Ometz Lev: Courage

Exploring the mussar soul trait of ometz lev | courage.

Photo by Bamdad Norouzian on Unsplash

What is Mussar?

Ometz Lev (אמץ לב) Courage

Av is the Moon of Beginnings and Endings in my naming of the moons.  This is the month where we have our communal day of mourning on the 9th of Av (Tisha B’Av) that commemorates the fall of the Temple and a variety of other moments of painful cataclysmic changes to the Jewish people over several millennia.  After a few days of healing, we are presented with the holiday of Tu B’Av which celebrates the ancient grape harvest and was a time when young women would wear borrowed white dresses and dance, frolic, and partner up with young men or desired partner of any gender.

In the teachings of Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute, Av is the month of the Chochamah (חכמה) Wise Woman netivah – archetype or pathway of the Divine.  At times of great change we both need to be open to wisdom and they are times where we have the opportunity to gain wisdom.  It both takes courage to be wise and open to wisdom of others and being courageous also requires wisdom.

You have to know when to be afraid and when to not let that fear stop you. And love – well that is total courage because you are opening your heart to someone and risking being hurt. 

Bringing the wise into your home takes courage, for they will challenge all you hold dear. (R’Rami Shapiro commentary on Pirkei Avot 1:4)