Chazak, Chazak

Chazak, Chazak

At Touro Synagogue
Newport, RI

March 20-21, 2020

Also at https://www.facebook.com/groups/jewishnewport/

By Aaron Ginsburg aaron.ginsburg@gmail.com

Thanks to Rabbi Marc Mandel

Today is a special Shabbat, Shabbat Hachodesh, that is the shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan, before the month of Nissan.

Friday at 4 PM with Rabbi Marc Mandel

To prepare for Shabbat, at 4:00 PM on Friday several of us participated in learning with Rabbi Marc Mandel. He discussed the special torah reading,  Exodus 12:1-20 using Sefaria https://www.sefaria.org/texts  a source for Jewish texts and commentary. He reviewed the first two verses:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר׃ 

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:

הַחֹ֧דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם רֹ֣אשׁ חֳדָשִׁ֑ים רִאשׁ֥וֹן הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה׃ 

This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you.

Rabbi Mandel pointed to Rashi’s commentary which asked, “Why did God speak to Aaron rather than Moses?” Rashi pointed out that Aaron was just

as involved in the miracles of Exodus as Moses.

Although we like to think the Torah was given at Sinai, the command about “this month” was given before that, while the Israelites were still in Egypt. Rabbi Mandel explained that one of the first things a nation does is to create its own calendar. Israel had used the Egyptian calendar for over 400 years.

Sefaria includes Jewish liturgy. Using a sephardic siddur, we read and sang several Psalms from Kabbalat Shabbat. Three quarters of our prayers come from Psalms. We omitted Lechah Dodi, which accepts the Shabbat. It was too early for that. Rabbi Mandel will consult with his colleagues to decide which prayers are appropriate. 

When you paint a room, a lot of the work is in the preparation, cleaning or washing the walls, moving the furniture, and using a drop cloth to protect the floors and carpets. 

photo caption:The Golden Haggadah preparing for Passover ca 1320. top Left, the leader ordering distrubuiting Matza and haroset, top left, Miriam with timbrel and maidens with musical instruments, Bottom left, sheep are slaughtered for Passover and untesils are purified, bottom right man with candle searchinf for hametz, woman and children cleaning house.

During Nissan, we celebrate Passover, which also takes a lot of preparation, shopping, cleaning, cooking and studying including the study of new and old tunes. The preparations are worth it so we can experience the joy of being in a newly painted room or joining a seder.

Although we will not be in shul, Rabbi Mark Mandel shared some words of Torah, 

“This week we are scheduled to read the last two Parshas in the Book of Exodus. That means, we would say, ‘Chazak, Chazak, V'nitchazek’ at the end of the reading, which means, ‘Be strong, be strong, and Be Strengthened.’ How fitting that we say this now, as we face a crisis that challenges all of us. We say to each other, ‘Be strong - we can get through this.’”

To face the current crisis, part of what we do involves preparation. Both as individuals and as a community, we need to think about having enough food and sundries, about how to keep busy, and how to avoid getting sick or getting other people sick. We also need to think how we can spread our wings to help people who are alone or vulnerable. 

In spite of our best efforts things may not work out. There might be drips on the wall or roller marks on the ceiling, seders may be marred by minor or major problems, and preparations for Corona may fail to protect lives.

And so we say together, ‘Chazak, Chazak, V'nitchazek’

Shabbat Shalom from Jewish Newport!