דבר אל אהרן ואל בניו לאמר כה תברכו את בני ישראל אמור להם…(נשא ו:כג)

Rashi says אמור להם – כמו זכור ושמור

The holy tzaddik the Rebbe Reb Hersh of Rimnov zt’’l used to travel for Shabbos Parshas Naso to Viznitza (Poland) to the holy Reb Aryeh D’bei Iluyeh zt’’l.  The Aryeh D’bei Iluyeh once honored the Rebbe R’ Hersh to say Divrei Torah.

The Rebbe R’ Hersh related: “One Erev Shabbos it occured that at the house of my great Rebbe, the holy tzaddik Rebbe Mendel of Riminov zt’’l there was no fish to be found for Shabbos.  It was already late Friday afternoon and the tzaddik told his shamesh to place a pot with water, onions and pepper on the flame and say: “לכבוד שבת קודש.” As soon as the pot was turned on someone suddenly arrived to Rimnov with a fish.  However it was very close to Shabbos and Rebbe Mendel said to place the fish into the pot and say “לכבוד שבת קודש” and on the spot, the fish got fully cooked.  Since the holy השפעות – effects of Shabbos come down by saying “לכבוד שבת קודש.”

The Rebbe R’ Hersh concluded that with this story the words of Rashi on the passuk אמור להם – כמו זכור ושמור – the Torah explains that the brochos of the Kohanim are like the השפעות that come down by saying “לכבוד שבת קודש.”  Like the השפעות come down by verbally saying it with the mouth, so too the השפעות of the Kohanim’s blessings by mouth come upon us.

The Aryeh D’bei Iluyeh was very impressed and added the words of Targum on this passuk: “כדין תברכון ית בני ישראל תימרון להון” – when you will bless the Yidden – you should tell them.” Meaning that the blessings can come upon the Yidden when you verbally say them by mouth.