Netzach is the fourth of the seven sefirot and the first of the second group. The first three, ‘chessed’ (kindness), ‘gevurah’ (justice/discipline) and ‘tifferet’ (beauty/harmony) are considered to represent a person’s upper body. While ‘netzach’ (eternity/endurance/victory), ‘hod’ (glory/splendor) and ‘yesod’ (foundation) represent the lower body. In particular ‘netzach’ and ‘hod’ are associated with the right and left thighs or feet respectively1.
The legs of a person are meant to both support a person firmly on the ground as well as propel them forward. Similarly, the attributes of netzach and hod compliment each other to keep people both grounded in reality as well as inspired to soar to new heights, the ability to endure the hardship so as to be able to bask in the glory of victory. The two work together to help people sustain the attributes of the first group of sefirot2. One cannot be kind, disciplined and beautiful all the time if they do not both have the stamina to maintain these attributes even during the hard times as well as to be inspired by the glory that comes from acting in accordance with them. Hod can be compared to ecstasy, like the energy at the beginning of the relationship, and netzach to doing the laundry, the energy that comes from being productive and responsible. Together they create a process of self-improvement3.
Therefore, netzach can be understood as the daily decisions we make that not only keep us alive but create a legacy. Rivka is the embodiment of understanding that by sticking to one’s principles, they can create an eternal legacy. Rivka was raised in an idolatrous home, but she was inspired (hod) to find the truth and to be a moral person. It must not have been easy for her to actualize her inspiration in her father’s home. Nevertheless, when Eliezer met her, it was clear to him that she had not only succeeded in actualizing her inspiration into action, but had consciously improved herself, manifesting in avodat Hashem, despite all the temptations to fall. Therefore, she was the right wife for Yitzchak, a man who is the personification of avodat Hashem4.
Rivka understood the importance of endurance for creating a legacy and becoming a victorious nation and the patience that is needed for both. Therefore, she understood that Esav, who always looked for instant gratification, would not be the right leader to guide her descendants to become an eternal nation. Rather, Yaakov, “a simple man of huts”, a man who was patient and took care of his daily responsibilities was the right leader.
Chana is also considered to be the quintessence of netzach. She understood that a woman’s legacy is her children5. She had to endure Penina, her husband’s second wife, birth legacy after legacy all the while ridiculing Chana for not having her own. Chana understood that as a Jew, her purpose was to serve Hashem in any and every way she possibly could. Therefore, in her tefillah, she first declared the ways in which each of her body parts serve Hashem and then she chastised Hashem for keeping her womb from serving Him. She then finished by promising that if Hashem would grant her the honor of serving Him by having a child, she would ensure that child would be dedicated to serving Hashem6.
On a deeper level it is not a stretch to say that Chana understood that the Jewish people would soon need a leader like Moshe, one whose entire being is dedicated to serving Hashem. Because only a leader who sees his position of power as part of service to the nation and therefore to Hashem, could be humble enough to not become power hungry but charismatic enough to ban the people together, especially when it came to victory in battle.
Due to Chana’s chinuch of Shmuel in his early years and Eli’s mentorship in the Mishkan, Shmuel became a prophet whose greatness is compared to that of Moshe7. Just like Moshe, Shmuel was not only the leader the Jewish people needed at the time but he helped establish themselves further as a nation for all eternity. Due to his upbringing, he was the only one who could truly recognize Shaul’s decision to leave the Amalek women, children, animals and king alive as short sighted and dishonest. Shmuel understood that Shaul did not have the endurance, patience, honesty nor foresight to lead the Jewish people to an eternal victory over Amalek, let alone establish a dynasty. In the same way, Shmuel was the perfect one to anoint David. He understood that David was a man of sincerity, fortitude, tolerance and the foresight to build a dynasty8.
By analyzing our ancestors’ actions, it is clear that the attribute of netzach is multifaceted. It seems like men use their devotion to Hashem to bring a political and military victory, while women use their devotion to raise the next generation. Together we create a nation with an everlasting legacy.
By committing to their devotion to Hashem Moshe, Shmuel and David were able to lead the Jewish people into a new era. Each one guided the people to remain loyal to Hashem through blood, sweat and tears to victory cheers. Rivka and Chana recognized that by bringing and raising a new generation they could nurture such a leader for their people.
By analyzing our ancestors’ actions, it is clear that the attribute of netzach is multifaceted. It seems like men use their devotion to Hashem to bring a political and military victory, while women use their devotion to raise the next generation. Together we create a nation with an everlasting legacy.
Moshe, Shmuel and David understood that devotion to Hashem will lead to both political and military victory. In the same way, so many photos and stories have been circulating of young soldiers devotion to Hashem even while fighting in Gaza, from those who simply chose to spend precious sleeping hours to daven to those who searched for ways to light chanukkah candles. If we continue to be inspired by their devotion and to ban together in devotion to Hashem, He will lead us to a military victory.
Rivka and Chana taught us that even with a military victory and peace, it can only be maintained by raising future generations. Unfortunately, we have lost many of our fellow Jews in the past year. As husbands and fathers leave for the front lines, it is the women who have been holding down the fort at home. Countless brave women have been continuing the mitzvah of peru u’revu and raising the next generation to create an everlasting legacy.
Together the men and women of Bnei Yisroel are emulating our ancestors. Together we will endure as they did. Together we will be victorious; b’yachad n’natzeach!
- https://aish.com/kabbala_20_netzach_and_hod_means_to_an_end/
↩︎ - https://breslov.org/sefirah-of-the-week-netzach-hod-part-ii-2/
↩︎ - https://www.sefaria.org.il/sheets/484412?lang=he ↩︎
- https://ygolan.org/article-category/%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%A7%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9F-%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%A0%D7%A6%D7%97/
↩︎ - https://www.sefaria.org.il/sheets/93836?lang=he ↩︎
- https://torah.org/learning/women-class11/
↩︎ - https://aish.com/kabbala_20_netzach_and_hod_means_to_an_end/
↩︎ - https://breslov.org/sefirah-of-the-week-netzach-hod/
↩︎
