It’s a mere 15 words long, yet the recently unveiled Priestly Blessing has generated much excitement. Standing in the Mishkan, visitors were thrilled when Aharon raised his hands in a special formation and recited the blessing to all.
“I especially love how this blessing ends with the word ‘Shalom,’ peace,” noted Mrs. Peninah Pikelschnitzel. “And what a perfect blessing from Aharon, who is famous for bringing peace and harmony to families – it’s called Shalom-Bayis!”
“And let’s not forget,” added her husband, Mr. Peretz Pikelschnitzel, “HaShem is the One really blessing us. No wonder the Kohanim lift their hands during Birkas-Kohanim! It’s HaShem blessing us through the Priests!”
“I would never look at the Kohen during Birkas-Kohanim,” noted little Puah Pikelschnitzel. “My parents told me not to. They said that HaShem’s presence, the Shechinah, rests on them. That’s too HOLY to look at!”
“And I heard,” added her brother Pinchas Pikelschnitzel, “that the Kohen positions his fingers to make five spaces between them. Fascinating!”
