TBT Blog

At the very end of his life (and “career,” if you can call leading the Israelites through the desert for forty years a career?) Moses announces his pending death, just as the Israelites are to complete their journey across the Jordan river and into the Land God Has Given Them. As he passes leadership on to Joshua, he says to Joshua: “Hazak v’ematz - be strong and courageous!” (Deuteronomy 31:7) This short blessing of sorts has always stood out to me as particularly meaningful; a vote of confidence to draw on when, in fact, strength and courage are called for.  

In some Jewish communities (originating in eastern European Ashkenazi culture), it has become traditional to exclaim “Chazak chazak v’nitchazek!” each time we reach the end of a book of Torah. The first two words “Chazak chazak” are often translated as “be strong, be strong!” - but the third word varies more. Sometimes it is translated as “may we all be strengthened” and other times, as “we will strengthen each other.” While similar, grammar sticklers will notice that the first translation is passive, whereas the second is active. 

In this third week of Elul, we wonder:

• To whom or to what do you turn for courage or strength?

• How do you understand courage and strength in connection or relationship to one another? 

• What might we learn from the difference between being strengthened and strengthening each other? 

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