"evocative of the presence ..."

I shall never forget how it was that Rabbi Joseph Edelheit pronounced the Birkas Cohanim, the Priestly Blessing, upon the conclusion of Ben's bar mitzvah some fourteen years ago. It was a moment both beautiful and kadosh! Just a short while before, Ben, his mom, sister, younger brother and I had met in "Rabbi Joe's" study to receive Ben's certificate of bar mitzvah-whilst Zac, Ben's four year old brother, peered presciently from around the edge of the rabbi's doorpost, down the hall ...

Upon the conclusion of the service but before pronouncing the "devrei brocho" (words of blessing), Rabbi Joe charged Ben with his newly-acquired Jewish adulthood, a moment made even more poignant by his reminder to Ben that his challenge would be far more difficult than that faced by most other young people. Rabbi Joe certainly was well aware of Ben's diabetes, and it seemed to me then and still now that his blessing was even more than just intensely heartfelt, but evocative of the presence of Ha Shem Yisborach!

The mood was joyous yet somber as the sanctuary filled with tears! Whereupon, Rabbi Joe-placing his hands and forehead upon Ben's bowed head-pronounced these words which God had first told over to Moshe who then told them over to Aron: "Yevarerecha Ha Shem V'yishmerecha" (May God bless you and keep you.) "Yaer Ha Shem panav elecha ve chunecha" (May He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.) "Esa Ha Shem panav elecha v'yasem lecha shalom" (May He lift up His countenance upon you and grant you peace.)

I believe that it was the merit of those words that enabled Ben to live life as well and for as long as he did.