Shavua Tov
As Shabbat has now ended and we look ahead to a new week, we also arrive at one of Judaism’s beautiful moments of transition. This morning we read the double Torah portion of Matot–Masei, bringing the Book of Bamidbar (Numbers) to its conclusion. Next week we begin Devarim (Deuteronomy), the final book of the Torah, where Moses pauses to reflect on the Israelites’ journey before preparing them for the future that awaits.
These transitions are woven throughout Jewish life. They remind us to pause, to look back with gratitude, and to look ahead with hope.
Each time we complete a book of the Torah, congregations around the world proclaim:
חֲזַק חֲזַק וְנִתְחַזֵּק — Chazak, Chazak, v’nitchazek.
Be strong, be strong, and may we be strengthened.
Those words remind us that every ending is also a beginning, and that every conclusion carries within it the promise of another chapter waiting to be written.
The Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, offered a profound image for these moments. He taught that living is like climbing a ladder. To reach the next rung, one must accept a brief moment when one foot has left the rung below while the other has not yet reached the one above. For an instant, we are suspended between what has been and what will be. That feeling of instability is not a sign that we are lost it is often the very evidence that we are growing.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l beautifully observed:
“Faith is the courage to live with uncertainty.”
Those words remind us that our confidence does not come from knowing every step before we take it. Rather, it comes from trusting our values, our purpose, and the people who walk beside us.
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov expressed this same truth in words that have become one of Judaism’s most beloved songs: Kol Ha’oalm Kulo, Gesher Tzar Me’od v’ha’ikar lo lefached klal “The whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the essential thing is not to be afraid.” There is a beautiful connection between Rabbi Nachman’s narrow bridge and the Ba’al Shem Tov’s ladder.
Both remind us that growth requires movement. We cannot remain firmly planted where we are and still expect to arrive somewhere new. Faith is found in taking the next step, even when we cannot yet see the entire path.
Tomorrow afternoon, the first half of the Major League Baseball season comes to a close before the All-Star break. That pause is more than a few days away from the game. It is an opportunity for players, coaches, and organizations to reflect on what has gone well, honestly assess what needs improvement, and prepare intentionally for the second half of the season. Life offers us similar pauses not as interruptions, but as invitations to become stronger.
Here at the Tucson J, we find ourselves in one of those meaningful moments. We celebrate the remarkable work taking place throughout our community while thoughtfully preparing for what comes next. Like the Israelites standing on the threshold between the wilderness and the Promised Land, we honor the journey that has brought us here while embracing the possibilities that lie ahead.
This week’s Torah reading also reminds me of one of my favorite Broadway songs, Corner of the Sky from Pippin. The song speaks of searching for “a spot to begin” and believing that each of us has “a corner of the sky” where we are meant to contribute, grow, and make a difference. Our Jewish tradition teaches something similar. We are each called to keep climbing, to keep learning, and to keep moving toward the place where our unique gifts can strengthen our community and help repair our world.
As Shabbat comes to a close and prepare to begin a new book of Torah next week, may we embrace these moments of transition with confidence and humility. May we have the courage to cross the narrow bridge, the faith to climb to the next rung, and the wisdom to discover our own corner of the sky.
Chazak, Chazak, v’nitchazek.
May we be strengthened by one another, inspired by our tradition, and filled with hope as we continue this journey together.
Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.
Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי
Todd Rockoff
President + CEO, Tucson J
