Parshas VaYeilech - Advice to the next in line

What would you tell your successor in the work place, if you had a chance? I’d surmise that, for most people, this question is one they don’t often get to consider. The nature of job transitions is that whether due to retirement, taking a better position, or (God forbid) an unwelcome severing of connections, often we do not get to meet the person who takes our place. But if we were perchance granted some overlapping time, what would be the first item of advice you’d offer?

Moshe is given such an opportunity, towards the end of the Book of Devarim. Earlier, God informed Moshe (3:28) that his attendant Joshua would take over as leader of the Jewish people when Moshe’s term concluded. As Moshe nears the end of his farewell address to the Jewish people, he summons Joshua and publicly offers him some words of encouragement. His first words of advice are straightforward: “Chazak, V’EhMatz”/Be strong and have courage" (31:7). God offers the very same exhortation, when He instructs Joshua shortly after Moshe’s death with the same words – three times! (Joshua 1:6, 1:7, and 1:9). What meanings, values, and ideals do these two words convey?

A few years ago my daughter Penina was invited to give a Dvar Torah during her ninth grade orientation and she decided to offer a few thoughts on these two words. She cited the commentary of the Vilna Gaon, who explains that ‘Chazak/Be strong’ refers to physical fitness and ‘V’EhMatz/Have courage’ refers to spiritual resolve.

These two words, then, offer a valuable perspective to anyone starting an important new position. First and foremost, we must preserve our health and enhance our fitness so that we can physically handle the challenges of our role. At the same time, it is vital that we orient ourselves internally so we are positively motivated and actively engaged in our work for reasons that supercede our own personal concerns and desires.