<span style="font-size: large;"></span> <meta content="" name="Title"></meta> <meta content="" name="Keywords"></meta> <meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta> <meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Generator"></meta> <meta content="Microsoft Word 2008" name="Originator"></meta> <link href="file://localhost/Users/Steven/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link> <style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:1 0 16778247 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Baskerville Old Face";
panose-1:2 2 6 2 8 5 5 2 3 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.MsoPlainText, li.MsoPlainText, div.MsoPlainText
{mso-style-link:"Plain Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Courier;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-hansi-font-family:Courier;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.PlainTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Plain Text Char";
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Plain Text";
mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Courier;
mso-ascii-font-family:Courier;
mso-hansi-font-family:Courier;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 17.95pt 1.0in 17.95pt;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
@page Section2
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 17.95pt 1.0in 17.95pt;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section2
{page:Section2;}
@page Section3
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section3
{page:Section3;}
-->
</style> <br />
<div class="Section1"><div class="MsoPlainText"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Naso <o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"><b>(<i>Be'midbar</i>/Numbers 4:21-7:89)</b><br />
<br />
In the parashah, God commands Aaron and his sons to bless the people with the words that have become so familiar to us, "May God Bless you and keep you; May God's face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; May God lift up the Divine face towards you and grant you Shalom/Peace."<br />
<br />
Until this day, in more traditional communities, the <i>Kohanim</i> - those believed to be descended from Aaron - stand in front of the congregation and offer this blessing in the same way we believe the ancient <i>Kohanim</i> did. They spread their hands out in front of them, palms facing down, and their fingers separated in the special manner reserved for the priests (though more familiar to many of us<br />
as Spock's "live long and prosper" sign on Star Trek, which Leonard Nimoy borrowed from his Jewish heritage). Then they recite the blessing for all the "non-<i>Kohanim</i>" present. This ceremony has been viewed throughout the centuries as mysterious and awe-inspiring. However, it is also clearly hierarchical. The priests are "above" the people, literally and figuratively, and act as conduits for blessing between God and the people.<br />
<br />
In his commentary on the priestly blessings, R. Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev cites a short <i>drash</i>, or homily, attributed to the Baal Shem Tov, 18th century founder of Hasidism. The B'esht (acronym for Baal Shem Tov) cites Psalm 121:5, "The Eternal is your shadow." He then states, "Just as a shadow does everything that a person does, so the Creator, blessed be God, does, so to speak, everything that a person does." Levi Yitzhak then adds to this the reminder that we should always act in such a way that God would be proud of us. In other words, God should not be embarrassed to be our "shadow." Then, in commenting on the way in which the blessing is given, Levi Yitzhak continues, "...when one prays only for oneself, one is only a receptacle; that is, one's hands are spread out with the palms up and the back of the hands down. But, when one prays only to give God pleasure, then one is as one who pours blessing; that is, one's hands are spread out with the palms down and the back of the hand up (see description above)." <br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">In his modern commentary on this interpretation, R. David Blumenthal writes that Levi Yitzhak's three main points are, "...that true blessing is a pouring-forth of an energy we receive, a channeling of divine power; that this type of blessing gives God pleasure, it makes God proud; and that such an act evokes a shadow movement by God, a parallel response of poured-forth blessing from God." <br />
("God at the Center," Harper and Row, 1988; p. 110).<br />
<br />
How awesome - and how frightening - that human beings can be part of this channeling process. Through our own actions, we cannot merely receive blessings from God, but we can bring God's blessing to others. Beyond that, if we believe, as do the mystics, that our actions actually affect God in this divine-human "shadow play" what an awesome responsibility each of us is given.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">If we are to be a nation of priest/<i>Kohanim</i>, as the Torah teaches, then I believe the lesson found in this week's parashah also applies to each one of us. Keeping that thought, and the previous commentaries, in mind I would like to offer you my own interpretation of this passage as a blessing for all of us on this eve of the Shabbat of <i>Parshat</i> <i>Naso</i> (Numbers/<i>Be’midbar</i> 4:21-7:89) where the Priestly Blessing is found. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">Shadowplay and Blessing<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></span></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"> </span></span> <br />
<div class="Section2"><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">I<br />
stand here<br />
arms and hands outstretched<br />
uttering ancient words<br />
blessing<br />
shalom<br />
<br />
I<br />
feel the blessing<br />
divine energy<br />
flow through me<br />
to you<br />
to me<br />
to God<br />
a circuit<br />
cycle<br />
never-ending<br />
blessing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"><br />
as it flows<br />
through me<br />
you<br />
God<br />
I hear the voice<br />
Sinai<br />
echoing<br />
resounding<br />
in my soul<br />
constant energy<br />
flowing<br />
long after hands descend<br />
I feel blessing<br />
energy<br />
source of life<br />
source of action<br />
source of love<br />
<br />
it does not pull<br />
push<br />
force<br />
it animates<br />
energizes<br />
guides<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">while<br />
I <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"> struggle<br />
<br />
I do not want<br />
to follow the voice<br />
do as it says<br />
<br />
in this moment<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"> I have power<br />
what I do<br />
God must do<br />
shadow puppeteer<br />
peter pan<br />
with a shadow<br />
that cannot be lost<br />
cannot be separated<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"><br />
God is always <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"> within me<br />
I am always <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"> within <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"> God<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"><br />
such power<br />
responsibility<br />
am I worthy<br />
is anyone<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">suddenly<br />
cannot move<br />
cannot act<br />
cannot risk<br />
what if<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">I<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">make the wrong move<br />
pull the wrong strings<br />
<br />
I want to be<br />
puppet<br />
not puppeteer<br />
I want to be<br />
the shadow<br />
not it's source<br />
<br />
I breathe<br />
I sit<br />
I wait<br />
afraid now<br />
if I act<br />
I may be wrong<br />
then <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">God must still follow<br />
but the chain<br />
of blessing<br />
may be broken<br />
all my fault<br />
<br />
I breathe<br />
I sit<br />
I wait<br />
I pray<br />
<br />
finally<br />
I listen<br />
<br />
the voice<br />
within around<br />
guiding me<br />
<br />
I feel the power<br />
again<br />
but now<br />
I realize<br />
I know<br />
in my soul<br />
it is not mine<br />
it is not <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"> I<br />
<br />
I am still<br />
afraid<br />
must act<br />
the alternative<br />
stagnation<br />
is to die<br />
to block the flow<br />
of divine blessing<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">before I act<br />
I pray<br />
allow the blessing<br />
the energy<br />
to flow through me<br />
may I<br />
may we<br />
be worthy<br />
may I bring your blessing<br />
to all<br />
may I bring their blessing<br />
to you<br />
may they bring blessing<br />
to me<br />
to you<br />
as well<br />
may we bring<br />
joy<br />
pride<br />
satisfaction<br />
to God<br />
to all<br />
through our actions<br />
<br />
as I pray<br />
I hear<br />
the voice of Sinai<br />
in my heart<br />
I feel<br />
the power of sinai<br />
in my soul<br />
I see<br />
the shadow of sinai<br />
brightly hovering over me<br />
I know<br />
the One of Sinai<br />
is here<br />
within<br />
around<br />
me<br />
us all<br />
moving with us<br />
guiding <br />
protecting <br />
reminding <br />
we are not separate<br />
we are<br />
always together<br />
always complete<br />
always whole<br />
always <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">one<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";">we are<br />
the blessing<br />
the blessed<br />
living<br />
with in<br />
shalom<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face";"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>
<br><br>--<br>
Posted By Rabbi Steven Nathan to <a href="http://mindfultorah.blogspot.com/2010/05/comentary-on-parshat-naso-and-priestly.html">Mindful Torah</a> at 5/21/2010 04:25:00 PM