"Live Long and Prosper"? Kind Of!!!: A Micro-Journey through Birchas Kohanim

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"Live Long and Prosper" --Spock (from the Star Trek series)

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Birchas Kohanim (illustration sourced from Google Images)

Birchas Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing, consists of 3 clauses, each stanza bearing a unique and prized blessing, which the Kohanim would invoke in Hashem's name, to bless His nation.

Briefly, we'll go through each clause, and unearth its beautiful and individual meaning.

"Yevarech'cho Hashem v'Yishmarecho.../May Hashem bless you and safeguard you..."
  This first stanza is a request for material sustenance.  The basics, we could not live without, and the extra bounty-- why do we deserve it?  It is all from Hashem, and only because of His love and generosity.

"Ya'air Hashem Panav Aylecho Vichuneka.../May Hashem illuminate His countenance for you and be gracious to you..."
  This second segment alludes to a spiritual blessing, that Hashem be gracious unto us, blessing us with the light of Torah, to love and understand it, and that it remain with our descendants.

"Yisa Hashem Panav Aylecho v'Yaseim L'cha Shalom.../May Hashem turn His countenance to you and establish peace for you..."
  This third and final clause of the bracha, fuses both the material and spiritual-- bound together in the blessing of peace. 

How curious it is, that the Vulcan sign of greeting (known by avid Star-Treck viewers as the "Live Long and Prosper" sign, resembles that of the Kohanic gesture-- in both terms of position of the hand(s), and intent of blessing.  (Fun Fact:  How the Kohanim would elevate their hands as they blessed Klal Yisrael, raised, with split fingers, is often depicted on a Kohen's gravestone!)

Perhaps it is a stretch, or just me fantasizing, but I like to think that the actor who played Spock, Leonard Nimoy, a Jewish man, was emulating the leaders of his past, in his own way, perhaps without even realizing, as he echoed a similar message to theirs...  But I will argue, that "Spock", stole it! ;)

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So, readers and friends... we now have discovered Torah in yet another unexpected place.  Eternal, yet pertinent messages from Hashem, are everywhere... We need to just open our eyes!

(Birchas Kohanim is dealt with more extensively on this site, in an earlier article.  To learn more, please click here: