"The rabbis learned: Four things need strengthening - Torah, good deeds, prayer and proper behavior. How do we know this regarding Torah and good deeds? It says, 'Only be strong and courageous to observe to do according to the entire Torah.' (Joshua 1:7) 'Be strong' ? in Torah, 'and courageous' in good deeds.
"How do we know this regarding prayer? It says, 'Place your hopes in the L-rd. Be strong and courageous and place your hopes in the L-rd.' (Psalm 27:14)
"And how do we know this regarding proper behavior? It says, 'Be strong and courageous for our people and for the cities of our G-d. And may G-d do that which seems good to Him (II Samuel 10:12).'" (Berachot 32b)
Radak explains, "'And for the cities of our G-d': Lest our enemies, overpowering and defeating us, conquer and settle those cities. Once they do so, those cities will no longer be 'the cities of our G-d,' but 'the cities of other gods.'
"'And may G-d do that which seems good to Him': We must do our utmost to fight courageously, and G-d will then do what seems good to Him, for salvation belongs to Him."
Ralbag comments, "'Be strong for our people': We derive from this that it is inappropriate to rely on miracles. Rather, one should strive to his utmost to save himself. Then G-d will help."
Indeed, the entire Jewish People, and each individual Jew, is obligated to become constantly stronger in Torah learning, prayer, good deeds and proper comportment ? as our sages taught.
Today, the national convention of Machon Meir slated for 3 Tammuz at the Givat Ram Stadium in Jerusalem is approaching. Its purpose is to strengthen the people, Torah and the Land, and it is living proof of our sages' dictum that "the convening of the righteous is good for them and good for the world."
As is well-known, Machon Meir has been working for thirty years to reach out to those far removed, and to spread Torah. Machon Meir's friends, admirers and students are found throughout our country, from Kiryat Shemonah to Eilat, and this institution, whose name means "enlightenment", itself illuminates the land and its inhabitants with love and faith.
At the present time, however, when the people, Torah and Land of Israel are crying out to be strengthened, there is a great mitzvah and duty to assemble together, for a community has an infinitely greater influence than does an individual. We have to strengthen the unity and togetherness of our nation, especially when we hear voices calling for divisiveness in Israeli society.
We have to strengthen the Torah ? its students, teachers and institutions, considering the enormous difficulties that those institutions face.
We have to strengthen our hold on Eretz Yisrael. We have to strengthen the spirit of the brave pioneer settlers who sacrifice themselves for the sake of the people and the homeland.
With the Israeli government having spoken of uprooting settlements in the land of our life's blood, the call of the hour is literally to get up and go to Jerusalem and to cry out together in a loud voice: "Let us be strong and courageous for our people and for the cities of our G-d." Let us all provide one another with the needed encouragement.
"How do we know this regarding prayer? It says, 'Place your hopes in the L-rd. Be strong and courageous and place your hopes in the L-rd.' (Psalm 27:14)
"And how do we know this regarding proper behavior? It says, 'Be strong and courageous for our people and for the cities of our G-d. And may G-d do that which seems good to Him (II Samuel 10:12).'" (Berachot 32b)
Radak explains, "'And for the cities of our G-d': Lest our enemies, overpowering and defeating us, conquer and settle those cities. Once they do so, those cities will no longer be 'the cities of our G-d,' but 'the cities of other gods.'
"'And may G-d do that which seems good to Him': We must do our utmost to fight courageously, and G-d will then do what seems good to Him, for salvation belongs to Him."
Ralbag comments, "'Be strong for our people': We derive from this that it is inappropriate to rely on miracles. Rather, one should strive to his utmost to save himself. Then G-d will help."
Indeed, the entire Jewish People, and each individual Jew, is obligated to become constantly stronger in Torah learning, prayer, good deeds and proper comportment ? as our sages taught.
Today, the national convention of Machon Meir slated for 3 Tammuz at the Givat Ram Stadium in Jerusalem is approaching. Its purpose is to strengthen the people, Torah and the Land, and it is living proof of our sages' dictum that "the convening of the righteous is good for them and good for the world."
As is well-known, Machon Meir has been working for thirty years to reach out to those far removed, and to spread Torah. Machon Meir's friends, admirers and students are found throughout our country, from Kiryat Shemonah to Eilat, and this institution, whose name means "enlightenment", itself illuminates the land and its inhabitants with love and faith.
At the present time, however, when the people, Torah and Land of Israel are crying out to be strengthened, there is a great mitzvah and duty to assemble together, for a community has an infinitely greater influence than does an individual. We have to strengthen the unity and togetherness of our nation, especially when we hear voices calling for divisiveness in Israeli society.
We have to strengthen the Torah ? its students, teachers and institutions, considering the enormous difficulties that those institutions face.
We have to strengthen our hold on Eretz Yisrael. We have to strengthen the spirit of the brave pioneer settlers who sacrifice themselves for the sake of the people and the homeland.
With the Israeli government having spoken of uprooting settlements in the land of our life's blood, the call of the hour is literally to get up and go to Jerusalem and to cry out together in a loud voice: "Let us be strong and courageous for our people and for the cities of our G-d." Let us all provide one another with the needed encouragement.