אור החיים — יאר ה' פניו אליך ויחנך

Q — What does the priestly blessing 'יאר ה' פניו אליך' — 'May the Lord shine His face upon you' — actually bestow?

A — Or HaChaim explains that the kohanim bless Israel that there be no 'separating screen' (מסך המבדיל) between Israel and their Father in Heaven, so that the light of the Shechinah illuminates them directly, without intermediaries. He connects this to the deepest yearning of all creation: 'every created and existing being longs and pines with all its desire to cleave to the living God.' There is no longing in the world sweeter, dearer, or more cherished to creatures — especially to the spiritual soul that recognizes the light of divinity — than cleaving to His light. The blessing is for unmediated dveikut.