AUDREY DICKEY MINISTRIES
Glory International Center
"A Center for God's Presence"
In rabbinic literature the Aaronic blessing is referred to as ne-si-at ka-pa-yin in English “raising of hands.” It is the blessing that is recited at the end of the service by the Priest(s) or Kohanim. The Bir-kat Co-ha-nim,
Kohanim are descendants of Aaron’s son Kora. Aaron was Moses’ older brother who was chosen to be the first High priest of Israel. All of his children, therefore, were designated to be priests and to care for the Temple.
In Numbers 6:22, 23 God commanded the blessing to be spoken over the children of Israel. In Numbers 6:27, the Lord said: “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
The blessing is given both after offerings and at the end of service. The ritual is done by raising both hands making a symbolic letter ‘shin’ from the Hebrew alephbet. The letter shin is the first letter in the word “Shaddai” the character name for God, ‘Almighty.’ The thumbs are touching and the fingers are spread apart by twos. The Kohan (-im) lifts his (their) hands and extends them toward the congregation with his (their) palms outward.
The reason for the raising of the hands is that the Lord said to ‘put’ the name of the Lord on the children of Israel which indicates that the Kohanim would have to use their hands in order to place the Blessing on the children of Israel. Since the Lord gave the blessing as a comandment the Kohanim were obedient to raise their hands and place the blessing on the children of Israel.
This blessing is a blessing from God and not from man!
The Blessing is given as follows:
(The Hebrew is read from right to left)
ve-yish-me-re-kha yod-heh-vav-heh ye-va-re-khe-kha
and protect you Adonai shall bless you
vi-chu-ne-kha ‘e-ley-kha pa-nav ‘Adonai ya-er
and be gracious to you to you His face the Lord shine
sha-lom le-kha ve-ya-sem ‘e-le-kha pa-nav ‘Adonai yi-sa
peace to you and give to you His face the Lord turn
After each line is recited by the Kohan(-im) the congregation responds with:
כן יהי רצונ
ra-tson ye-hi ken
His will be yes
The blessing in English for Believers is as follows:
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
THE AARONIC BLESSING
THE PRIESTLY BLESSING
ברכת כהנים
Bir-kat Co-ha-nim
THE AARONIC BLESSING
Dr. Robert L. Dickey, Los Angeles, CA