Kabbalah Library

171. When the priest raises his hands, the people must not look at him, since the Shechina is in his hands. Since they do not see, how does it harm them? After all, it is written, “For man shall not see me and live.” In their life, they do not see, but only in their death, they see. However, since the holy name is implied in the fingers of their hands, and one must be fearful, and although they do not see the Shechina, they should not look at the hands of the priests so that the people will not be insolent toward the Shechina.

172. When the priest raises his hands, the people should sit in fear and dread, and know that that time is a time of good will in all the worlds, and the upper ones and lower ones are blessed, and there is no judgment in all of them. This is the time when the concealed is revealed, the Atik of Atiks, in ZA, and there is peace in all the worlds.

173a. In the beginning of these three verses there is Yod, Yod, Yod: Yod of “will bless you,” Yod of “will shine,” and Yod of “will lift up.” All of them come to show the complete faith, and that whoever should be blessed by Atik, which is Yod of HaVaYaH, will be blessed. Yod-Yod-Yod is three times that ZA is blessed with everything from Atik. The three letters Yod correspond to the three lines, since “will bless you” is the right line, “will shine” is the left line, and “will lift up” is the middle line. For this reason, “The Lord will bless you” is above, for ZA to receive from Atik, and “will preserve you” is below, for Israel.

173b. Anyone who regrets in his dream should come when the priests stretch out their hands and say, “Master of the world, I am Yours and my dreams are Yours,” since at that time, there is mercy in all the worlds, and one who prays his prayer for his sorrow, the judgment turns for him into mercy.