Lech Lecha

Be a Blessing!

Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan

On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Hillel Goelman encouraged us to begin the New Year by offering blessings in word and action. He reminded us of God's words to Avraham in Parshat Lech Lecha:

V'h'yeh beracha - Be a blessing! (Bereisheet/Genesis 12:2).

Our classical Torah commentators have great respect for the spiritual power of blessing. As they interpret God's words to Avraham, they bend the words into a philosophy of sharing blessings in everyday life. Here are their interpretations of God's words V'h'yeh beracha:

Rashi: Until now, the power of blessing was in My hands. I chose to bless Adam and Noach.  But today, I place the power of blessing in your hands. From now on, you will bless whomever you want.

Degel Machneh Ephraim: The letters of the word v'h'yeh - vav, hey, yod, hey - are the same as the letters of My holy name. I, the Source of Blessing, will flow through your hands. You say the words, and I will enact the blessing.

Ramban: After a time, you, the master of blessing, will yourself be regarded as a blessing. People will use your name as a blessing, saying, "May God make you like so-and-so."

Their philosophy is clear: We can and should choose to bless. When we bless, we open a channel and invoke God's Presence - a blessing in itself. As we connect others with the Divine Presence, they will express their gratitude and try to imitate us by passing on blessings themselves.

What blessings do you offer as you enter the second month of the New Year?

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