Parashat Naso

And There Shall be Peace

By Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon

Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif

Birkat HaKohanim, the blessing from the priests, as mentioned in this week’s parasha, is a ceremony where all the priests request of G-d to bless the people of Israel. In one of the blessings they ask for Shalom, peace, on the nation of Israel. What is the importance of asking for peace at this point?

We find its importance in Brachot 6b: If a person receives Shalom from his friend and he doesn’t return it, it is as if he stole. Similarly a person is not allowed to say Shalom to his friend in the bathroom. The Gemarah continues and says that Shalom is actually one of the names of G-d.

The Maharal explains the meaning of Shalom, peace, and why it is one of the names of G-d. Peace is when harmony exists. Our world is made up of so many extremes that were they to be present on their own, such friction would cause the world to self-destruct. Therefore there must be an “entity” that is keeping balance. This “entity” is G-d. G-d has a hand in this world and as such maintains equilibrium so that the world can continue to function normally. In other words, G-d not only maintains peace – He is peace.

When the priests bless, “And He shall grant you peace,” they are actually saying that G-d should be with you, the Jewish people. And when we say Shalom to others we are bringing G-d into the world. We as Jews are able to bring peace into the world just with this friendly hello. With the help of G-d, we should continue being strong by connecting with other people and thereby passing on the message of peace to actualize it in this world.

Shabbat Shalom!