In an article by Rabbi Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik, "Catharsis" (in his book, Five D'rashot), Rabbi Soloveitchik distinguishes between two traits, gevura and koach, which in English ostensibly both mean "might". Yet, koach really connotes physical strength, whereas gevura connotes spiritual valor.
A gibor is someone who possesses spiritual valor. "Who is the gibor?" the rabbis ask. "It is he who conquers his evil impulse." The physically strong person needs no gevura when he fights those weaker than himself. By contrast, when the physically weak person fights someone physically stronger than himself, he demonstrates gevura.
Gevura means fighting even when the chances of victory are very small, when logic dictates that one should surrender since, in rational terms, the battle seems lost. Gevura means doing the impossible. On Chanuka and Purim we bless G-d "for the miracles, for the redemption, for the gevurot and the triumphs, and for the battles which You performed for our ancestors in those days at this season." (Al HaNissim prayer) The miracle is that gevura overcame koach.
Rabbi Soloveitchik adds:
"If you ask me who is a Jew, I will answer you: Whoever leads a valorous life is a Jew. In my eyes, a Jew is someone who is willing to be a hero, to always be in the minority, to be ready to fight. Part of what makes a Jew special is his living a heroic life.... It means sometimes fighting alone on a dark night, as when Jacob 'was left alone and struggled with a man until the dawn.' (Genesis 32:25) This represents the inner content of the Jew... that Jewish life means leading a life of valor."
Indeed, Rabbi Yosef Karo begins his Shulchan Aruch legal code with the concept of gevura, saying, "A person should show the valor [yitgaber] of a lion, getting up in the morning to serve G-d."
Today, the inhabitants of Gush Katif and Samaria, the settlers wherever they live, those who love Eretz Yisrael and are faithful to it, are the heroes of our generation. You, the settlers, stand fearless against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, with his brutal efforts to trample us. So to speak, all the power is in his hands ? the army, the police, the "law", the legal system, the media and the country's wealth. He is using strong-arm tactics against the settlers, the people of faith, Torah and action. These people are devoted and faithful to their people, Torah and land.
They are fearless people. The Arabs have shed their blood like water and many of them have died martyrs' deaths, sanctifying G-d's name. Many of them have left behind entire families of widows and orphans, who are continuing to hold on, out of faith and love for the land of our life's blood: in Kfar Darom; Netzarim; Netzer Chazani; Gan Or; N'vei Dekalim; Itamar; Hevron; Yitzhar; Har Bracha; Psagot; Beit El; Ofra; and many dozens of other settlements. Those citizens - widows and orphans holding on with their fingernails to the land of our life's blood - lack the brutal strong-arm tactics of Sharon, yet they possess valor, love and faith. No force in the world will be able to break their spirit and their faith.
Most certainly, victory will go to those who possess faith, for little David, the believer, beat the brutal Goliath. For thousands of years, all the brutal people from within and without did not succeed in breaking the faith and valor of the Jewish People, the living connection to Eretz Yisrael.
Regarding the marvelous settlers, who with their self-sacrifice bring merit to the entire Jewish People down through the generations, it was already said, "Those who are insulted without insulting in return; those who hear themselves humiliated without responding; those who act out of love and rejoice in suffering are the living fulfillment of, 'Those that love Him are as the sun when it goes forth in all its might.'" (Judges 5:31; Shabbat 80b)
Residents of Judea and Samaria! How fortunate you are and how good is your lot! Be strong and courageous, my brothers, renowned heroes.
[For more information regarding studies at the Machon Meir English Department, please visit http://www.machonmeir.org.il/english/page.asp?id=3 or email English1@machonmeir.org.il.]
A gibor is someone who possesses spiritual valor. "Who is the gibor?" the rabbis ask. "It is he who conquers his evil impulse." The physically strong person needs no gevura when he fights those weaker than himself. By contrast, when the physically weak person fights someone physically stronger than himself, he demonstrates gevura.
Gevura means fighting even when the chances of victory are very small, when logic dictates that one should surrender since, in rational terms, the battle seems lost. Gevura means doing the impossible. On Chanuka and Purim we bless G-d "for the miracles, for the redemption, for the gevurot and the triumphs, and for the battles which You performed for our ancestors in those days at this season." (Al HaNissim prayer) The miracle is that gevura overcame koach.
Rabbi Soloveitchik adds:
"If you ask me who is a Jew, I will answer you: Whoever leads a valorous life is a Jew. In my eyes, a Jew is someone who is willing to be a hero, to always be in the minority, to be ready to fight. Part of what makes a Jew special is his living a heroic life.... It means sometimes fighting alone on a dark night, as when Jacob 'was left alone and struggled with a man until the dawn.' (Genesis 32:25) This represents the inner content of the Jew... that Jewish life means leading a life of valor."
Indeed, Rabbi Yosef Karo begins his Shulchan Aruch legal code with the concept of gevura, saying, "A person should show the valor [yitgaber] of a lion, getting up in the morning to serve G-d."
Today, the inhabitants of Gush Katif and Samaria, the settlers wherever they live, those who love Eretz Yisrael and are faithful to it, are the heroes of our generation. You, the settlers, stand fearless against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, with his brutal efforts to trample us. So to speak, all the power is in his hands ? the army, the police, the "law", the legal system, the media and the country's wealth. He is using strong-arm tactics against the settlers, the people of faith, Torah and action. These people are devoted and faithful to their people, Torah and land.
They are fearless people. The Arabs have shed their blood like water and many of them have died martyrs' deaths, sanctifying G-d's name. Many of them have left behind entire families of widows and orphans, who are continuing to hold on, out of faith and love for the land of our life's blood: in Kfar Darom; Netzarim; Netzer Chazani; Gan Or; N'vei Dekalim; Itamar; Hevron; Yitzhar; Har Bracha; Psagot; Beit El; Ofra; and many dozens of other settlements. Those citizens - widows and orphans holding on with their fingernails to the land of our life's blood - lack the brutal strong-arm tactics of Sharon, yet they possess valor, love and faith. No force in the world will be able to break their spirit and their faith.
Most certainly, victory will go to those who possess faith, for little David, the believer, beat the brutal Goliath. For thousands of years, all the brutal people from within and without did not succeed in breaking the faith and valor of the Jewish People, the living connection to Eretz Yisrael.
Regarding the marvelous settlers, who with their self-sacrifice bring merit to the entire Jewish People down through the generations, it was already said, "Those who are insulted without insulting in return; those who hear themselves humiliated without responding; those who act out of love and rejoice in suffering are the living fulfillment of, 'Those that love Him are as the sun when it goes forth in all its might.'" (Judges 5:31; Shabbat 80b)
Residents of Judea and Samaria! How fortunate you are and how good is your lot! Be strong and courageous, my brothers, renowned heroes.
[For more information regarding studies at the Machon Meir English Department, please visit http://www.machonmeir.org.il/english/page.asp?id=3 or email English1@machonmeir.org.il.]