Several related Zionist news items have made headlines in the past eight months: the horrific terror attack on Israel by Hamas; the criticism of Israeli government policies in rallies and by public figures; and, despite war and protests, the recent ranking of Israel as the fifth happiest country in the world. These events are also connected by the Hebrew root ת–ק–פ (tav, kof, feh), which means strength, including military might, and can be connected to valid passports, heart attacks, magazines and newspapers, couples counseling and the seasons of the year.

The root appears neither in the Five Books of Moses nor in the canonical books of the Prophets. It does occur, however, in the Hebrew Bible’s third section, the Writings—especially in those texts in which a monarchy’s תְּקִיפוּת (tekifut), strength, is central.

Queen Esther, after the defeat of Haman, sends two epistles to her subjects, one praising Mordechai for תָּקְפּוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ (tokpo u-gevurato), his military prowess and heroism, the other confirming the תֺּקֶף (tokef), halakhic status, of the newly created holiday of Purim. Daniel uses our root in an Aramaic word to interpret the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. It is in vain, he says, that you רְבַת וּתְקֵפְתְּ (revat u-tekaft), “have grown and become mighty.”

For centuries, congregations have hearkened to our root as the cantor chants the central liturgical poem of the Days of Awe, וּנְתַנֶּה‭ ‬תֹּקֶף (u-netanneh tokef), “Let us proclaim the mighty power [of the holiness of this day].”

October 7, with its הַתְקָפָה (hatkafah), surprise attack, by Hamas is already being viewed by Jews as a day to be solemnly memorialized. To give it additional gravity, perhaps, some reporters “upgrade” hatkafah to מִתְקָפָה (mitkafah), belligerent assault. Another derivation of our root, תְּקִיפָה (tekifah), attack, appears in reports of Israeli retaliatory strikes. More than one Israeli תְּקוּפוֹן (tekufon), periodical, has reported that policies of the government נִתְקְפוּ קָשֶׁה (nitkefu kasheh), have been vehemently condemned.

There are other types of attacks that make the news these days, including how to prevent a הֶתְקֵף לֵב (hetkef lev), heart attack. In couples counseling, when discussions get overheated and confrontational, the therapist will sometimes guide the couple to a תְּקוּפַת צִנּוּן (tekufat tsinnun), cooling-off period.

If, during תְּקוּפַת הַקַּיִץ (tekufat ha-kayyitz), the summer season, you are planning a visit to the Jewish state, here’s a friendly reminder to check your passport to make sure that לֺא פָּג תּוֹקְפּוֹ (lo pag tokpo), it hasn’t expired. Once there, you’ll see how Israel’s vaunted Jewish communal spirit—especially during tough times—is always בְּתֺקֶף (be-tokef), in force.

Joseph Lowin’s columns for Hadassah Magazine are collected in HebrewSpeak, Hebrew Talk and his most recent book, Hebrew Matters.