In the beginning, God gave us breath and the courage to begin life on earth.
Where does our/my strength come from? What gives us/me chazak v’amatz—strength and courage?
God works miracles with a yadLit. Hand. The pointer used when reading the Torah, usually shaped like a tiny hand at its point. hazak, but, with the Egyptian army in pursuit, MosesThe quintessential Jewish leader who spoke face to face with God, unlike any other prophet, and who freed the people from Egypt, led them through the desert for forty years, and received the Torah on Mt. Sinai. His Hebrew name is Moshe. took a breath, held out his arm over the sea, and a strong east wind blew all night and turned the sea to dry ground.
In the dark, we wait, for deliverance, from MitzrayimLit. Egypt. Because the Hebrew word for narrow is tzar, Mitzrayim is also understood as "narrowness," as in, the narrow and confining places in life from which one emerges physically and spiritually.—the narrow place—to enter the promised land.Â
God’s ruakhLit. Spirit. Some new versions of blessings call God "Spirit of the World" (Ruakh Ha’olam), rather than "King of the World" (Melekh Ha'olam). through the night brings peace, rest, and courage to walk into the sea on dry land through the roiling wall of waters on each side.
We/I face the fear(s) that challenges us/me.
We/I give breath to calm the fear that enwraps us/me.
We/I draw strength from our/my community.
We cheer each other on.
We/I sing.
We shall overcome. I shall overcome.
We are not afraid. I am not afraid.
Deep in my heart, I do believe that we/I shall overcome some day.
Hazak Hazak v’nithazek (Strength, Strength, and May we be strengthened)
