Reflections on Mattot–Masei, the Conclusion of the Book of Numbers
This week we read the final two portions of the Book of Numbers—Mattot and Masei. As we prepare to close the fourth book of the Torah, we traditionally say, “Hazak, hazak, v’nithazek—Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another.”
These words remind us that we are not on this journey alone. Our strength is magnified when we uplift one another, support each other’s growth, and co-create spaces of healing, connection, and meaning.
Illuminations from the Parashiyot
For Mattot, I chose to illustrate Numbers 32:5, where the tribes of Reuven and Gad ask Moses for land on the eastern side of the Jordan:
“If it pleases you, let this land be given to your servants as a heritage”
Their request is more than geographic; it is about honoring personal needs within the context of communal responsibility. This inspired the prayer below:
Illuminating Choices
A Prayer for Parasha 42, Matot
May we celebrate the opportunity
to choose what matters to us,
and may we be blessed with the ability
to make wise and healthy choices.
May we recognize that joy and sorrow
are not mutually exclusive,
choose to practice positivity,
and live with intention, purpose, and joy.
May we be blessed and bolstered by kindness
and have the opportunity to be a blessing to others.
May we feel connected to community,
taking time to appreciate and acknowledge
those who make a difference in the world.
May we choose our thoughts and words with care
so that all we say and do will be a reflection of our best selves.
May we find light in the darkness,
and may the light of our souls
illuminate a path for others.
Masei begins with a list of the Israelites’ 42 encampments during their wilderness journey—a reminder that growth unfolds step by step, over time. I chose to illustrate Numbers 35:34:
“ I am God, who dwells among the children of Israel.”
This verse is a sacred call to remember that the Divine presence dwells among us, and that how we live matters. It inspired the following prayer:
Strengthening Each Other
A Prayer for Parasha 43, Masei
We strengthen each other
by reaching out in kindness
and listening with love.
We strengthen each other
when we share our personal story
and invite others to share theirs.
We strengthen each other
by creating sacred spaces
and speaking words that uplift, encourage, and inspire.
We strengthen each other
by looking for things that unite
rather than divide us.
We strengthen each other
by cultivating the wisdom to respond
rather than react.
We strengthen each other
by using our innate gifts
to make the world a better place.
May the light of Torah always inspire us
to work together to build
a caring, connected community.
Hazak, Hazak, v’nithazek —
Be Strong, Be Strong,
and let us continue to strengthen one another.
The Month of Av
As we conclude B’midbar, we also welcome the month of Av—a time filled with both sorrow and spiritual potential. Traditionally associated with the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem, Av invites us to reflect on loss and brokenness while gently beginning the sacred process of healing.
Av is a challenging month for me personally; in addition to the communal grief we all feel as we approach Tisha B’Av, I mourn the loss of my beloved husband, Andy Trattner, who died on the 4th of Av, 5771. A lot of the work I do in the grief world is inspired by this loss.
Every year I make a new design to commemorate Andy’s yartzeit. This year I created the commemoration in ZenScribe, the soon-to-be-released platform that allows you to easily create customized Judaic certificates, visual tefillah, prayers, and much more. It has hundreds of design templates (featuring my work!), and although the site is still in beta-testing, we are close enough to launching that I invite you to peruse (and use!) the site now. www.MyZenScribe.com.
Blessing for the New Month of Av
May the month of Av be a time of gentle turning —
of remembering, releasing, and reimagining.
May we have the courage to face what is broken,
and the faith to believe in the possibility of repair.
May we honor our losses without being defined by them,
and find ways to transform sorrow into strength.
May we walk gently through these sacred days,
surrounded by compassion, held in community,
and nourished by the hope of renewal.
May the sparks of holiness buried in the rubble
be rekindled within us —
lighting our path with resilience, justice, and love.
Ken yehi ratzon — may it be so.
Journaling Questions
- What choices have helped shape your spiritual path this year?
- How do you practice strengthening others through words or actions?
- What does “sacred space” mean to you — and how can you help create it?
- As we approach Tisha B’Av, what are you grieving, and what are you beginning to rebuild?
- In what ways can you embody “Hazak, hazak, v’nithazek” in your life this week?
Closing Blessing
May you walk into this new month
with courage in your heart
and compassion in your soul.
May you be strengthened by the wisdom of Torah
and by the love of those who walk beside you.
May you trust your inner light
to illuminate the way forward,
and may you be a source of strength and blessing to others.
Hazak, hazak, v’nithazek —
Be strong, be strong,
and let us strengthen one another.
and let us strengthen one another.