Last Shabbat, we finished reading the book of Genesis or B’reishit. When we complete the reading of a book of Torah, we recite the traditional phrase, “chazak, chazak v’nitchazeik, be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another.” As we start a new year and a new book of the Torah, Exodus or Sh’mot, we begin to act on that charge.
The narrative of Sh’mot is a transcendent chapter in the life of the Jewish people telling of our descent into slavery, liberation, receiving the Ten Commandments and our transformation into a nation.
We continually return to the stories of our ancestors to mine the ancient wisdom that we trust will bring an added dimension to our modern lives. May the themes present in this second book of Torah, including the fight for justice, the balance of freedom and responsibility, the power of the individual, and the challenge of building a relationship with God, inspire us to bring strength into our own lives, into the lives of those in our community, and to our world.
Robyn Helzner
Cantorial Soloist
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