Thought for the Week:

The LORD said that when the priests bestow the priestly blessing upon the children of Israel, "they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them" (Numbers 6:27). In other words, when the priests pronounce the blessing over the children of Israel, God Himself steps in and offers His blessing.

Commentary:

The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.
(Numbers 6:24-26)

The first line of the priestly blessing is asking God to bless and keep us; that is, to do good for us, protect us, sustain us, provide for us and rescue us from all evil and distress.

The second line of the priestly benediction asks God to shine His face upon us and to be gracious to us. Rashi explains the shining of God's face as a beaming, friendly expression. He…