Priestly Blessing

Did I mention that the olives pickled this year are absolutely sumptious? The first bottle was opened for dinner and it really was good. quite unlike last year's which turned to mush in the pickle bottles. That's because this year a different technique was used: last year Sr Geronima and her gang bashed the olives with meat tenderisers before pickling them - the olives simply turned to mush after months of soaking in vineger and salt. This year the cook simply sliced the olives on one side without bruising the olives. Result - firm, tasty olives: tangy and tart because its fresh, juicy as well.

Yesterday morning the Priestly Blessing at the Wailing Wall was astounding - literally thousands packed the plaza and it was impossible to move. I was afraid of a crush but luckily nothing happened. The first blessing was after 9.15am when the organisers advised everyone to drink water because it was getting too hot and stuffy; and warnings to women to keep to their side of the plaza (men and women do not mix). Then the Hazzan (cantor) called out "kohanim" which means "priests" and those men from the priestly caste (those usually with the surname Cohen, Cowen, Coen) draped their tallits (prayer shawls) over themselves and raised their hands in blessing. Then the chanting began. It was bewitching - absolute silence from the thousands gathered at the plaza, children huddling under the tallits of their fathers, grown men bowed in humility. Everything stood still for 3 minutes as the blessing God taught Aaron the first high Priest some 3,200 years ago through the haunting voice of the Hazzan resounded over the ancient stones of the Temple Wall so sacred to the Jews. Almost everyone was carrying their mobile phones or MP3 recorders to record the blessing which occurs only twice a year and only since 1971 here at this ancient site where the Temple once stood 1,930 years ago where this blessing was given every morning. It was not the first time for me, but each time I come for this event, goosebumps rise all over because this haunting chant evoked an ancient liturgy that Jesus himself had heard morning after morning when he was at the Temple - a blessing that he himself as God, had taught to Aaron and his descendents.

The second blessing was an hour later, and the crowds had reached its peak. The two Chief Rabbis of Israel (Ashkenazi and Sephardi) had come for the blessing (they themselves are not priests) and I could see them far away nearing the Wall: under large colourful umbrellas like the Ethiopics carry, each wearing their turbans and cloaks. The Hazzan once again called the priests to prepare themselves and then began the chant. After that it took me almost 20 minutes to get out of the plaza towards Dung Gate - there was no turning back as the flow of people kept pushing in that direction. It would have been alot closer to my home the other way around but the crowds prevented me from doing it.

Remember I said that this blessing, though reinstituted at the Wailing Wall only in 1971, was not popular for many many years but only gained significance these last few years? Today as I stood among the crowds of Jews, I felt why it had become so important to them. It united them as a people, giving them an identity, recalling the promise by God of a blessing to Abraham and his descendents, this same blessing that was intimately linked to God's gift of the land of Israel, the blessing of peace. It was something that gave meaning to their present-day situation.

But it is also this blessing that is now carried into the Church. As we now own Abraham as our father in Faith, we too share in this blessing. Our new Israel is heaven - the Kingdom of God. We too are united by a common faith and confess a common creed. We too share in this promise that is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and we look forward to that peace that only He can give, the peace that he offered at his resurrection appearance "Do not be afraid. Peace be with you"; the same peace that we share with each other before communion.

And so we recall the Aaronic blessing:

"May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He shine his face upon you and be merciful to you.
May He lift up his face toward you and give you peace."

*In memory of Daniel Cavero*