Birkat haKohanim (The priestly blessing)

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 28 August 2004, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

REALLY-WANT GOD BLESS, TAKE-CARE-OF (2h)YOU.

REALLY-WANT GOD 5-LOOK SHINE-DOWN-GRACE (2h)YOU.

REALLY-WANT GOD 5-LOOK LOOK-DOWN SMILE (2h)YOU. HAPPEN? INSIDE-SELF WILL PEACE"full sign".


Notes: REALLY-WANT - WANT but shaken back and forth to show intensity.

BLESS - (2h)[O^], POs ><, held at mouth. Hands are brought downwards while opening to (2h)[5]. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Bless.

(2h)YOU - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

5-LOOK - [5], PO > signer, FO up, hand moves in a vertical circle around the face.

SHINE-DOWN-GRACE - [O^] or [S], held high and PO > Heaven, supinates and opens to [5] while being brought towards head. (Personally, I like to flutter the fingers.) For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Grace.

INSIDE-SELF - Hold the FT of [C] against the chest and stuff the FT of [O^] into the [C] twice.

PEACE"full sign" - (2h)[Bb], cross in front of mouth and descend diagonally (like QUIET), then hands clasp as in MARRY and then clasp again with hands reversed in dominance.

Text: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Home