{"id":67249,"date":"2019-12-18T15:37:23","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T13:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=67249"},"modified":"2023-07-16T09:50:46","modified_gmt":"2023-07-16T06:50:46","slug":"chazak-be-strong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/chazak-be-strong\/","title":{"rendered":"Chazak! Be Strong"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Each one shall aid his fellow, and to his brother he shall say, “Strengthen yourself”<\/span> (Isaiah 41:6)<\/span><\/p>\n

This verse seems to be one very inspiring Biblical verse. Its words speak of care, comradery, and cooperation. In 2010, Moshe Laufer and Avraham Fried composed the song “<\/span>Chazak<\/span><\/em>!”(“Strengthen yourself”) using the words of this verse. Since then, the song has been sung at weddings, bar-mitzvot, and other happy occasions. We sing the song as a declaration of our Jewish values of unity and willingness to help our fellow man.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the context of this verse in chapter 41 of Isaiah paints a very different picture. The chapter begins with God telling the nations of the world to listen carefully to the following prophecy. God then describes a great warrior who he has sent to redeem Israel from her exile and to prepare a path for Israel’s return to their land. These words are then followed by the prediction that the nations of the world will be frightened by the prospect of Israel’s redemption, and therefore begin preparing for ways to prevent it. Each man will “aid his fellow” in the preparations of the war to stop God’s plans. Each man will say to his brother “Strengthen yourself!” to encourage him to fight in battle against the God of Israel. In context, this verse is a cry for war against God and Israel’s redemption.<\/span><\/p>\n

Should we sing this song at our happy occasions?\u00a0 In context, it seems more fitting for Tisha B’av, the Jewish national day of mourning. Alternatively, perhaps this verse, quoting the words of idol worshiping warmongers, was specifically chosen by Moshe Laufer and Avraham Fried to teach us an important lesson: We have the ability to learn positive behaviors from every person on this earth. Even from our enemies, we<\/span> can adopt lesson of mores for our community.\u00a0 Even from non-believers, we can learn ideas which strengthen our religious beliefs. This song teaches us that regardless of the speaker of these words, we should adopt the feeling of comradery that is mentioned in the verse, and share with each other kind words and practical assistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps this ability of learning something positive from everyone is what makes this song so popular. Or perhaps the message of focusing on peoples’ common goals, rather than their differences, is what gives the song such great appeal.Yet, after reading the verse in context, someone might feel that it is almost blasphemous to sing this song on our happy occasions, singing words of those who wish to go to war with God, rather than praising God for the good he has given us.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0What do you think?\u00a0 To sing or not to sing: “Chazak!” ?<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":67250,"id":67250,"title":"is41-strong","filename":"is41-strong.png","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/chazak-be-strong\/is41-strong\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"is41-strong","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":67249,"date":"2019-12-18 13:37:07","modified":"2022-10-24 12:10:32","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1111,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-260x300.png","medium-width":260,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-768x885.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":885,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-889x1024.png","large-width":889,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","1536x1536-width":1111,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","2048x2048-width":1111,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-1042x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1042,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-365x420.png","home_baner-width":365,"home_baner-height":420}},"embedded_video":"","video_duration":"","show_fb_comments":true,"credit_media":""},"tile":{"top_caption":"","main_caption":"Chazak! 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