Completing a Book of Torah
Ashkenazi and Sefaradi Customs
Adapted from Rav Mordy Friedman
Ashkenazi and
Sefaradi customs both include a blessing for strength - "chazak" - in
the Torah service. But they invoke that blessing at different times.
Sepharadi
practice is to invoke the blessing at the end of each individual section of
Torah read. As the Torah reader steps down, individual members of the
congregation offer the greeting chazak u'baruch - May you be strong and blessed. This is meant as a blessing
of support for a job well done. "Keep up the good work! May you perform
many mitzvot!"
Ashkenazi
practice is to invoke the blessing at the end of the public reading of each
book of Torah. The entire congregation is invited to stand and chant in unison chazak,
chazak, v'nitchzek - May
we be strong, strong, and strengthened! The message is aimed at the entire
congregation, which has not only reached a milestone, but succeeded at a major
achievement - completion of study of an entire book of Torah!
The words chazak
chazak v'nitchazek are
like a mini siyyum
(ceremony of completion) after study. They remind all of us: we should
strengthen ourselves through what we have learned, and continue, continue,
continue!
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