Chazak Chazak V’Nitchazek! Book One is Done!

As I’ve said before, while three and a half years sounds like a long time, it really isn’t when you’re making your way through all 929 chapters of the Hebrew Bible. This week we reached a major milestone: we finished the first book of the Bible - the book of Bereishit בראשית Genesis. Of course, we could easily spend the rest of our lives exploring its meaning, its questions, and its beauty - but for now, we celebrate this moment and move forward.

Before beginning Exodus, I encourage you to write down some notes for yourself, or maybe even comment on the blog or write a post of your own. What lingering questions are you carrying with you? What arguments did you have with others or with the text? What insights will you take forward?

There is a tradition that when we complete one book of the Torah and prepare to begin the next, we say: “Chazak Chazak V’Nitchazek!” - “Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another.” I believe it is precisely our questions, our insights, and even our disagreements that create that strength.

What a joy it is to be on this journey with all of you. A journey of learning and a journey of strength.

Onward to Exodus!

-Rabbi Jason Bonder