The Blessing of Happiness
One of the centerpieces of Parashat Naso is the Priestly Blessing. God speaks to Moses and commands him to communicate the text of the ritual blessing with his brother Aaron: 鈥溾�楾hus you will bless the people of Israel. Say to them, 鈥楾he Lord bless you and protect you! The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you! The Lord bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!鈥� Thus you will link My name with the people of Israel, and I will bless them鈥� (Num. 6:22鈥�27).
While those in the Diaspora may be familiar with the ritual of Birkat Kohanim from the High Holiday or festival services, in Israel the Priestly Blessing (also known as dukhening) is recited daily during the repetition of the morning 鈥�Amidah. As Jacob Milgrom points out,
The first part of each line invokes the movement of God toward His people, the second, His activity on their behalf . . . God initiates six actions: bless and protect; shine and be gracious; bestow and grant peace. However, the transitional 鈥渁nd鈥� may indicate consequence: blessing results in protection; God鈥檚 shining face results in grace; the bestowal of God鈥檚 favor results in peace. Thus the Priestly Blessing may actually express three actions. (JPS Commentary: Numbers, 51)
What exactly do we hope for in God鈥檚 blessing?
Joseph Bekhor Shor spells out the breadth of blessing that is showered on the people: 鈥淢ay God bless you with many children, a healthy body, wisdom, length of days, greatness, in your going out, in your coming in, in the city, in the field, in your basket, in your kneading trough, in happiness (i.e., may your heart be full in its portion)鈥攖he word berakhah (blessing) is connected to all of these.鈥� His list beautifully includes 鈥渃hildren, a healthy body, wisdom, length of days, greatness, etc.鈥� Methodologically, our exegete scours Tanakh for notions that are explicitly connected to the word blessing. Broadly speaking, the blessing connects to self, family, community, and existential happiness.
Perhaps the most challenging of the Bekhor Shor鈥檚 inventory is happiness, which he defines as 鈥渂eing content with one鈥檚 portion.鈥� As I read this section of our commentator鈥檚 reflections, I was reminded of the congregation鈥檚 response as the priests give their blessing during the 鈥�Amidah. We cover our eyes as if turning away. Vision has the potential to distract us. Covering our eyes and using only the sense of hearing forces us to internalize and turn inward. As we shift orientation, physically and spiritually, the Bekhor Shor reminds us to dwell upon and create a sense of inner peace鈥攏ot to let our eyes wander, seeking happiness elsewhere, but rather, to reflect on all the berakhot of our individual lives and respond with a feeling of hakkarat hatov (recognizing the good). As we approach Shavu鈥檕t, in which we commemorate the giving of Torah, I can think of no better lesson that we as individuals and as a community need to internalize.
The publication and distribution of A Taste of Torah are made possible by a generous grant from Sam and Marilee Susi.
