Priestly Blessing

Children’s reflections on the priestly blessing, the words some Jewish parents bless their children with on Friday nights:

• “When you’re born, your parents know you’re special. But they think, I wonder what’s going to be special about this kid. Then they see, ‘Oh, that!’ But they’re not sure. Because you’re not all the way grown up and you can only know it when you’re all the way grown up.” (3rd grade boy)
• “Having a blessing on you makes you feel happy.” (3rd grade boy)
• “Like when you get a blessing on you, they’re [your parents] aren’t just saying it because they have to. They think you’re special. When they say it, it might make you happy because they care about you.” (4th grade boy)
• “Your parents are saying they’re going to protect you, give you peace. Forever, even when they’re dead.” (4th grade girl)

Anafim learned that long ago, people carried these words as an amulet. Tiny silver cases with these words inside were found in an archeological site outside the Old City of Jerusalem (here’s the Anafim we shared with Anafim: Ketef Hinnom scroll).