Hazak Hazak V’Nithazek

by Rabbi Nechama D. Goldberg, 2000; Edited by Rabbi Robert Binder

Question (Sh’eilah)

When following the triennial Torah reading cycle, is it permissible to pronounce Hazak hazak v’nithazek at the end of each of the Five Books of Moses every year (even though only one-third of each will have been read,) or is it necessary to wait until the three-year cycle has been completed?

Answer (Teshuvah)

The earliest reference to reciting Hazakto the Torah reader is from the late 12th century-early 13th century, about the customs of Jews in France, Germany, and Spain. The custom is derived from an interpretation of the biblical verse “Be strong, Joshua, be of good courage… This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth” [Joshua 1:8]. The word “this” (ha-zeh) is applied to someone who holds the sefer Torahin his hand. Apparently, the word Hazak (“Be strong!”) was said to each person who read from the Torah – a custom that is preserved in many Sephardic communities, where Hazak u-barukh (“Be strong and blessed!”) is said to anyone who receives an aliyah to the Torah.

Over the course of time, it became the custom in Ashkenazic communities to recite Hazak at the conclusion of each of the Five Books of the Torah, similar to the practice of saying Hadran alakh (“We will return to you”) upon completion of studying a tractate of the Talmud: “Just as we say Hadran alakh… that we will return so that we not forget, so, too, we say Hazak that you completed the Humash (volume of the Pentateuch) and Yasher koach(“May you be strong!”) that you will start once again” [Rabbi Moses ben Isaac Mintz, 15th century.].

The custom of reciting Hazak hazak v’nithazek is mentioned in the writings of the Hatam Sofer(late 18th-early 19th centuries, Hungary) and in the Arukh Ha-Shulchan (early 20th century, Belorussia). It seems to have been almost universally accepted as the expression of the conclusion of each book of the Torah and of the entire Torah (on Simchat Torah), even in those congregations that read the Torah according to the triennial cycle, and thus complete it only once every three years. Many of these congregations celebrate Simchat Torahannually in order to celebrate the holiday with the entire House of Israel, even though they may have completed only one-third of the reading in any given year.

The variety of interpretations of the meaning and purpose of reciting Hazak and the variations in custom over the centuries allow for re-examination of contemporary practice. It is not mandatory that someone recite Hazak each year, but it is permissible.