L ife is stressful. We live in a fast-paced world; every day every interaction presents difficulties on various fronts. There are physical pressures spiritual pressures issues within relationships — and within ourselves. What’s the secret to success in surmounting all these challenges?
The middah of savlanus encompasses all the components necessary for succeeding in life. Typically we think of savlanus as patience. Yet Rav Shlomo Wolbe in Alei Shur (Chelek Alef) describes savlanus as endurance — the ability to withstand and go onward. He presents an analogy of a man straining under a large burden on his back. Step after step he continues on his way without stooping to cast off his sack.
This middah encompasses the mundane challenges of life as well as the greater test of personal conflicts and struggles. The savlan can withstand being stuck in traffic despite knowing he’s running late. A true savlan can even eradicate that tension by switching the mood and humming as he waits out the bottleneck. How does he do it?
Three Tiers of Tolerance
The Gemara in Shabbos (78b) relates the greatness of those possessing this middah: “Those who are shamed and do not shame; they hear their disgrace and do not respond; they do so out of love and are happy in their suffering. About those it says (Shoftim 5:31): ‘Those who love Him are like the sun when it goes forth in its might.’ ”
