This past week a young shlucha passed away at the age of 3. Sarah Tzivia A”H Niselevitch was a special child, and since her birth she fought many battles. During her last days in the hospital, a Shliach in S. Paulo – Rabbi Avraham Stiefelmann went to visit her and bless her with the birchat kohanim.
This prayer is very unique as it can only be given when there is true love between the two. This is one of the reasons that during the prayer service the cantor calls up the kohanim to bless the congregation. You see a Kohen does not receive a salary, and much of his sustenance is dependent on the graciousness of the people. If they are successful in business, then they will have with what to share their wealth with the kohanim.
Therefore, the Kohen’s blessing may seem to have an ulterior motive: blessing to get in return. To avoid this thought, the kohanim are called upon to bless the people. They do not rush up on their own to receive their share. Rather, they are called upon to show that their prayer is altruistic. This is also a reason why the Kohen lifts up their hands high in the air. This is to demonstrates that even though their hands may eventually receive gifts from the same people they blessed, their intention, now is truly righteous.
A rabbi that goes to a hospital to bless a person, a child let alone, is certainly not expecting anything in return. This is probably one of the last pictures taken of her. In her last moments people around the world, prayed and learned for her well-being. I thanked the family for letting us living so far away to be able to have a part, in her life.
This incident touched me very much, as our community lost a member the same day that this girl passed away. I later discovered that one of the last emails David Z”L ben Shlomo read was the last MaNews. You never know what may be your last encounter with somebody, so always try to end it on good terms.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Arieh Raichman
