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In this week’s Torah portion, Naso, we find the famous Priestly Blessing[1], “May Hashem bless you and watch over you. May Hashem cause His countenance to shine to you and favor you. May Hashem raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace.” Rashi cites the word from the verse “May (He) bless you,” and explains “that your property shall be blessed.”
The above requires an explanation. It seems that the blessing “may Hashem bless you” is very general. It includes everything. Why should Rashi limit it to the property?
One explanation is as follows. The Torah already promised us an unlimited number of the highest possible blessings for toiling in Torah and fulfilling the Mitzvos[2]. That being the case, we must say that the Torah is adding something here. There must be something new and unique included in this blessing, which is not found in all of the earlier blessings. That is why Rashi explains that this is indeed a blessing which we did not receive earlier. This blessing is not that we will receive more property; instead, Hashem will bless the property itself. Our fields will produce more than one would typically expect them to deliver.
The earlier blessings were regarding quantity. We would receive an exceedingly large amount of goodness. The only blessing there regarding the production of the fields is that it would be guarded, protected.
This blessing relates to the quality of goodness. It is similar to that which was given to our forefather Yitzchok[3]. “Yitzchok planted in that land. He found in that year a hundred-fold, and G-d blessed him.” Rashi cites the words “a hundred-fold” and explains as follows. “They had estimated how much the land was fit to produce; it produced for each measure that they had estimated one hundred measures.” That is the nature of the blessing which we will receive.
May we merit to witness these qualitative blessings, especially that of the coming Moshiach now!
Have a beautiful Shabbos and a healthy summer!
Rabbi Shmuel Mendelsohn
Adapted from Likkutei Sichos Volume 33, Beginning with Page 50
מוקדש לזכות כ”ק אדמו”ר נשיא דורנו מליובאוויטש
לזכות
חיילי “צבאות השם” חיים ועדן עודד שיחיו מאריס
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נדפס ע”י הוריהם
הרה”ת ר’ מנחם מענדל וזוגתו מרת חי’ מושקא שיחיו מאריס
[1]. Our Parshah, Bamidbar 6:24-26.
[2]. Parshas Bechukosai, Vayikroh 26:4-12.
[3]. Parshas Toldos, Bereishis 26:12.
The Rebbe Teaches Rashi 