Chazak Chazak V’nitzchazeik - Be strong, be strong and may we be strengthened!

Chazak Chazak V’nitzchazeik – Be strong, be strong and may we be strengthened!

Why do we say Chazak, Chazak, V'Nitzchazeik at the conclusion of each of the five books of Torah? If one looks at the phrase in Hebrew, one notices that we are pretty much saying the same word three times in repetition with some added in words on the last time.   So why do we proclaim these words at the end of each of the five books of the Torah?  

The first and simplest explanation is that it is a tradition!   To be exact, Ashkenazi tradition.  The Sephardic custom is to say “chazak u’barukh” at the end of every single individual Torah reading, which means “strength and blessing.”

The rabbis teach that no word, not even one single letter in the Torah is not without meaning.  They even say that the white spaces between the letters are filled with meaning.  We even have a saying that one can find Messiah in every word of the Torah.   We may be stretching it a bit with that one, but it’s not far off from the truth

If we are pretty much just saying the same word three times, we might want to know more about this word.   “Chazak”, as with most Hebrew words has multiple meanings ranging from "to be bound to, to be courageous and to hold fast'.

This should speak volumes to us about this phrase.   Each time we speak it we are stating that we will be bound to what we read in the Scriptures, that we will retain and keep the words we heard.  We are stating that we will let the Holy Words strengthen us and preserve us and be helpful to us in our lives.  Because of the words of the Torah, we will be courageous and be bound to them; they are a part of us.

This ritual reminds us that Torah is the bedrock of life. Every time we learn from the Scriptures, every time we read from the Bible we have the opportunity, the possibility of experiencing revelation from on High and His wisdom for our lives.  We are stating that we are studying Scripture with purpose.  To read the Bible without purpose is like getting into a boat that will just drift on the ocean.  You don’t have any direction and you never know when or where you will end up.

However, there is still a deeper meaning.   The phrase is based on Proverbs 3:18 in part: “It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it, and those who support it are praiseworthy.”

It is also based on Joshua 1:6-9 (hence the three repetitions):

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the Law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

If taking hold of Scripture and supporting it are so great, why do we need the strength?  Why did HaShem say to Joshua three times in a row to be strong and courageous?  Think about it.   To take up HaShem’s way of living life is not easy.   It is downright hard!   It is full of blessing and great and wonderful things, however, on the other hand, it is hard, lonely and puts us at odds with the world and the people around us.  It makes hard demands on us. It is completely and totally opposite to how the world around us lives and wants us to live.   Everything around us says go left, but the Torah says to go right. 

This shows the wisdom of Yeshua in saying in Matt 7: 12 - 14

^“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.  Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” –

The Talmud tells us that a life of obeying the Most High “weakens the strength of a person” (Sanhedrin 26b).   So, in following Yeshua, being His disciples, obeying His Word …we need strengthening.  We need courage.  We need support.  

We gain strength, wisdom and favour, when we attach ourselves to the Word of G-d!

Chazak Chazak V’nitzchazeik – Be strong, be strong and may we be strengthened!