This Shabbat
when we finish reading the book of Shmote/Exodus, we will offer the
b'al koreh the traditional blessing that is said upon the completion of
any of the 5 Books of Moses, Chazak, Chazak, V'Nitchazek which
means "may we be exceedingly strong and be strengthened through each
other's strength." These words come from the words with which God
blessed Joshua, Moses' attendant, after Moses died and Joshua took on
the mantle of leadership. (Joshua 1:6-9) Three times in those three
verses God blesses and enjoins Joshua to be chazak v'amatz,
strong and resolute. Joshua's strength came not just from his marshal
power, but also from his Torah study and obedience to God. Strong refers
to the might within his body, while resolute refers to the emotional
courage that he needed to faithfully discharge the duties to which God
set him in the conquest of The Promised Land.
Years later when King
David's general Joab and his brother, Abishai, split their forces in
battle against the Ammonites and Arameans Joab says, "Let us be strong
and resolute for the sake of our people, and the land of our God, and
the Lord will do what he deems right." (2nd Samuel 10:12) It is always
appropriate to wish someone who is called to the Torah yasher koach as is the custom in Ashkenazik congregations, which means, straight and strong. The proper response is Baruch tehiyeh meaning, may you be blessed. In Sephardic congregations the traditional blessing to the Oleh is hazak uvaruch which means strength and blessings. And in this case, the proper response is chazak v'amatz, be strong and resolute
It took a communal
effort to read and study and teach this book of the Torah and I pray
that we have the strength to keep on learning and growing as a
community.
Chazak, Chazak, V'Nitchazek
Rabbi Shalom Plotkin