Ilustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
This Shabbat, we finish reading the first book of the Torah! To celebrate, we say some special words right after the final aliyah:
חֲזַק חֲזַק וְנִתְחַזֵּק
Hazak hazak ve-nit’hazeik
Be strong! Be strong! And let us be strengthened!
This shows how we want to finish reading each book of the Torah on a good note and with the energy to keep reading the next books. This practice also affects the tune for reading the last few words of the parashah. The last words of our parashah are:
וַיִּ֥ישֶׂם בָּאָר֖וֹן בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃
He was placed in a coffin in Mitzrayim.
Listen in shul when the reader reads these words, and you will hear an unusual tune that is meant to lead you into singing hazak hazak ve-nithazeik. But then listen when the reader reads this pasuk again for the short, repeated מַפְטִיר (maftir) section. The second time should just sound normal! We only change the notes and the tune when we want people to chime in with hazak hazak ve-nit’hazeik. It is a reminder of how music is such a powerful tool to move people, and to guide them to join in doing something together.
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