"Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them.
For the LORD your G-D is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
וְאָמַר אֲלֵהֶם שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַתֶּם קְרֵבִים הַיּוֹם לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל-אֹיְבֵיכֶם; אַל-יֵרַךְ לְבַבְכֶם, אַל-תִּירְאוּ וְאַל-תַּחְפְּזוּ וְאַל-תַּעַרְצוּ--מִפְּנֵיהֶם. ד כִּי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם--לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם-אֹיְבֵיכֶם, לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם.
[ Book of Deuteronomy 20: 3-4 דברים פרק כ ]
This unconventional chapter addresses the warrior's heightened state of consciousness before going into battle, as a privilege rather than a duty, and singles-outs the men who are not allowed to join their brothers in combat.
The G'mara (collection of scholarly discussions) points out the deep connection between wearing T'FILIN and walking fearless into battle, and, the implications of the mind being distracted between tying on T'FILIN of hand and wearing T'FILIN of head.
The potential danger in this seemingly trivial offense, is demoralizing the rest of the army, and eventually disqualifies the individual from marching the warpath with his fellow warriors.
The message here is quite deep: Hand T'filin symbolizes the outer world of action, and, T'filin of the head - symbolizes the inner world of thought.
One must never disjoin between these dualistic worlds.
The important lesson is - it's useless to breach between the world of thought & speech and the world of action & movement. There are those who excel in talking and conversation, but when it’s time to deliver - their promises are proven worthless. In contrast, there are some, who are engaged all their lives in doing, but without thinking behind their actions.
The war in question, isn't necessarily a war against a human enemy.
From the moment we wake up in the morning until we go to bed, each and every day, we face daily challenges and confront countless struggles.
The only way to ensure success when fighting the winning fight, is by understanding and practicing the holistic connection between thought and action.
Have a blessed and productive rest of your week, stay safe and ...stay #dangerous my friends