Parashat Naso is the lengthiest of Torah portions in our reading cycle, discussing the sotah (raising, in a most disturbing way, the question of mind over matter), the nazir (exploring the tension between the spiritual and physical), and chanukat habayit (the dedication of the Mishkan, a passage also read at the festival of Chanukah, which teaches about gifting and gratitude). Naso also contains, in 15 short words, one of the Torah’s most beautiful and meaningful passages, which is known as the Priestly Blessing or “threefold benediction.” Much has been written about the exquisite structure of the Priestly Blessing and its development over its three verses.
The Rabbinical Assembly’s Etz Chayim notes, “The text of this passage has been found on silver amulets dating from the late 7th century BCE, the only known inscription with a biblical text that predates the Babylonian exile.” The proven antiquity of these verses highlights not just their historical importance in Jewish life, but also the eternal message at the heart of Judaism. Each of the three verses of this blessing addresses Judaism’s purpose of connecting human and God – sequentially in the physical, intellectual, and spiritual realms – which remains core and constant.
At the same time, each generation receiving this blessing has discovered new meaning within it, passing that insight down to the next. One teacher has noted that each blessing has a double formula, the second part reinforcing the first, as follows:
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In the physical realm – May God bless you with physical abundance and prosperity; and protect you from the dangers of robbery on the one hand and greed and selfishness on the other.
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In the intellectual realm – May God’s face shine upon you with the endowment of enlightenment and intelligence; and be gracious with you, so that one’s intellect is not used with disdain and arrogance, but with generosity of purpose.
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In the spiritual realm – May God’s countenance be lifted toward you with the deepest connection to the spiritual realm; and bring you peace, so that one’s religious understanding is never used as a club or a sword against the other, but as a path for finding wholeness within, between, and among.
We often hear the Priestly Blessing, many of us blessing our children each Shabbat with these words. Each time, we transmit the most ancient of our ancestral teachings. This Torah reminds us of our central task as Jews: to connect with God in our physical bounty, intellectual growth, and spiritual practice, always cognisant of our duty to the other—where God also dwells—and our ultimate goal of creating peace.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Jeffrey B Kamins OAM