Ometz Lev Value: Ometz Lev Ometz means strength. Lev means heart. Strength of heart is usually understood as courage. This could be the bravery that David showed when he faced Goliath. But there are other kinds of ometz lev. The haftarah for Hanukkah comes from Zechariah. Verse 4:6 says, “‘Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit’ said the Eternal of Hosts.” It teaches us that one Jewish understanding of courage is faith in God. Think of the famous text from Psalm 23:4 “Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness, I fear no harm, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff — they comfort me.” Here we have the same idea again — that connection to God can be a source of strength. Many Jews have shown ometz lev in battle or in moments that saved Jewish lives. But there is a different kind of ometz lev — the courage to take control of one’s self and become the best possible person one can be. In Pirkei Avot (4:1) we learn, “Who is strong? One who conquers one’s own worst tendencies.” One can show ometz lev in dramatic moments, and one can live ometz lev everyday.
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