A thought on Parshas Naso

"...v'samu es Shmi al Benei Yisroel va'Ani avarach'em..." (6:27)
"...and they shall place My Name upon the Children of Israel and I will bless them..."

The Torah recounts the Blessing of the Kohanim which is bestowed upon the Jewish people. After declaring its three stanzas, HaShem promises us that when the Kohanim "place His name" over us that He will bless us.

Many are the wise explanations given by our great scholars about this linkage between the blessings uttered by the priests, and that given by HaShem. Fewer commentaries, however, explain the concept of "placing the Name."

The Ralbag offers an original interpretation. We know that no blessing can be granted a person without HaShem's willing it. The "blessing of the priests" is ultimately delivered and fulfilled by HaShem. The priests are catalysts for that blessing.

What does it take for that blessing to come about? It is surely more than the kohanim chanting the words and HaShem "rubber stamping" it!

The key here lies within the concept of "placing the Name." That clause begins, in the Sacred Tongue, with the word "v'samu." That can mean to place or to put. Where else do we find that word? When we recite the Sh'ma, the Torah says "v'samtem es Devorai al le'vavchem v'al nafshechem" - and you should place My words upon your hearts and your souls (Devarim 11:18). "Placing the words, placing the Name" means to attain a higher consciousness of HaShem. It means that one learns to think and feel and sense the Divine Presence in our lives and to draw closer to Him.

Learning to draw close is the real catalyst for meriting the power of a bracha. The task of the kohanim does not begin, nor end, with the uttering of their bracha. Their task is to inspire us in the quest of seeking out the Divine, and modeling the process of closeness. When they facilitate this, that "puts His Name upon us." To the degree that they succeed, the potency of their blessing and its impact upon our hearts and souls grows stronger. When His Name is securely placed upon and within us, the words of the blessing take power.

So, according to the Ralbag, the verse means, "First the kohanim must inspire you by teaching you how a Jew develops a consciousness of Me. This must become important to you, and a way of life with you. Once the kohanim have thus placed my Name upon you, when they then recite the birchas kohanim, I will grant you those blessings."

Imagine a setting where those chosen few who are kohanim understand this essential part of their task, and inspire us to do more than listen to their blessing. They can place the Name of HaShem upon us, and we can embrace the words with rapture.

Wishing you a good Shabbos. D Fox