The role of the chazan in Birkat Kohanim

Hi,

Regarding the blessing conveyed to the Jews by the kohanim:

"The chazan [who recites each word ahead of the kohanim] is the agent who draws influence in a 'pipeline' from the source of blessing first, pouring it as a blessing upon the heads of the kohanim.

"The chazan first says to the kohen, 'May Gd bless you,' so as to make the kohen a vessel full to overflowing with the blessing of Gd. Then, when the kohen says to the Jews, 'May Gd bless you,' he pours from this full vessel into an empty vessel.

"Were the kohen not blessed first, he would be pouring from one empty vessel into another."

(Kli Yakar to Bamidbar 6:23, expanding an idea expressed by Rabbeinu Bechayye)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Blessing with warmth

Hi,

When Yaakov wants to bless Yosef's children (Parshat Vayyichi), Ephraim and Menasheh, he has Yosef bring them before him. He then asks, "Who are these children?" To which Yosef replies, "They are my children."

Does Yaakov not realize who Yosef has brought to him for a blessing?

Ohr haChaim, R' Chaim Ibn Attar, suggested that this exchange between Yaakov and Yosef is really about the berachah (blessing) itself. In order to truly bless someone, in order to pray to Gd on that person's behalf, one must know that person and feel emotionally connected to him.

Yaakov knows who Ephraim and Menasheh are, but he wants to feel that emotional warmth - and so he asks Yosef who they are, in order to hear Yosef's proud, paternal, emotion-charged "These are my children," which will then inspire a truly meaningful berachah.

Have a great day,
Mordechai