Malchus is the final middah, and its goal is to help us take all the earlier middos and bring them down into the world of action. It is the middah of leadership and authority, but also of emunah and reliance. How do these two qualities fit together?
If someone is a leader, but the people he leads don’t rely on him and trust him, he won’t be able to lead them effectively. It is the people who actually give him the strength to lead, and in that sense the leader is dependent on them. The job of the one receiving is to make himself as open and empty as possible, so that he can fully receive. That’s why malchus is also described as having nothing of its own.
DAY 43 חסד שבמלכות
One who wants to be a leader may naturally think that the way to lead effectively is with strength. But leadership through kindness, which comes from a real desire to help and a genuine care for others, can often go much further. Chesed within malchus tells us that instead of leading people by pushing them, we can draw them close with love.
- Do I give enough of my good-heartedness to the people I am responsible for?
DAY 44 גבורה שבמלכות
A leader can easily become influenced by what others think of him. That can lead to decisions based on what feels best and makes him look good in people’s eyes instead of what’s actually right. Gevurah within malchus is to have the strength to stay focused and do what is truly needed, even if it is not popular or comfortable.
- Can I do what is right for people even if I am criticized for it?
DAY 45 תפארת שבמלכות
Tiferes is balance and harmony. A strong leader knows how to use both kindness and strength in the right way. When that balance is there, leadership feels right, and people respect it and are willing to follow it, not because they’re forced, but out of a sense of awe and respect.
- Do I lead with a healthy balance of kindness and strength?
DAY 46 נצח שבמלכות
Like with all the middos, real impact only comes with consistency. True leadership is built through steady, daily, effort, and not just when leading feels exciting and meaningful. Netzach within malchus means to stick with it even when it isn’t easy.
- How consistent am I willing to be in order to build something real and keep it going even when it isn’t so glamorous?
DAY 47 הוד שבמלכות
Humility might not seem like it belongs with leadership, but hod within malchus teaches us that in any area where we think we are in control, Hashem is the true leader. Knowing that Hashem is really in charge, and we are just his messengers gives us the strength to follow His guidance and lead with humility.
- In an area I feel I am in charge, do I remember the One who is really leading me?
DAY 48 יסוד שבמלכות
Yesod (representing connection) and malchus are closely connected. Yesod within malchus is a balance of connecting to others and then having a positive influence through that relationship. Malchus without connection is like a dictatorship, ruling without any relationship.
- How deep is my personal relationship with the people I am trying to influence?
DAY 49 מלכות שבמלכות
Here we are, at the final step of the 49-day journey! On the first night of Pesach, a strong light is gifted to us, but after the seder it is taken away, and we spend 49 days working to earn it back. Each day, we gain something new, and everything we’ve built settles deeper within us. When it finally reaches the deepest parts of who we are, the process is complete.
Malchus within malchus means is when emunah becomes fully real in a person’s life. Not just something he thinks about, but emunah that fills everything he does.
- Take a few minutes and think about which parts of your life still feel disconnected. Remind yourself that Hashem is present in everything. There is no part of life that is outside of that. With that awareness, you can come ready to receive the great light of Shavuos.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 81.