Mazel Tov!
That’s the blessing that rings out when someone shares their good news.
We go to a simcha, a joyous occasion, a wedding, Brit, Bar or Bat Mitzva and we say Mazel Tov to those who are celebrating.
Someone buys a gorgeous new house or a brand new car.
Mazel Tov we say.
Seems quite straightforward.
We are well versed in the proper etiquette.
Sometimes it’s harder than one thinks.
What if we are experiencing financial hardship when our dear friend just bought a gorgeous house.
What if we are experiencing infertility when we attend the Brit.
What if we have just ended a long term relationship that we thought would end in a happily ever after as we attend a cherished friend’s wedding.
What kind of a Mazel Tov are we extending?
In this week’s Torah portion is called Naso, which means lift up.
In this portion we have the very famous priestly blessing.
This blessing is extended by the priests to the congregation to this day. The priests ascend the platform which is called the Duchan and from there they share the blessing on the congregation.
I may have shared with you before the story of a young man from the former Soviet Union who was able to emigrate to New York. As a very accomplished student, he received a scholarship to Yeshiva University where he was assigned a tutor to help him navigate the system. The young man worked diligently and tirelessly, achieving much success. His tutor, worried for his health suggested a break. He recommended an hour or two in the student lounge in front of the television, suggesting it was a good way to learn some English. The tutor left the student in front of the TV until a few moments later the young man rushed in and said he found a relative on TV. It turns out that the show playing was Startrek and Mr. Spock had just shown his famous hand motion. Leonard Nimoy was a Jewish actor and he incorporated some of his Jewish heritage into his part. The sign Mr. Spock made with his hand was the way a Cohen/priest hold his hand when administering the priestly blessing. It turned out that this young man grew up in the former Soviet Union when practicing Judaism was highly dangerous. His grandfather taught him one thing. He showed the boy the hand motion of the priestly blessing and said this is the sign of our family. He admonished his grandson never to forget it.
The Russian young man ended his story by saying he was probably the first person to learn he was a Cohen from Mr. Spock.

The blessing is as follows:
“May Hashem bless you and protect you.
May Hashem shine His face upon you and be gracious to you.
May Hashem lift His face toward you and grant you peace.”
(There is a custom for parents to extend this blessing to their children on Friday night as a part of welcoming the Shabbat. In our family we take it very seriously as we take the opportunity to bless each child and grandchild. Our children refer to this ceremony as “the blessfest”.)
If you have witnessed the Priestly Blessing in synagogue you might have noticed something interesting.
When the priests finish the blessing the congregants may say Yasher Koach to them. That’s sort of the proverbial good job!
It’s strange.
Whenever we fulfill a Mitzva we don’t get a pat on the back. Why do the priests get an extra form of appreciation?
When the priests give the blessing they need to do it with true love in their hearts.
If they don’t, they actually haven’t fulfilled their obligation.
They haven’t done the Mitzva.
They are blessing us with all the good in the world.
But what if they are struggling personally?
What if they aren’t feeling the blessing?
They have to work hard to subjugate their own feelings and replace those with true love and blessings for another.
That is not a simple task.
But that’s the job of a leader.
And for that we give them an extra Yasher Koach.
Rabbi Mattisyahu Solomon who was a leader in this generation and taught much about the human condition said that a person who doesn’t participate in the trials and tribulations of a friend by extending care and empathy is not a good person.
But a person who can sincerely participate in the joy of another, in their simcha, even at a time when they themselves may be experiencing stress, that person is a Malach, an Angel.
So next time we intone a Mazel Tov, let’s tap into the energy exuded by the priests and really exclaim that Mazel Tov from the bottom of our hearts.
That’s what you call Heavenly!
And as my sisters are all truly angels, I share that we are on the way to the Bat Mitzva of a granddaughter.
Mazel Tov to us all.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!