Rabbi Melissa Lefkowitz
Parshat Nasso
On Oct. 13, less than a week after the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, my husband and I experienced the greatest joy we have felt in our lives when we welcomed our daughter Rena into this world. Rena’s journey into the world was an eventful one and, throughout my pregnancy, she knew how to keep her parents on their toes!
Last July, after receiving permission from my OB, we decided to drive from Los Angeles to our new home in Ambler. While moving is never a blast, we looked forward to the many sites, eats and hikes we’d be able to enjoy, with one site circled on our calendars as special: Zion National Park.
Zion had long been on our respective bucket lists, and we would finally make it to the park. When we woke up the morning of our much-anticipated hike, I didn’t feel Rena. It was not uncommon for her movements to wake me up from sleeping, and I woke up that morning feeling nothing. Panicked, we rushed into the car and continued down long and windy mountainous roads to the nearest hospital with an ultrasound machine … which was over an hour away!
The drive was excruciating, and I found myself repeating ancient words that are found in this week’s Torah portion over and over again. “May God bless you and protect you.“ “May God deal kindly and graciously with you.” “May God bestow God’s favor upon you and grant you peace.” Thank God, as soon as I arrived at the hospital, Rena’s heartbeat was found, and I was sent on my way. Rena, we love you very much, but you owe us a trip to Zion.
Birkat Kohanim, or the priestly benediction, is an ancient blessing that was introduced to Aaron by God as a way to bless Israel and became an ancient benediction recited in the temple by all of the priests. The benediction consists of three separate blessings that are woven together: a blessing for protection, a blessing for receiving kindness and, lastly, a blessing of peace.
Although these words were once reserved for the ritual when Aaron was responsible for blessing the entire nation, many parents, including myself have found them on the personal level as a way to routinely bless our children on Friday nights.
Rashi instructs exactly how to offer this blessing. He teaches to “not bless them in haste, nor in hurried excitement, but with full consciousness (kavanah) and with a full heart.” To use the same words as millions before us, but thinking about specifics that can only apply to our and our children’s individual lives.
On our road trip, I blessed Rena that God may literally keep her alive. Each subsequent week since her arrival, I bless her that God may preserve her health, her joy, her laughter. I hope to bless her that God be gracious upon her as she navigates the various challenges brought by childhood, teenage years and adulthood.
When I ask God to bless Rena and shine a light upon her, I am reminding myself about the miracle of her existence. I think of what Rena needs in the moment and manifest it through this ancient benediction.
Blessing her each Friday night with the same words that gave me much comfort during a terrifying ordeal has brought so much meaning and gratitude to this weekly custom. I also know that there is another component to this blessing: the recipient. She may not understand it now, but I pray Rena feels the love I have for her and the blessings we feel in our hearts.
In keeping with this custom each week, let us pray that our children will feel the protection, kindness and peace of their parents and of God, and may they grow up to serve God and God’s creations with tenderness and full hearts.
That our blessings change each week as our needs and experiences change us, and that we remember that although our children’s needs may occasionally prevent us from hiking Zion National Park, they ultimately are the source of our blessings and our joy.
Rabbi Melissa Lefkowitz began as the assistant rabbi at Congregation Beth Or in Maple Glen in July 2023. She is married to Rabbi Kevin Lefkowitz. The Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia is proud to provide diverse perspectives on Torah commentary for the Jewish Exponent. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Board of Rabbis.
