Kriat Shema Al Hamitah (Part 21)
“The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more.”
Wilson Mizener – American Playwright
Kriat Shema al Hamitah continues: “May Hashem bless you and safeguard you. May Hashem illuminate His countenance for you and be gracious to you. May Hashem lift up His face toward you and establish peace for you.” (Bamidbar 6:24-26)
These three verses comprise the blessing that the Kohanim bestow upon us. In Israel the Kohanim bless the congregation every day. Outside of Israel there are differing customs as to when Birkat Kohanim is recited. Some Sephardic communities have Birkat Kohanim every day. Others have it on Shabbat but not during the week. The Ashkenazic and Chassidic communities only have Birkat Kohanim on Yom Tov. Whether every day or only on occasion, it is clear that these verses contain every blessing that a person could possibly want because these are the blessings that Hashem chooses to bless us with through the Kohanim.
What do they contain that makes them so precious? The Rabbis teach that the first blessing is a blessing for material success and the second blessing is for spiritual success. If so, what is there left to be blessed with? If we have been blessed with material and spiritual accomplishments what is lacking that could possibly require another blessing? The third blessing contains, perhaps, the most important ingredient of all for success. It is the blessing for the insight needed to blend the blessings of materialism and spirituality together. Because the blessings of material wealth and success without their being grounded in the spiritual realms are worthless. It is only when we take our wealth and use it to enhance Hashem’s Majesty in this world that material success takes on an eternal importance. It is hard to do. But the spiritual rewards are infinite. And similarly, spiritual blessings that are not grounded in the physical world are lacking.
That is why there is a beautifully poignant custom that many parents have to bless their children on Friday night at the Shabbat table. On the most exalted day of the week, as we envelop ourselves in the sanctity and the grandeur of Shabbat, we bless our children that they should be the recipients of all three blessings. They incorporate every single thing a Jewish parent could possibly want for their children. Even though more than thirty years have passed, I can still feel my father’s hands on my head as he blessed me, and the incredible sense of feeling cherished it gave me. And, in the same way, every week I bless my children and grandchildren trying to convey to them the same sense of endless parental love that I felt. And, in turn, my children continue the chain and bless their children.
For me, personally, these blessings have immeasurable worth because they are my lifeline to eternity.
My grandfather was one of thirteen siblings. They were all raised more or less the same way in a very religious home. And, yet, in my generation, from all the grandchildren of the original thirteen siblings, there are only twelve grandchildren who are religious. And they are all my grandfather’s grandchildren. Not one of his siblings merited to have religious grandchildren. How did that happen? What was the “secret ingredient” that my grandfather had that his siblings didn’t seem to have? I have no doubts whatsoever as to what it was that kept us all spiritually safe and sound. Every single time that we went to visit my grandfather, when it was time to leave, he would place both of his hands on our heads and bless us with these blessings.
And, by doing so, he bound us, not just to him, but to all of the generations that came before him. Because these blessings are more than “just” words. They are life.
To be continued…
