The Kohen

Recreation of the Kohenim Breastplate

This Breastplate would have been worn by the Kohen - the High Priest of the Jews when we returned from Babylonian exile. He was seated in the East inside the Temple, and clothed in a robe of blue, purple, scarlet and white linen. He was also decorated with the symbols of his office - a breastplate (as seen above) and a miter, or crown. On the front of the miter were inscribed the words, Holiness to the Lord and the stones in the breastplate represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

The High Priest was at the head not only of ecclesiastical but of civil affairs, presiding in the Sanhedrim and judging the people. He superintended the Temple, was the ultimate arbiter of the mode of worship, and preserved the Temple from profanation. He was inducted into his office by anointment and sacrifices, and was invested with a unique rainment, or dress. This dress, as the Rabbis describe it, consisted of eight parts, namely, the breastplate, the ephod, with its curious girdle, the broidered coat, the robe of the ephod, the miter, and the girdle.

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This picture shows how the Breastplate was worn by the High Priest. The High Priest was also covered with tiny bells sewn into the robe that rang and foretold of the High Priests presence, so common worshipers would bow their heads and not look upon his garments and/or person.

Today, Reform Judaism no longer relies upon one single leader or rabbi to interpret Torah and lead, but instead a council of rabbis provides guidelines that may be enacted - or ignored - by synagogues within the movement. This democratic approach to Judaism is one of the key reasons that Reform Judaism has become the largest Jewish movement in the United States.

On a separate note, many people are familiar with the Vulcan "Live Long and Prosper" hand gesture - but how many know Leonard Nimoy (who is Jewish) actually took this from the Kohenim priestly benediction, in which the fingers are held apart in an identical fashion? In doing so, Nimoy brought the benediction hand gesture from an obscure Jewish ritual and straight into the mainstream zeitgeist.

In Jewish mystical tradition, the positioning of the Kohen's hands during the blessing is as important as the words themselves. The fingers of the Kohen are actually aligned in such a way as to represent God's ineffable name. Moreover, the right hand (which represents kindness) is to be slightly elevated above the left hand (representing judgment). All this was designed to draw God's presence down upon the congregation.

The blessing's effect is not limited to the congregation, however. The priestly blessing contains sixty letters, which represents the 60 myriads (600,000 people) who stood at Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah. These correspond to the 600,000 prototype souls that were said to exist in creation. When the Kohen recited the blessing -- with 60 letters -- then blessing is brought upon every Jew.

Today, the Rabbi is responsible for this aspect of the Kohen, bringing God's blessing down upon his or her congregants during major life cycle events and during special services - or for any reason they see fit.