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Parshas
Naso - The Blessing of Grace and Peace, Especially on Shabbos
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“Hashem will bless you and protect you. Hashem will
light up His Face to you and grace you. Hashem will lift up
His Face to you and give you peace.” (Bamidbar 6)
The Midrash comments on this verse: “and protect you – from
the yetzer hara.”
This blessing is repeated daily in our prayers, and used
during birchas Kohanim.
What is the meaning of the two references to Hashem’s
“Face”? Hashem does not have a physical appearance.
We can understand this through the concept of panim
chadoshes. According to the Shulchan Aruch (Even Haezer 62),
during the week of sheva berachos following a wedding, a
panim chadoshes – a “new face” – must be present in order
for the wedding party to say the seven marriage blessings.
Every day, a person who did not join any of the previous
sheva berachos must be invited, except for Shabbos, when the
seven blessings may be recited even without a “new face.”
Why is a panim chadoshes necessary every day, and why is it
not required on Shabbos?
The chosson and kallah (bride and groom) are forgiven for
their sins on the day of their wedding (Rashi, Bereishis
36:3). They are, in effect, given a “new face” – a
completely clean slate with which to make a fresh start in
life. Another important principle in marriage is that a
Jewish home must be built on the foundations of peace and
unity. The young couple must strive to understand each
other, to step out of their personal desires and see the
“other person.”
By emphasizing the arrival of a new person every day of
sheva berachos, the young couple is reminded that they are
given a totally new appearance and can make a completely
fresh start. They are also reminded of the importance of
recognizing the other person and welcoming him. They learn
to build their new home with selflessness and love.
Now let’s understand how Shabbos is different. The Midrash
says about Shabbos (Bereishis Rabbah 11:2): “Hashem blessed
the Seventh Day, He blessed it with a shining Face.” Hashem
created every person with a tzelem Elokim – a Divine spark
that is etched on his face. If a person sins, this Divine
spark begins to fade. On Shabbos, Hashem restores the tzelem
Elokim to each person, by infusing him with an additional
soul. This is the meaning of the Midrash that Hashem blesses
Shabbos with a shining Face. Hashem’s “Face” (so-to-speak)
that is etched onto every person is restored.
The possuk (Shemos 19:2) describes how Bnei Yisroel camped
next to Har Sinai using the word “vayichan – camped,” which
has the same root as the word “chein - grace.” Rashi
comments: “Like one person with one heart.” The seforim
explain the connection, that Hashem bestowed Bnei Yisroel
with a special grace, which caused them to love each other
and unite like one person.
It is interesting to note that Rashi comments on the verse
“and [Yakov] camped next to the city” (Bereishis 33:18) that
Yakov kept Shabbos there. The similarities between these two
verses, both using the word “vayichan – camped,” is
striking. We can learn from this that on Shabbos, when the
Divine spark is restored to each person, we are blessed with
a special “chein – grace.”
Now we can understand why the panim chadoshes is not
necessary on Shabbos sheva berachos. On Shabbos, the couple
does not need a new guest to remind them of their own “new
face,” since on Shabbos everyone has a new face. Our tzelem
Elokim is restored and we all have a special heavenly
appearance. On Shabbos, every person can make a fresh start!
The couple also doesn’t need a new guest to remind them to
build their home on selflessness and acceptance of other
people, because on Shabbos we all enjoy a special unity, due
to the special grace that rests on us. Because of this chein,
we are united in peace.
Getting back to the original verse, Hashem wants to send us
His blessing. How can we ensure that we remain worthy of
this blessing? The Midrash says, “and protect you –from the
yetzer hara.” When we are protected from the evil
inclination our tzelem Elokim remains intact. This leaves us
with a special heavenly grace, which in turn ensures that we
live in peace.
This is the meaning of the verse: “Hashem will bless you and
protect you” from sin, so that “His Face will light you up
and grace you” with the tzelem Elokim, which will “give you
peace.”
The verse is also telling us that even if we stumbled and
committed transgressions, we will still benefit from
Hashem’s “shining Face” – the tzelem Elokim - on Shabbos.
This is hinted at in the word “vichineka – and grace you,”
because Shabbos is a special day of chein and peace.
“Hashem will lift up His Face to you.” The word yiso – lift
up, has the same root as nisuyin – marriage. This indicates
that since a person’s sins are forgiven on his wedding day,
he benefits from a special heavenly glow, which in turn
helps him build a home full of chein and peace. And when
there is peace, there is blessing, as our sages have said (Uktzim
3:12): “Hashem did not find a better vessel to contain
blessings for the Jewish people than peace.”
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