Strength

STRENGTH

,םָלוֹעָה ךֶלֶמ וּניֵהֹלֱא הוהי הָּתאַ ךוּרָּב .ַחֹּכ ףֵעָיַל ןֵתוֹנַּה Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Majesty of the world, who gives strength to the weary.

LEARNING

The word koach, “strength,” is used in the Torah to describe the self-congratulatory attitude some regress into when they become successful. The Torah warns us not to say, “My strength and the might of my hands have brought me my success.”24With this blessing, we not only ask God to give us strength when we need it, but we also remind ourselves that when we feel strong, there’s divine strength flowing through us.

INSPIRATION

We all have strengths. Our patriarch Abraham was strong in kindness. Rachel was strong in her sense of privacy. Joseph was strong in his morality. King David was strong in using his musical and poetical talents to express gratitude to God. Queen Esther was strong in self-sacrifice for her people. Remember your strengths and talents, thank God for them, and use them to better the world.

REFLECTION

What do you do when you are fatigued? Some people drink coffee, some take a rest, and some simply plow through the exhaustion. We all need strength to get through our day. When you are feeling weary, could you consider adding talking with God or noticing the gift of breath to your arsenal?

PERSONAL PRAYER

As I open this day weary from the night, fearing the day’s hardship, I ask of You to give me the wisdom to notice and welcome the powers within me. Remind me to shine a light on my strengths, and empower me to act on my feelings to do good. Give me the sense to recognize powers in others. Fulfill me when I am drained to rise above my work, to achieve meaning, and to be mindful and appreciative of my successes.

— Roni Amitai-Raz, Tel Aviv, Israel