Jerusalem – In response to a question posted on a Yeshiva website asking him to comment on a couple’s experience in seeking a blessing from a rabbi, Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, the Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan, said that those in need of a blessing should pray directly to God, “without an agent,” instead of seeking a blessing from a rabbi.

ARUTZ SHEVA 7 (http://bit.ly/14lhyYN) reports that Rabbi Ariel went on to explain that experts in the field of halakah generally oppose seeking blessings from rabbis or kabbalists.

Ariel said that, while there are certain “spiritual giants” whose righteousness allows them to give blessings, they are few and far between, and their identities are seldom known.