Birkat Kohanim – a segula for bad dreams

Birkat Kohanim – a segula for bad dreams

Blessing of the Kohanim is the best protection against fears following a night's sleep. When the Kohanim raise their hands and begin the blessing, one should recite:   “Master of the Universe! I am Yours, and my dreams are Yours as well. I had a dream, but I do not understand what it means. Whether it concerns me or others is immaterial. But if it is a good dream, make it come true, like the dreams of Joseph. And if it requires improvement or rectification, “sweeten” it, just as You sweetened the bitter waters at Marah, and transform the bad into good, just as You transformed Balaam’s curse into a blessing. May all dreams containing prophecies concerning me prove to be good.” (Bavli, Berakhot 56a)   The Power of Birkat Kohanim After a dark period in Jewish history, the wise King Hezekiah cleansed the Temple of idols, of avodah zarah. Then “the Kohanim from the tribe of Levi arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer ascended to His holy dwelling place in Heaven”: יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמֶרֶֽךָ׃ יָאֵ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ יִשָּׂ֨א יְהוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ “Yevarekhecha Adonai ve-yishmerecha! Ya'er Adonai panav elecha viyichuneka! Yisa Adonai panav elecha veyasem lecha shalom!” (May G-d bless you and guard you! May G-d shine His countenance upon you and be gracious to you! May G-d turn His countenance toward you and grant you peace!) (Bamidbar 6:24–26).   What Is the Connection Between Dreams and Birkat Kohanim? Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk explains that during the Priestly Blessing, a Kohen is on a spiritual level of prophecy. It is precisely because of this high degree of holiness that it is forbidden to look at his hands while he blesses the Jewish congregation. The Talmud states that “a dream is one-sixtieth of prophecy.” Therefore, applying the concept in Jewish law according to which, in certain circumstances, food can be nullified in a mixture if it constitutes less than one-sixtieth, we pray to nullify our dreams—the sixtieth part of prophecy—during the Priestly Blessing, when the spiritual level of complete prophecy is revealed. Rabbi Eliyahu Ha-Kohen of Smyrna, in his book “Midrash Talpiot,” in the section “Sha'alot Halom,” points out that this idea can be seen in the words of the Priestly Blessing. Birkat Kohanim consists of 60 letters. It is said in “Shir HaShirim”: “Behold, Solomon’s couch—sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.” Chazal reveal: “The sixty mighty men are the Priestly Blessing, which consists of 60 letters. This blessing endows the Jewish people with great strength.” (Midrash Rabbah, Shir HaShirim 3) “The sixty mighty men around it” are the 60 tractates of the “Shisha Sidrei Mishnah.” (Tikkunei HaZohar). The name Shlomo should be read as Shalom, meaning peace, which is guarded by the mighty men. Peace is the Temple of Jerusalem, where the Shechinah dwells. (Yalkut Shimoni, “Shir HaShirim” 3) “The mighty men around it” are 600,000 warriors, Jews over the age of 20. (Rashi, Midrash “Shir HaShirim” 3:7) The Sages also said that the sixty mighty men are the 60 divisions that served in the Temple. These were 24 priestly watches, 24 Levite watches, and 12 auxiliary groups of Israelites.     (Based on “Metzudat David,” Midrash “Shir HaShirim” 3:7; “Shir HaShirim,” Adam Davydov)