A Message from Rabbi Bellows

May 17, 2026/1 Sivan 5786

Dear Friends,

This week’s Torah portion, Naso I (Naso II will be read next week), contains one of the most ancient and beloved passages in all of Jewish literature: the Priestly Benediction (Birkat Kohanim), found in Numbers 6:24–26.

Here, God instructs Aaron and the priests to bless the people with words that have echoed through Jewish life for thousands of years: “May God bless you and keep you. May God shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God’s turn toward you and grant you peace.”

These three verses — just fifteen Hebrew words in total — have been used to bless us for more than three thousand years. Archaeologists have even discovered them inscribed on small silver scrolls found in Jerusalem, dating to the 7th century BCE, making them among the oldest surviving biblical texts.

In a world that can often feel fractured and anxious, these words remind us that blessing is not only something we receive—it is something we offer one another through compassion, presence, and kindness.

May we each find ways this week to become a source of blessing for those around us.

Rabbi Bellows