Page 16 - HaMizrachi #9 Yom HaAtzmaut 5779

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass

THE SWEETNESS OF THE PRIESTLY BLESSING
IN ERETZ YISRAEL

ne of the main distinctions joy of the holiday, and someone who is more permanent and anchored than
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between tefillah in Eretz Yisrael satisfied and happy is worthy of reciting living in the Diaspora.
O and tefillah in the Diaspora is a blessing. However, this is not true on
Birkat Kohanim, the priestly blessings. In other days of the year, even on Shabbat, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook has a beautiful
Ashkenazi communities in the Diaspora, when everyone is worried about their explanation of the Rama’s position. He
Birkat Kohanim only occurs during stability and livelihood. Even on the posits that G-d is using the kohanim as
Mussaf on holidays, while in Eretz holiday itself we only conduct Birkat a vessel to convey a blessing from Him.
Yisrael it is performed on a daily basis. Kohanim during Mussaf because that For Birkat Kohanim to be most effective,
is when everyone is about to leave that vessel must be healthy and pure.
If we explore the sources, it would seem synagogue and enjoy the holiday.” 3 However, when there is a bad disposition
that the mitzvah of Birkat Kohanim or spiritual illness, such as in exile, one
should be performed on a frequent basis. According to the Rama, preoccupation cannot provide a blessing. However, on
with one’s daily needs and survival in chag, one can transcend these obstacles
We find three different approaches to the Diaspora preclude the kohanim from and reach the proper state of mind
explain why Ashkenazi communities in being in the proper, joyous state of mind because of the joy of the holiday. 6
the Diaspora do not say Birkat Kohanim to perform Birkat Kohanim.
on a daily basis. Nevertheless, one can achieve a
Why is simcha such an important factor permanent joyous state of mind in
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The Beit Yosef suggests that the in Birkat Kohanim? Eretz Yisrael. It always amazes me to
kohanim used to immerse in a mikveh observe the tension and anxiety that
before Birkat Kohanim. The mikvaot The Gemara (Shabbat 30b) states: “The encompasses olim before they board
were often very cold and it was too Divine Presence does not descend... an aliyah flight and how it suddenly
difficult to immerse on a daily basis. unless one is in a state of happiness.” If transforms into excitement, happiness
Therefore, the custom developed to the goal of Birkat Kohanim is to cause and contentment. I think that as they
only say Birkat Kohanim on the holidays, the Divine Presence to rest among us, step off the plane they immediately
when the kohanim would immerse in it makes sense that we would require
the mikveh as special preparation for the kohanim to be in a state of simcha. transcend to a new reality and are
engulfed by the permanence of Eretz
chag.
If a concern about livelihood, security Yisrael.
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The Beit Ephraim offers a second and welfare is the litmus test for the We are truly living in miraculous
approach: kohanim nowadays do not performance of Birkat Kohanim on a
have an established lineage and so we daily basis, it would seem ironic that times, in which we have the historic
cannot be sure who is a real kohen. those who live in the Diaspora have opportunity to return to our homeland,
Since there are problems with a non- more such concerns than those living in fulfill national destiny and experience
kohen saying Birkat Kohanim, it is best Israel. the serenity and joy that can only be
if nobody does so. However, if we were actualized in Eretz Yisrael.
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to abandon the mitzvah entirely, the Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi Fromer, in explaining
priestly legacy would not be passed the Rama’s position, suggests that even
on as effectively from generation to in insecure times in Eretz Yisrael, there 1 Orach Chaim, 128.
generation. Therefore, the practice is a sense of permanence that provides 2 Orach Chaim, 6.
developed to only include Birkat residents with the peace of mind 3 Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 128:44.
Kohanim on the holidays. and resolve to face the ever-present 4 Eretz Tzvi, 1:30.
challenges. 5 Orot HaKodesh, Vol. 3, p. 187.
The third and most cited approach is 6 Sermons, Naso, Sidra 2 (appendix to 5773).
presented by Rabbi Moshe Isserles, Further, Rav Kook writes that in Eretz
the Rama: “It is common practice in Yisrael there is a certain sense of
these areas to only say Birkat Kohanim expansive simcha that does not exist Rabbi Yehoshua Fass is Co-Founder
on the holidays because it is then that in the Diaspora; a sense of shleimut, and Executive Director of Nefesh
the [kohanim] are absorbed with the wholeness, that makes living here feel B'Nefesh

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