She shuts her eyes for a moment, takes care to keep her indrawn breath silent.

When she speaks again, it's very softly. Not chanted or sung in full voice, as a kohen does during prayer services with hands outstretched in the parted-fingers gesture of blessing -- but in a quiet murmur, as a parent does for a child on Friday night, hands gently cupping the head.

"Yivarechecha adonai v'yishmerecha; ya'er adonai panav eilecha v'yichuneca; yisa adonai panav eilecha v'yasem lecha shalom."

(There's a chance, just a chance, he might know what the last word means. She emphasizes it, just a little.)