BLESSINGS

   I dislike making quick assessments of situations before I know all the facts. Too often when we do react quickly, we eventually find out that we were wrong and as a result it is difficult to make amends for our poor  judgement.

   I am reminded of the story told about Chaim Weitzmann, the first president of the State of Israel. Once at a party President Weitzmann was conversing with the wife of a diplomat when the woman suddenly said "Dr. Weitzmann, I must apologize to you." "Apologize for what?" Weitzmann asked in surprise."Why, we just met!" "That's just the point", she answered. "I want to apologize for what I thought of you before I met you."

    It's truly amazing how so many of us are quick to judge others before we know the person or know all the facts of a situation.

    Without being accused of being paranoid, I sense this is always true when it comes to the Jewish People and especially to our Jewish State. There are those who are quick to criticize and find fault, just because we are Jewish.

    It is with that thought in mind that we begin to understand and appreciate the Birchas Cohanim, the Priestly Blessings which Hashem  entrusted to Aaron and his sons to bestow upon the Jewish People, as recorded in this Shabbat's Torah Reading, Naso.  These are Blessings that will give us the Chizuk to ward off any of the feelings that we may have regarding the prejudices that are directed against us.

   The Birchas Cohanim originated on a grand and historic day in the life of the Jewish Nation, as Moshe inaugurated the Mishkan Service.  It was a day when the Divine Majesty appeared over the Sanctuary.

    The Birchas Cohanim, had a very special meaning to Israel as a nation.  It was the Blessings of Hashem for the Jewish People.  Blessings which were to be absolute and unconditional. How interesting is it that the Blessings are given to the Jewish Nation  as a whole, yet the words of the blessings are in the singular form. This is expressing a great idea in Yahadus. Though we are a nation of many, we must see ourselves as one intergrated whole, as one "persona". 

    If we live our lives with this idea in mind then we will begin to realize and feel the Blessings that Hashem bestows upon us through the chanting of the Cohanim that conclude

 וישם לך שלום, "He will bless our Nation with the ultimate Peace that we so richly desire."

     It is only with the Achdut of Am Yisroel that we can weather the storms of prejudice and bigotry and forge ahead together into a brighter future that will reap the harvest of peace and tranquility.

    These are times that necessitate the reiteration of the closing words to the opening Bracha recited by the Kohanim, לברך את עמו ישראל באהבה. 

   With love in our hearts, the glorious future is ours to behold.

   May the Blessings of Hashem always be upon us.