This week's parsha is Parshas Masei, which discusses the travels of Klal Yisroel. It is also the week of Shabbos Chazak, when we finish one of the five Chumashim and say "chazak, chazak, v'nischazeik". What connection can be drawn between these two points?
Perhaps we can suggest as follows: when a person is travelling, he is "out of his element". He is no longer secure in his comfortable, familiar surroundings, but rather he is out "in the wild", unaware of the dangers lurking just around the corner. The spiritual challenges he faces can be quite overwhelming. At a time like that, the solution is to band together with other people. As the pasuk says about Yaakov Avinu, "Vayevoseir Yaakov levado" - when Yaakov remained alone, with no one else with him - "vaye oveik ish imo" - only then was the Saro Shel Esav able to attack him. But when a person is together with friends, then "Ish es rei'eihu ya'azoru, ule achiv yomar chazak" - he can be strengthened enough to defeat the challenges that come his way. And that is perhaps why we end the parsha discussing Klal Yisroel's travels by saying "chazak, chazak, v'nischazeik" - to remind us of the importance of a traveler being mechazeik himself through his friends.
As we enter Bein Hazmanim, we should keep this lesson in mind, being that Bein Hazmanim is the "travel season". We should use this opportunity to meet with each other, to renew old relationships, and be mechazeik one another. And b'ezras Hashem, the chizuk will hopefully carry us through any challenges that may arise.
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