​ Mixed Blessings: Comparing Birkhat haCohanim and Isaac's Blessing

Introduction: The High Priestly Blessing is perhaps the blessing par excellence of the Torah. Yet it is not the first nor the last blessing of the Torah. It seems to be different from other blessings of the Torah. Nehemiah Polen, has suggested that the High Priestly Blessing may be usefully compared to the role played by blessings in Bereishit. He writes, "The patriarchal blessings in Genesis seem to be a zero-sum game, provoking envy because the special favor bestowed on one brother appears to detract from what remains for the others. By contrast, in its sweeping generality and embracing language the Priestly Blessing prompts benevolence rather than competition, dissolving much of the dynamic tension of the Genesis story." (from unpublished article by Nehemia called "Birkhat Kohanim in Sefat Emet") In this source sheet we explore that comparison in order to discover more of the nature of blessing, some of the discontents of blessing, and the Tikkun that the Torah works on the act of blessing itself.

Part I: The Fraught Background of Blessing in Bereishit

Pre-Reading Thought Question: What is a moment when you have felt blessed? What was it like? How/Why was it important for you? Keep this in mind as we read about blessings and sibling rivalry.

Reading Questions: Please quickly revisit the story of the blessing of Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27:1-8, and 14-41) asking the following questions:

1) How does blessing generate conflict between the brothers?

Part II. The High Priestly Blessing

Note about the Appropriate Context for the Priestly Blessing

Read (Leviticus 9:22-24), about the blessing by Aaron at the dedication of the Mishkan. Would this setting makes sense as the original context?

Part III: Chasidic Commentary - Sefat Emet

Theological Experience Question: What is Penimiut? When/where do feel like you access this piece of yourself in prayer?

Reading Question: How does the Sefat Emet shift your reading of the text? What motifs does he work with? What is the thematic center of his Derash?

Part IV: Conclusions

Questions: 1) How does the High Priestly Blessing shift the nature of blessing compared to the blessings of Jacob and Esau?

2) How does the Sefat Emet's reading of the High Priestly Blessing shift the nature of blessing?

3) Which makes the most sense to you?

4) Given these two interpretations, how would you define "Blessing" now?

5) What have you've learned that you think might affect the way that you make Berakhot (blessings)?

Key Insight: Nehemiah Polen suggests that the High Priestly blessing resolves some of the problems of blessing that surface in Bereishit. If the blessing in Bereishit is imagined as a zero-sum competition for a father's blessing, here the blessing is bestowed upon all Israel. If the blessing generates conflict, here it brings peace. As such, it is a response to the theme developed in Bereishit that divine blessing may bring envy and with it undesirable consequences.

Extension Thought Question: The Jewish people have suffered partly through a theological "sibling rivalry" with Christians (who figure in classical rabbinic midrash as Esau) who also call themselves Israel. Does does the High Priestly Blessing provide a better model than that of Isaac for calling God's blessing into a world that we are privileged to share with Christians (and other faiths)? If yes, how so?