As we conclude the Book of Numbers this week with the double portion of Matot-Masei, we encounter the familiar cry that marks the end of each book of the Torah, "Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek" ("Be strong, be strong, and we will be strengthened"). These words are not merely ceremonial, they capture the very essence of what these two portions teach us about building a lasting community.
The first portion, Matot, meaning "Tribes," speaks to our individual and collective strength. Like the first "chazak," it reminds us that each tribe, each member of our community, must cultivate their own inner fortitude. The laws of vows discussed in Matot emphasize personal responsibility and the weight of our words. We must each be strong in our convictions, reliable in our commitments, and steadfast in our values.
The second portion, Masei, meaning "Journeys," chronicles the forty-two stages of Israel's wandering in the wilderness. Like the second "chazak," it acknowledges that strength is also found in our shared experiences, the paths we walk together, the challenges we face side by side. However, not every journey was filled with joy and celebration. There were moments of despair at Marah (the “bitter waters”), rebellions in the desert, and seemingly endless wandering. Yet it was precisely through these trials and tribulations that the Israelites forged their identity as a people.
There is a parable about the two blacksmiths who worked side by side, each hammering iron on their anvils. One complained to the other, "Your constant hammering disrupts my rhythm!" The other replied, "And your strikes interfere with mine!" Yet when they stepped back, they realized that the symphony of their combined efforts created something neither could achieve alone, a harmony born not from uniformity, but from the productive tension of different approaches working toward a common goal.
We learn from this story that disagreement itself can be holy when approached with respect and shared purpose. Throughout our history, Jewish thought has flourished precisely because of constructive debate: Hillel and Shammai, whose disputes fill the Talmud with wisdom; the Pharisees and Sadducees, whose different interpretations enriched our historical understanding; countless rabbis across generations who challenged each other's thinking while remaining united in their devotion to Torah.
The third component of our closing mantra, "v'nitchazek," "and we will be strengthened," emerges naturally from this dynamic. When individual strength (Matot) combines with shared journeys (Masei), something greater is born: a community that can weather any storm.
As we face our own wilderness moments, times of uncertainty, disagreement, or challenge, let us remember that these are not obstacles to community but the very forge in which community is created. Our differences need not divide us; they can strengthen us. Our struggles need not isolate us; they can unite us!
Let us embrace the call of "Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek" by committing to be strong in our individual purpose, courageous in our shared journeys, and open to the strengthening that comes only when we walk together, not in lockstep, but in harmony, creating something beautiful from our blessed diversity. May we be, Stronger Together!
Shabbat Shalom,
Nammie Ichilov
President & CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples