"Face to Face."
In this week's parsha God spoke to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons:
Thus, shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them:
Hashem bless you and protect you!
Hashem deal kindly and graciously with you!
Hashem bestow [divine] favor upon you and grant you peace!
Thus, they shall link My name with the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Aaron, the High Priest epitomized the one who loved
and pursued peace.
Hence, his descendants are the ones given the honor
to be the conduits for God's blessings.
Even today they are one vehicle through
which God's blessings flow.
The priests (direct descendants of Aaron) continue to stretch out their arms
in an act of love.
Through their fingers, configured in a specific way,
God's abundance flows into the world.
The Jewish people stand opposite them to receive
the blessings of wealth, peace, protection, grace and harmony.
The whole scene is enveloped with love.
Similarly, in the holiest part of the Tabernacle,
there were two cherubs,
stationed on top of the Aron (Ark).
When the Jewish people were in a state of shalom
they faced each other, and divine favor resulted.
God's voice emanated from between
the cherub's outstretched wings.
" I shall speak with you from atop the Cover,
from between the cherubs that are on top of the Ark."
We face each other when we want to be known-
our faces communicate so much.
When we face each other, we show ourselves,
we allow ourselves to be seen.
The priestly blessing asks God to
"Illuminate His face for you" and
"Lift His face to us and establish peace."
We ask God to shine His face upon us and
bless us with the ultimate blessing of peace.
"If there is no peace, there is nothing."
To be with Shalom (peace) means to be whole,
to be complete, to be perfect.
We strive for it in ourselves, our homes,
our communities and our world.
It is a goal we work, pray and struggle for.
It is what we dream about and have prophesies about.
It is a moral value, a cosmic principle,
a Divine attribute and a Divine name.
May God establish peace, wholeness and harmony
within ourselves, between each other and with God.
When there is peace on earth, we will receive all the blessings
that God wants to shower on us, and
we will mirror the peace that exists in the Heavenly realms.
May this be achieved speedily in our days.
Much love
Elissa Felder
Painting by Yoram Raanan
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