The Torah clearly addresses, for us throughout the ages, the prescription for overcoming fear and doubt when Moshe Rabbinu reassures his disciple Yehoshua saying: (Parshas Vayeilech 31: 7-8) “Chazak v’ematz,” – “Be strong and courageous!”  Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch explains: “Remain firm in taking the knowledge of your tasks from the Torah and be strong in overcoming all obstacles in carrying them out. Firm in principles and strong in carrying them out are the first demands made on a leader.” This means we need to put our full trust (strength) in Hashem’s Torah acknowledging that everything that transpires emanates from His will. Only then can we successfully overcome all obstacles.

   This Torah section then continues with the words: “…, for you shall come with this people to the Land that Hashem swore to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. Hashem – it is He that goes before you; He will be with you; He will not release you nor will He forsake you; do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.”  An obvious question arises when pondering these pasukim. How, after such assured statement of security that Hashem will cause them to inherit the Land, go before them, be with them and not forsake them, is there any room for possible fear or dismay?

 Perhaps the Torah here is teaching us all a deep psychological   insight about human nature that even substantive intellectual knowledge will not automatically eliminate fear and anxiety. Therefore, the Torah directs us to be strong in following its teachings and courageous in fulfilling it, in that case Hashem promises us that He will be with us; He will not let go of us, nor will He forsake us. This foundational paradigm should serve as a pillar of idealism to all of us that in any task that we are assigned in life, we will be able to approach it fearlessly and courageously putting all our trust in Hashem.

            Let us now continue to highlight some unusual words or phrases in-order to bring us to a higher awareness of how these pasukim can also apply to us in our lives.

                   The first question is why the Torah begins with the word       Vayikra – And Moseh summoned Yehoshua, rather than simply saying Moseh said to Yehoshua before the eyes of all Israel¼? To this we will bring a comment from the Ramban on the first word of Parshas Vayikra. ‘After the Mishkan had been completed as the dwelling for the (Shechinah) Divine radiance, Moseh Rabbanu was fearful to enter it due to the its holiness; therefore Hashem called out to Moseh to reassure him that the Mishkan had been made to benefit them through their entering and doing the proper (avoda) service’. So perhaps we can say that the choice of the word Vayikra here too was to reassure Yehoshua that his active role in leading the nation was desired by Hashem. 

              Let us now ask what is the difference in meaning between the words  Chazak V’Amatz – be strong and courageous? Strength is a great virtue but when it stands alone it can be kept at a level of confinement only being used as a protective attribute. Courageous on the other hand is a proactive (meda) attribute but doesn’t necessarily contain within itself the quality of strength; therefore Moshe blessed to Yehoshua to be able to unite both these qualities so as to be successful in his duties as leader of the Jewish nation.

           The Torah’s declares that not only will we be successful if we follow the Torah, but ‘Hashem will cause us to inherit it; it is He that goes before us; He will be with us; He will not release us or forsake us’. We can see this as a reassurance to all of us, that if we listen and adhere correctly to the will of Hashem, he will lead and guide us through our challenges in life.

          There is also another profound thought woven in these words of the Torah. If Hashem leads us and assures us that we will conquer all our enemies, then what are we actually doing? To this the Torah tells us to be strong – in following the Torah and courageous – in overcoming our inner personal fears, anxieties and doubts. That is to say that the strength and courage that the Torah is referring to is in cultivating the proper (emuna) faith and (betokanan) belief in Hashem. This means realizing, that on our own the nations of the world and natural cause and effect would swallow us up, but by being attached to Hashem through the Torah, He will fight our battles, making us successful.

          At the end of the Parsha (in pusack 23): Hashem commands Yehoshua ben Nun through Moshe saying: “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the children of Israel to the land that I have sworn to them, and I will be with you.” In the Sifri on Sefer Yehoshua 7:10 it is Yehoshua leadership that will cause them to inherit the land, which seems to mean that only if Yehoshua will go before them will they will succeed. The obvious question is why should the success of conquering and inheriting the land be so dependant on Yehoshua? If he failed to fulfill his duties, Hashem could simply replace him with another and yet the commentators imply that he is irreplaceable.

            This question we will answer with an extremely powerful lesson in ones personal obligation in life. In the mention of Yehoshua’s specific unique role in conquering and inheriting the land in Parsha Va’eschanen chpt. 3 pasukim 25 – 28, Parsha Vayeilech chpt. 31 pasukim 7 – 8  and in Sefer Yehoshua chpt. 7 pasuk 10 the commentators say that Yehoshua’s personal initiative was absolutely necessary and that if he relied on others to do the job, he would not have Divine assistance.                              This declaration of personal obligation is something that we all can gain tremendous value from. Each one of us has been brought into this world to fulfill a unique purpose therefore it behooves us to