vital information: Fwd: Torat Imecha Haftorah: V'zot HaBracha

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From: The OU Women's Initiative <ouwomen@ounetwork.org>
Date: Mon, Oct 13, 2025, 10:04 AM
Subject: Torat Imecha Haftorah: V'zot HaBracha
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

Torat Imecha Haftorah for Sefer Devarim is dedicated by the family of Rabbi Dr. Israel Rivkin z"l, ישרא–ל בן רפא–ל זאב ז׳׳ל, as an aliyah for his neshama.

Haftorah V'zot HaBracha

Mrs. Sara Malka Winter

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Mazel tov upon completing the yearly Haftorah cycle! Send Mrs. Sara Malka Winter a personal message of thanks by clicking here.

Mrs. Sara Malka Winter holds a Master of Science degree in education and is a sought-after speaker in her community of Silver Spring, Maryland. As a teenager, Mrs. Winter founded Ashreinu, a Canadian kiruv organization dedicated to Jewish outreach to the Russian immigrant community, which has influenced hundreds of girls. Mrs. Winter lived in Israel for eight years with her family, where she taught and lectured across Jerusalem in seminaries, outreach centers, and high schools. In 2008, Mrs. Winter moved to Maryland to help found the Greater Washington Community Kollel, together with her husband, Rabbi Menachem Winter. She continues to lecture throughout the Washington, DC area as a Senior Lecturer for the Kollel on diverse topics, including Tefillah, Chumash, Nach, Tehillim, Chagim, and Mitzvos. Mrs. Winter is also a beloved teacher at the Yeshiva of Greater Washington Girls Division. At the OU Women's Initiative, Sara Malka taught Sefer Tehillim 53-62 and 120-134 to over 5,000 women worldwide as part of the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi program.

Dvar Haftorah

OU Women's Initiative

Founding Director

Rebbetzin Dr.

Adina Shmidman

!חזק חזק ונתחזק

The first chapter of Sefer Yehoshua, read as the Haftorah for Simchat Torah, continues the journey of Bnei Yisrael forward — from the completion of the Torah to the unfolding of Jewish destiny. Even as we begin the Torah anew from Bereishit, Yehoshua takes up Moshe's mantle, guiding the nation into its next chapter. The Torah concludes, but the story continues.

As Yehoshua embarks on his leadership journey, he is repeatedly strengthened with the words חֲזַ֣ק וֶאֱמָ֔ץ, be strong and resolute. This phrase appears four times in this opening perek of Sefer Yehoshua. Why the repetition? Why the insistence on this charge? The Abarbanel suggests that these directives, rather than reflecting a weakness in Yehoshua, speak to four distinct aspects of his leadership.

The first directive is addressed to Yehoshua as he leads the people:
חֲזַ֖ק וֶאֱמָ֑ץ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תַּנְחִיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי לַאֲבוֹתָ֖ם לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶֽם׃, Be strong and resolute, for you shall apportion to this people the land that I swore to their fathers (Yehoshua 1:6). As a leader, Yehoshua would face moments of doubt and dissent from within the nation. His leadership might be questioned; the people might waver in their confidence. In this moment, Yehoshua is reminded: חֲזַ֣ק וֶאֱמָ֔ץ—stand strong and resolute!

The second charge shifts focus to Yehoshua's own spiritual resilience:
רַק֩ חֲזַ֨ק וֶֽאֱמַ֜ץ מְאֹ֗ד לִשְׁמֹ֤ר לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ כְּכָל־הַתּוֹרָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר צִוְּךָ֙ מֹשֶׁ֣ה עַבְדִּ֔י... לֹֽא־יָמ֡וּשׁ סֵפֶר֩ הַתּוֹרָ֨ה הַזֶּ֜ה מִפִּ֗יךָ...Be strong and resolute to observe all of the Torah... Let not this Book of Teaching cease from your lips...(Yehoshua 1:7-8). The Torah is Yehoshua's guidepost, his anchor amidst the trials he will face. In a world of shifting values, Yehoshua is tasked with unwavering devotion to the Torah. By internalizing its teachings day and night, Yehoshua would find the strength to confront the religious and spiritual challenges ahead.

The third directive addresses Yehoshua's fear:
הֲל֤וֹא צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ חֲזַ֣ק וֱֶאֱמָ֔ץ אַל־תַּעֲרֹ֖ץ וְאַל־תֵּחָ֑ת כִּ֤י עִמְּךָ֙ ה' אֱלֹקיךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּלֵֽךְ׃, Have I not commanded you: Be strong and resolute; do not be afraid or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Yehoshua 1:9). Hashem assures Yehoshua — courage is not the absence of fear, but the faith to move forward despite it, knowing that Hashem walks beside him.

And finally, the fourth charge does not come from Hashem but from the people themselves: כׇּל־אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יַמְרֶה אֶת־פִּיךָ... רַק חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ, Anyone who flouts your commands and does not obey every order you give shall be put to death. Only be strong and resolute! (Yehoshua 1:18). This is the people's voice — a declaration of unity. Leadership draws strength not only from divine charge but from communal commitment. The people echo Hashem's words, affirming: we are with you, we stand together, we share this journey.

These timeless words resonate far beyond Yehoshua's personal mission. They echo for us today as we conclude the reading of the Torah and begin again from Bereishit. We close the Torah with the words: חזק, חזק, ונתחזק — Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another. On this day, we do not simply celebrate the Torah's completion; we affirm our collective promise to uphold it together.

Being strong is not confined to the moments when we read the Torah — it is about how we live the Torah. It is found in our compassion, in our courage, and in our shared sense of responsibility. Over these past two years, we have learned the meaning of חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ in ways we could never have imagined. We have remained strong and resolute — in our faith, in our unity, and in our unwavering belief that light will emerge from darkness.

And now, as we stand at this moment — with tremendous joy at the return of the hostages — we carry these same words on our lips and in our hearts. Our collective strength has not wavered. We have prayed, advocated, and held one another through uncertainty and pain. Like Yehoshua and his people, we have walked forward with courage, trusting that Hashem walks beside us still.

May we merit to see the fulfillment of those words soon — חזק, חזק, ונתחזק — may we be strong, may we strengthen one another, and may our strength draw forth compassion, healing, and peace for all of Am Yisrael.