Parshat Naso: A blessing for our dreams

In the portion of the Torah that Jewish communities all over the world will read this Shabbat, called Naso, we receive instructions for the Birkat Kohanim, the blessing bestowed onto the community by the priests in the Mishkan, the sanctuary where the Divine Presence dwelled during the community’s sojourn through the desert. This blessing is recited today in our Jewish communities, as Kohanim stand before a congregation and bless us: that the Source of Life should favor us, shine upon us, and grant us peace.

And while we are being blessed, there is a tradition to recite our own personal prayer, asking, essentially, for our dreams to be turned toward good. The Talmud teaches that one who has had a dream and does not know what it means should stand before the Kohanim during their blessing and pray: Ribono Shel Olam, ani shelcha v’chalomotai shelcha — “Master of the Universe, I am Yours, and my dreams are Yours.” If the dreams are good, may they be strengthened. And if they need healing, may they be healed (Berakhot 55b). And just as God transformed the curse of Balaam into blessing, so too may all of our dreams be transformed for the good. This practice is later codified in the Shulchan Arukh as the prayer recited at the time of Birkat Kohanim.

All of us have dreams and aspirations — for ourselves and for our families and communities. We have visions that we see in the distance, that we shape and chip away at dedicatedly until we achieve them. We long for things. We hope for things. And perhaps this is part of what community is for: to help one another interpret our dreams for good. Not every dream arrives fully clear. Some dreams need language, courage, friendship, and—yes—blessing to reveal the good hidden inside them.

Those in this room dream of Jewish life that is joyful, rooted, eclectic, welcoming, and alive. We dream of places where neighbors can gather, learn, sing, eat, celebrate, grieve, raise children, ask questions, and become responsible for one another.

This Shabbat in our eclectic home in Harlem, as we were instructed to do thousands of years ago in the wilderness of the desert, let’s humbly accept a blessing for this dream. Ribono Shel Olam, shine Your face to us, favor us, and grant us peace. May we be blessed to look around and feel Your presence in each person we encounter. May we continue to dream, allowing ourselves the vision to build all we seek. May those dreams be reinforced and strengthened collectively, together. Amen.

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Welcome to Torah in Harlem! As we move through each week, we’ll explore the stories and insights of the weekly Torah portion—the ancient text at the heart of Jewish life—and let them inspire conversation in our community. Our hope is to cultivate a gathering place where learning belongs, reflection brings joy, and we can all grow together. Want to hop into the conversation? Join our Torah in Harlem Whatsapp Group.

Artwork by Hillel Smith.