And the Winner Is...

While we await the final results of the Presidential Election (and we may have a long time to wait), I’d like to share who will emerge victorious in this process.  This is not the winner on the ballot.  There is a clear winner who will emerge victorious from a process that has been full of anger, anxiety, and angst.

אֵיזֶהוּ גִבּוֹר, הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת יִצְרוֹ

Who is a gibbor? One who controls his yeitzer.

Gibbor is usually translated as hero.  Yeitzer is usually translated as inclination.

I think we can interpret this expression to mean: Who is the winner?  One who can control one’s passion.  Or impatience.  Or rage.  Or hyper-partisanship.

I love a good election as much as the next guy.  The volume, however, has gotten out of hand.  I feel like the old, fuddy-duddy parents wishing their kids would just lower the music!

The 2020 election will be decided.  Some people will be happy.  Some people will be upset.  The winners will be those who can move forward with a positive attitude and a feeling that we are all in this together.

One of my favorite teachings is why we follow Beit Hillel instead of Beit Shammai.  The Talmud (Eruvin 13b) explains that Beit Hillel would study and teach both their opinion and that of Beit Shammai, and, moreover, they would teach the view of Beit Shammai before their own.

We should absolutely remain committed to our principles and our candidates.  We are winners when we remember there is another side.  We win when we tune out the noise and the anger and the disappointment.  We win when we want the best for ourselves and also for those with whom we disagree.  It worked for Beit Hillel, and it can work for us.

Mazal tov, winners!