NESIYAT KAPAYIM

            This is the season for Graduations.  With pride we attend the ceremonies and listen to many commencement speeches.  As one sits and listens, as I did this past week, I wondered to myself, “Do these speeches have an impact on our graduates and how does it affect their attitude for their future?” 

            I was asked to speak at a commencement exercise a number of years ago. I hoped that what I expressed left an impression on the graduates and those who were in attendance.  It was the week we read the Parsha of Nasso.  I  reflected on one of the most inspirational Brachot in our Torah, the Nesiyat  Kapayim , the Priestly Benediction.

      The Halachah stipulates that when the Kohanim bestow these Brachot upon the congregation, there are specific rules they need to follow. I wanted to convey to the graduates how these rules, set forth in our Torah, are life worthy for all to follow as they continue to achieve their goals in life;

    1.   The Brachot must be recited in Lashon Hakodesh, in Hebrew.

    2.   They are to be recited with Nesiyat Kapayim , with Uplifted Hands.

    3.   They are to be recited B’shem Hamiforash, using the Ineffable Name, the Holy   

           Name of Hashem

    4.   They are to be recited Standing.

    5.   They are to be recited Panim El Panim, Facing the Congregation.

 

            To truly be a be a Beis Kibul, a Receptacle, to receive these beautiful Blessings,

not only must the Kohanim fulfill these requirements , each one of us must, equally, live by these requirements .

Reflecting on Birkat Kohanim I wanted the graduates and their guests, to understand the deeper meaning of the Brachot and how they must be recited. They are life long messages to everyone.

We need to realize the importance of the Lashon Hakodesh, the Hebrew language, for Hashem  used it Himself when he transmitted the Torah to us. Hebrew unites Klall Yisrael.   We become Ish Echad B’leiv Echad.

            I conveyed to those assembled that we need to Stand firm with dedication to everything that Yiddishkeit asks of us.  More so we need to Stand with pride as a Jew in face of our worldly friends and antagonists.

            We must be with Uplifting Hands, Nesiyat Kapayim to help our fellow Jews wherever they may be and to show them that no Jew Stands alone.  When help is needed we Stretch forth our hands in fellowship to them. Hands, Kapayim  represent action, not passivity, always reaching out to others.

            All the while we will act in the name of Hashem , B’shem Hamiforash and our voice will echo the Praises and our deep appreciation for the beneficence that Hashem constantly bestows upon us.

            Finally, I told the graduates “I want you to learn to face your responsibilities squarely and to come Face to Face, Panim El Panim  with the issues that will confront you in the future.”

            I continued to share that, “Our Kohanim are our examples of how we are to live as a Goy Kadosh and a Mamleches Kohanim to bring our Yeshuah closer. You, our graduates are our future and with this lesson in mind you will be a glory to Am Yisroel, especially as we prepare for the glorious Yom Tov of Shavuot the Holiday of Divine Revelation.”