This will certainly be the most difficult weekly message that I have shared with my very special Temple Ami Shalom community. It is difficult because this will be the first time that I will be writing about the upcoming weekly Torah portion, parasha, but I will not be with you this Shabbat, not because of the Temple’s schedule, but because we will not be meeting for services on Friday night or on Shabbat morning. The reason is not a secret to anyone. The situation with the corona virus is very real and it is important that all of us follow the suggestions and rules that our state and local governments have given us.
So, back to my first topic, this week’s Torah portion is a double portion, Va-yakhel and P’kudei. These are the last two portions that conclude the Book of Exodus, Sh’mot. Both are relatively brief and for the most part review many of the instructions that God gave to Moses earlier in Exodus, the details of the construction of the mobile tabernacle and the materials needed for the priests’ vestments while performing the rituals in the Tabernacle.
This is also the last of the 4 special Shabbat readings leading up to Passover. This week is Parashat Ha-Chodesh, the portion of THE month. The special reading from the second Torah goes back earlier in Exodus and we read about the preparations that the Israelites made in Egypt as they were preparing for the first Passover and the Exodus from Egypt.
I want to focus on the ritual that is performed at the reading of the concluding verses of each of the Five Books of the Torah. The tradition is for the congregation to rise as the Torah reader reaches the final 2 or 3 verses. After the verses are chanted the entire congregation recites the words, “chazak, chazak v’nit-chazek.” The reader then repeats the words and then the person with the Aliyah recites the second blessing.
What is the meaning of the words “chazak, chazak v’nitchazek”? Chazak, comes from the Hebrew word for being strong or strength. So, we say, “be strong and be strong”…but the last word, v’nitchazek, is an unusual Hebrew structure. Its translation is difficult, but it is usually read as, “and let us strengthen ourselves” or “let us be strong together”. This year, at this time, saying the words, “let us be strong together”, is so very important and expressive of the times that we find ourselves. We need each other’s strength perhaps now more than ever before. We need to be with each other even when we are not permitted to be with our friends and community in a physical way but rather in a spiritual way. It is challenging times like these that bring a community together.
And so, when we are at home this Shabbat and in weeks to come, find some time to dedicate to prayer and to Torah study. At the end of your prayer and study, say the words that we would be saying to end our Torah reading this week, “chazak, chazak v’nitchazek”…be strong, be strong and let us be strong together”.
I am planning on continuing to send out my weekly Torah message to share with all of you. Let me also let you know that I am ALWAYS available to the TAS community. If you have a question or a problem or need some help or advice, please call me at (818)388-5580 or at my email rrresnick@aol.com. This is an important time for us to be a close community and to come out of these challenging times closer and stronger than ever.
I want to close with sharing a very important event in the TAS community. It was just 10 days ago that the wonderful Hoffman family, Chad, Nicolle and Rebecca culminated their conversion ritual at the AJU mikveh. They were supported by members of this wonderful community as they answered questions by the Bet Din and then completed the process with their time in the waters of the mikveh. It was a moving and spiritual time and we are so lucky to have them as full members of our community. It was such a pleasure to see Chad come into the synagogue this past Shabbat with his tallit around his shoulders. We will have a special Aliyah for the entire Hoffman family at our next Shabbat morning service, whenever that may be. Mazal tov and welcome to the TAS community.
Shabbat shalom and stay strong, Rabbi Ralph