a bracha ad bli dai – a blessing without limit or condition.
You are all welcome to ponder this Rokeach and come up with your own interpretations at your Shabbos table.
