This week’s Torah portions conclude the book of Bamidbar.
Ashkenazim mark this milestone with the words:
Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek.
Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another.
There is something beautiful about ending a book of the Torah this way. Strength is not only about finishing the journey. It is about preparing to continue it.
That feels especially fitting for Parashat Matot-Masei.
At first glance, this week's double portion seems to move in many different directions. It opens with the laws of vows, reviews the Israelites' forty-two journeys through the wilderness, establishes the boundaries of the Land of Israel, and concludes by returning to the daughters of Tzelofchad, whose story began last week.
Yet woven through all of these seemingly different topics is one powerful idea:
How do we faithfully hold what has been entrusted to us?
The opening laws about vows remind us that our words matter. What we promise, what we commit to, and what we speak into the world shape the people around us.
The boundaries of the Land remind us that inheritance is not simply something we receive. It is something we are entrusted to care for.
And the Torah closes Bamidbar by returning to the daughters of Tzelofchad. Last week they courageously ensured that their family's inheritance would not be lost. This week they willingly embrace the responsibility of preserving that inheritance within their tribe.
They are not simply recipients.
They are stewards.
As I reflected on this, I realized that stewardship may be one of the most important responsibilities of grandparenting.
Grandparents are entrusted with so much.
Stories.
Traditions.
Recipes.
Blessings.
Family history.
Faith.
Resilience.
Joy.
None of these truly belong to us. They were gifts we received from those who came before us, shaped by our own lives, and now hold for a time before placing them into the hands of the next generation.
The closing chapters of Bamidbar also recount every place the Jewish people traveled during their forty years in the wilderness. At first, it feels like little more than a travel log.
But perhaps it is something much deeper.
Our inheritance is not built in a single moment.
It is formed across the journeys of our lives.
Through celebrations and disappointments.
Moments of clarity and moments of wandering.
Each stop along the way shapes what we eventually pass on.
Legacy is not something we create at the end of life.
It is something we live every day.
As we prepare to begin the Book of Devarim next week, perhaps this is the perfect moment to pause and ask ourselves:
What has God entrusted me with and how am I caring for it, while it is in my hards ?
Joyful. Think of one gift you inherited from a parent, grandparent, teacher, or mentor that still brings you joy today. Thank them silently, or if you are able, thank them personally.
Intentional. Choose one thing you hope will continue long after you. This week, take one small step toward passing it on. Tell a story. Share a recipe. Teach a blessing. Invite a grandchild into a tradition that has shaped your family.
Connection. Ask your grandchild or your adult child, "What is something about our family that you hope never changes?" Listen carefully. Their answer may reveal that your inheritance is already taking root.
As we close Bamidbar together:
Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek.
May we find strength not only to preserve what is precious, but to faithfully carry it forward for the generations still to come.
I cannot help but hear something especially beautiful in these words for grandparents. The three repetitions of chazak remind me of the three generations we hold together: grandparents, parents, and grandchildren. Then, instead of ending with one more declaration of strength, we say v'nitchazek: let us be strengthened together. Because the work of carrying our inheritance forward was never meant to be done alone.
May we be strengthened as we strengthen the generations who will one day carry our inheritance long after we are gone.
Wishing you a Shabbat of joyful, intentional connection,
Rabbanit Sharona Hassan
Founder of Grand Plan
You can sponsor a weekly connection email or Connecting Jewish Grandparents podcast episode.
Use this learning in honor or memory of someone you love.
A parent.
A grandparent.
A child.
Whether celebrating a joyous life-cycle event or honoring the memory of those no longer with us, it is a meaningful way to connect the generations and mark a legacy.
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