בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים הוּא הַמְשָׁכַת הַמּוֹחִין, הַגְבָּהַת הַיָּדַיִם הוּא הַעֲלָאַת הַמִּדּוֹת, וּמְבָרְכִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהֵם בְּנֵי מְלָכִים מַלְכוּת, הֲרֵי פַּרְצוּף שָׁלֵם שֶׁל עֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת.

[Seen from a Kabbalistic perspective,] the Priestly Blessing1 elicits a manifestation of the Divine Intellect (mochin2 ). The raising of hands [by the kohanim, in blessing,] elevates the Divine “emotive attributes” (middos3 ). The kohanim bless the Jewish people, who are “the sons of kings”4 [and thereby reflect the Sefirah of] Malchus. Collectively, this constitutes a complete partzuf,5 comprising all Ten Sefiros.6

Delving Deeply

All the mitzvos we perform on this plane of existence reflect — but also affect — higher spiritual energies. Even when a person is unaware of the nature and workings of his influence on the spiritual realms, the basic realization that his actions have an effect Above should inspire him.

In this vein, the Alter Rebbe interpreted the statement,7 “Know what is above you (ממך),” as follows: “Know that what is Above is from you” — that is, the dynamics in the spiritual realms depend on you.