When the priest raises his hands

Synopsis

Rabbi Yosi tells us that people should not look at the hands of the priest when he raises his hands in blessing because, although they cannot see the Shechinah that dwells there, they need to be in awe and so they should not be disrespectful of the Shechinah. Compassion prevails in all the worlds during the time of blessing.

Death Death and the Afterlife Fingers Hands Holy Name Priests Shechinah

171. We learned that Rabbi Yosi said: when the priest raises his hands, the people must not look at him, since the Shechinah rests on his hands. Rabbi Yitzchak said: Even so, if they cannot see, what harm is there for them? It is because it is written: "For no man shall see me, and live" (Shemot 33:20). It is only during their lifetime that they cannot see. At their death, they do see. He told him: It is because the Holy Name is alluded to in the fingers of their hands, and a person should have awe. Although they cannot see the Shechinah, they should not look at the hands of the priests, so the people should not be impudent towards the Shechinah.

171. תָּאנָא, אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּכַהֲנָא פְּרֵיס יְדוֹי, אָסִיר לֵיהּ לְעַמָּא לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ, מִשּׁוּם דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא שַׁרְיָא בִּידוֹי. א"ר יִצְחָק, אִי הָכִי, כֵּיוָן דְּלָא חָמָאן מַה אִכְפַּת לְהוּ, דְּהָא כְּתִיב כִּי לֹא יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם וָחָי, בְּחַיֵּיהוֹן לָא חָמָאן, אֲבָל בְּמִיתָתְהוֹן חָמָאן. אָ"ל, מִשּׁוּם דִּשְׁמָא קַדִּישָׁא רְמִיזָא בְּאֶצְבְּעָן דִּידוֹי, וּבָעֵי ב"נ לְדַחֲלָא, אע"ג דְּלָא חָמָאן שְׁכִינְתָּא, לָא בָּעָאן לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בִּידַיְיהוּ דְּכַהֲנֵי, בְּגִין דְּלָא יִשְׁתַּכְחוּן עַמָּא חֲצִיפָאן לְגַבֵּי שְׁכִינְתָּא.

Fear Grades Judgment Peace Priests Zeir Anpin

172. תָּאנָא, בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא דְּכַהֲנָא פְּרֵיס יְדוֹי, צְרִיכִין עַמָּא לְמֵיתַב בִּדְחִילוּ, בְּאֵימָתָא, וְלִינְדַע דְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא, עִידָן רְעוּתָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בְּכֻלְּהוּ עָלְמִין, וּמִתְבָּרְכָן עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין, וְלֵית דִּינָא בְּכֻלְּהוּ. וְהוּא שַׁעֲתָא, דְּאִתְגְּלֵי סְתִימָא עַתִּיקָא דְּעַתִּיקִין בִּזְעֵיר אַנְפִּין וְאִשְׁתְּכַח שְׁלָמָא בְּכֹלָּא.

Atika Kadisha Dreams Faith Hands Judgment Prayer Priests Shepherd Tetragrammaton Universe Yud Hei Vav Hei (YHVH) Zeir Anpin

173. (A) Rabbi Shimon said: In the beginning of these three verses, THERE IS Yud, Yud, Yud, meaning the Yud of Yevarechecha (Eng. 'bless you'), Yud of Ya'er (Eng. 'shine upon') and Yud of Yisa (Eng. 'lift up'). They are all SPELLED WITH THIS LETTER to show the perfect Faith, so that whoever needs TO BE BLESSED will be blessed from Atik, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF YUD OF YUD HEI VAV HEI. Yud, Yud, Yud APPEAR THREE TIMES, so that Zeir Anpin shall be blessed from the most ancient AND THE THREE YUD'S CORRESPOND TO THE THREE COLUMNS, AS "BLESS YOU" IS THE RIGHT COLUMN, "SHINE UPON" IS THE LEFT COLUMN AND "LIFT UP" IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN. Therefore, "Hashem bless you" IS ABOVE FOR ZEIR ANPIN, SO IT SHOULD RECEIVE FROM ATIK, "And keep you" is below FOR YISRAEL, and so on all of them.

(B) The Tanna learned before Rabbi Shimon that whoever is distressed in his dream shall come when the priests spread out their hands, and say: Master of the Universe, I am yours and my dreams are yours, etc. What is the reason? It is because Mercy prevails in all the worlds at that time. Whoever will put forth his prayers about his distress, Judgment will turn into Mercy for him.

173. (א) אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, בְּהָנֵי תְּלַת קְרָאֵי רֵישֵׁיהוֹן יוֹ"ד יוֹ"ד יוֹ"ד, יְ"בָרֶכְךָ יָ"אֵר יִ"שָּׂא. כֻּלְּהוּ לְאַחֲזָאָה מְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָא. וּלְאִתְבָּרְכָא מֵעַתִּיקָא מַאן דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ. יוֹ"ד יוֹ"ד יוֹ"ד, לְאִתְבָּרְכָא זְעֵיר אַנְפִּין מֵעַתִּיקָא דְּכֹלָּא. ובג"כ יְבָרֶכְךָ יְיָ' לְעֵילָּא, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ הֲוָא לְתַתָּא, וְכֵן כֻּלְּהוּ.

(ב) וְתָאנֵי תָּנָא קָמֵיהּ דר"ש, הַאי מַאן דִּמְצָעֵר בְּחֶלְמֵיהּ, לֵיתֵי בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּכַהֲנֵי פַּרְסֵי יְדַיְיהוּ, וְלֵימָא רבש"ע אֲנִי שֶׁלָּךְ וַחֲלוֹמוֹתַי שֶׁלָּךְ וְכוּ.' אֲמַאי. מִשּׁוּם דְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אִשְׁתְּכָחוּ רַחֲמֵי בְּעָלְמִין כֻּלְּהוּ, וּמַאן דְּיִבְעֵי צְלוֹתֵיהּ בְּצַעֲרֵיהּ, אִתְהַפָּךְ לֵיהּ דִּינָא לְרַחֲמֵי.