What is the Birkat Kohanim? The Jewish Priestly Blessing

By: Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell

June 6, 2019

דַּבֵּר אֶל־אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל־בָּנָיו לֵאמֹר כֹּה תְבָרֲכוּ אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָמוֹר לָהֶם׃
da-BAYR el ah-ha-RON v’-el ba-NAV lay-MOR KOH t’-va-r’-KHU et b’-NAY yis-ra-AYL a-MOR la-HEM
Speak to Aharon and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Yisrael. Say to them:
Numbers 6:23

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהֹוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃
y’-va-re-kh’-KHA a-do-NAI v’-yish-m’-RE-kha
Hashem bless you and protect you!
Numbers 6:24

יָאֵר יְהֹוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃
ya-AYR a-do-NAI pa-NAV ay-LE-kha vee-khu-NE-ka
Hashem deal kindly and graciously with you!
Numbers 6:25

יִשָּׂא יְהֹוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם׃
yi-SA a-do-NAI pa-NAV ay-LE-kha v’-ya-SAYM l’-KHA sha-LOM
Hashem bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!
Numbers 6:26

וְשָׂמוּ אֶת־שְׁמִי עַל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַאֲנִי אֲבָרֲכֵם׃
v’-SA-mu et sh’-MI al b’-NAY yis-ra-AYL va-a-NEE a-va-r’-KHEM. {S}
Thus they shall link My name with the people of Yisrael, and I will bless them.
Numbers 6:27

The Birkat Kohanim is an ancient prayer from the Torah that speaks to our highest hopes for blessing. The blessing originates from the Book of Numbers.

This ancient and powerful blessing links us back to Aaron, the first High Priest of Israel, and to God- the origin of all blessing.

Watch the video below to learn more about this powerful blessing and how and when it is recited in our times: