Page 8 - The Jewish Voice - July '19

Page 8, The Jewish Voice
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ask the rabbi
Make Space in Your channels of a Divine energy that can have an impact on
Blessings are not just a string of words. They are
Life for Blessings
reality. To bless and be blessed is to open your heart and
make space to connect with the Divine source of blessings
By Rabbi Leib Ezagui to effect this metaphysical change.
That deep and transcendent experience, said the rabbis,
Question: I grew up
in Israel and I was born can only be achieved through joy. When you are stressed,
busy, or unhappy, you get stuck inside yourself and in
a Kohen. As a child I the realities of the moment — which doesn’t allow the
remember going to shul blessings to flow. Only when you’re happy are your mind
with my father. We would
and heart open to the transformative blessing energy.
When Jews became assimilated into wider society,
stand in front of the entire people were too caught up with life to consistently have a
congregation and recite the
priestly blessing. Why don’t free and happy mindset. The pressures of work and family,
we do the priestly blessing
finances and deadlines, responsibilities and relationships,
anymore? didn’t allow the for the state of mind to experience the
Answer: The priestly blessing is a magical experience
— the community cover themselves under a tallis as the open-hearted joy necessary for blessings.
The priestly blessings couldn’t function any more on a
works Kohanim stand at the front to bless the congregation using daily basis and became reserved for unique times of joy.
the biblical text. The blessing is often accompanied by a
The festivals, days when we escape from the workweek
stirring song that highlights the sacredness of the moment. and celebrate life, were the perfect time for them. The spirit
The text used today is the exact formula taught by G-d
of joy and happiness was fertile ground for the blessings
to the original Kohanim, intimating that the priests are to take root.
We can all use blessings in our life — for health,
but messengers of G-d. During those powerful moments finances, relationships, and many other things. We pray
in the synagogue, the Kohen serves as the conduit for
and G-d’s majestic and infinite blessings. Just like they were daily that G-d gift us with these blessings. We can ask for
selected to be the representatives of the Jewish people in
all the blessings in the world, but it’s up to us to create
the service of G-d, the Kohanim were chosen to be G-d’s the proper environment for the blessings to manifest. We
representative in the blessing of the people.
have to make space in our life to accept these blessings.
It’s such a beautiful practice that it’s a shame we don’t And we do that by being full of joy.
do it more often. Which is interesting, because if you look Open your heart, and doors will open for you.
at the mitzvah as recorded in Torah, it is the priest’s job to
Rabbi Leib serves as youth director for Chabad House
bless the Jews every day. Yet, outside of Israel, the Jewish Lubavitch of Palm Beach and runs the Jewish School of
community has cast aside this special practice and reserved the Arts kid’s program, 624.7004. The advice offered in
it for a few days a year — the festivals. Why would the this column is for informational purposes only and is not
rabbis uproot such a poignant and moving ritual, and rob intended as a substitute for professional advice. To ask the
the priests of their privilege and duty? rabbi a question, email rabbi@chabadpalmbeach.org.
The reason given for this societal development is
profound, and carries an important message for us.
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