D'var Torah: "Behold, the Guardian of Israel does not slumber nor does He sleep" (Tehillim 121). The Hebrew word for "Behold" -- henei -- has a numerical equivalent of sixty. This alludes to the sixty letters that comprise the special Blessing of the Kohanim. The recitation of the Blessing of the Kohanim, is the only remnant that remains from the holy worship performed in the Beit HaMikdash. The nations of the world, by in large, assume that Klal Yisrael will not survive their protracted exile, G-d forbid. However, the verse reveals that the powerful holiness of the Bircas Kohanim protects Klal Yisrael during the arduous trials that we endure. We have survived 2,000 years of exile, and we will survive and see the coming of the Meshiach and the rebuilding of our Beit HaMikdash, soon and within our days.
Moral: The sixty Hebrew letters of the Bircas Kohanim, emanate with the holiness of the special worship of the Beis HaMikdash. Through the merit of the Bircas Kohanim, Klal Yisrael has miraculously survived -- and thrived.
Application: Contemplate on the beautiful words of the Bircas Kohanim: May HaShem bless you and protect, may HaShem shine the light of His countenance upon you and have grace upon, and may He grant you peace! ˆ Revitalize your faith in HaShem and reflect upon the fact that these blessings are rooted in the holiness of the Beit HaMikdash. They guarantee the protection of Klal Yisrael as per the verse, "Behold, the Guardian of Israel does not slumber nor does He sleep."
(Based on the commentary of the RaMad Valli to Tehillim)
