Hazak Hazak V’Nithazek

When we started our day we were ready for comfort. After a long day of hiking and seeing many sites in Galilee, we were ready for what one might call, a “comfortable” day. In fact, we were ready for a day on our terms; yet, what we learned seemed to put this thought to the test.

Every morning we gather and share a meal together. We share stories of how we slept, dreams we had, how sore our bodies are; but when we walk on the bus, we are ready for adventure. We are like the Israelites in the desert, sandals strapped, food in hand, chasing after the cloud by day and the fire by night. This trip has stretched us and reminded us that though we often seek what is convenient for us, it is actually the difficult path, the hard path that grows us.

So as we come to our halfway point of the trip, we are tired yet filled with life. However, we know the comfort zone can be a bad thing. And as we crept closer to this comfort zone, we remembered the words spoken to young Jewish men (and women) as they entered the community at the completion of their Bar-Mitzvah: “Hazak Hazak V’Nithazek,” which means, “Be Strong, Be Strong, And May We Be Strengthened By You.” This was spoken not only for the sake of the young child now becoming a member of the community, but to remind the community that they too are strengthened by the addition to the community.

With 5 days in, and 5 left to go, we must be strong to strengthen one another. And so we sit eagerly at each site with open eyes, and open hearts, waiting for the whisper of God to find its way to our ears.

Today, hoping for comfort, we found strength. We started our journey at Katzrin, a Jewish settlement that was rebuilt to give us a better idea of what such a settlement might have looked like in the 1st-3rd century. We then went on to an Israeli bunker along the edge of Syria where we could see a glimpse of the horrible devastation right beyond the border. After that we stopped at Caesarea Philippi to learn more about what exactly Jesus meant when he told Peter that the gates of Hades would not prevail against him. We even stopped at a modern olive press and winery to try some of the most amazing olive oil and wine that Israel has to offer. But the spot that shaped us this day: Tel Dan.

It’s at Tel Dan where Jeroboam erected idols to false gods within a replica of the temple in Jerusalem. The tribe of Dan was given land at Bet Shemesh by God but they would have to take the land for themselves. They would have to be strong with God at their side. The Tribe of Dan opted instead for comfort. They wanted an easy land where they would have no difficulty. So they forgot the history of their people, and forgot their God for the sake of their own comfort. It is here that we sat amongst the ruins of the ancient temple where pagan worship took place, despite the gift of land given to them by YHWH.

It may sound silly, but looking at the ruins of the temple before us, imagining the Tribe of Dan rejecting God, we came face to face with the comfort in our own lives. The comfort zone is a bad thing. The God who created this Earth calls us to be strong, he calls out to us, “Havak Havak V’Nithazek.” When we receive our strength from God, when we put God’s Kingdom before our kingdoms of comfort, what we find is an open road to Shalom. And it is on this road to Shalom, that may seem just beyond our reach, we find a God waiting to collect us into his arms. Comfort breeds complacency; collision breeds community. We are the new temple, the walking collision of heaven and earth, to strengthen those around us.

So as the sun sets in Israel along the Sea of Galilee, I have one thing to say to you all: Shabbat Shalom friends.