Many times at weddings, on Hebrew birthdays, and at britot millah, people ask to be blessed. Individually, one by one, they wait on line in the hope of receiving individual blessings. It would be so much easier if the person giving the blessings were to stand in front of everyone and give them a communal blessing, but there’s something special about receiving an individual blessing. This blessing can make a person feel special and address their specific needs and desires rather than just the general desires and needs of people.
What if I told you that this wasn’t a once-in-a-while event? What if I said you have the privilege of standing on the same line every day to receive a blessing? You may be thinking: Who would do such a thing? Who would take time to bless lines of people every single day? The answer, which we learn from Parshat Naso, is Hashem. Sephardim say Birkat (blessing of the) Kohanim every day, Ashkenazim in Israel do as well, and Ashkenazim outside of Israel say the words of Birkat Kohanim on holidays and in their daily Shemoneh Esrei. These words that Hashem told the Kohanim to say are the blessings that Hashem is blessing us individually every single day.
Many do not realize this because most of the tefillah, like the Amidah (Shemoneh Esrei) is a prayer for the community. All of the pronouns in this prayer are in plural form! However, the blessing of the Kohanim is all about the individual. Hashem is blessing you and protecting you! Hashem is lighting up His face and favoring you! Hashem is lifting His face and placing peace upon you! Each part of the blessing is for you because each one of us is special and Hashem wants to give each one of us what we need and want, not just what others need and want.
May we recognize that Hashem makes time for us every day and blesses us individually! May we each feel the blessing in our lives and recognize that the blessings we have are individually catered for us and our needs.
Shira Sedek is a teacher at Ramaz Middle school who has a Masters in Jewish Education.
