In this week’s parasha , Shemini, the Torah describes the eighth and concluding day of the inauguration of the Tabernacle – the mishkan . On this eighth day, after the appropriate sacrifices of the day, Aharon HaKohen blessed the people with the birkat kohanim – the priestly blessing. Birkat kohanim is a tri-partite blessing, consisting of a material blessing, a spiritual blessing and a blessing for peace. Although the prevalent custom is to restrict birkat kohanim to holidays, there is a positive commandment for kohanim to bless the Jewish People daily. The fact that the Kohen is the one who pronounces the blessing should not confuse us as to Whom our prayers are directed and from Whom our blessing comes. If you are not a kohen and because the halacha prohibits us to watch the kohanim perform birkat kohanim , you may not know that there is a choreography that accompanies the enunciation of the blessing . As in the time of the beit hamikdash , the kohanim recite the birkat kohanim wi...
Rabbi Benjy Owen, Dean, Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South, Memphis, TN