We've spoken about heroes before. Heroes within our people. Heroes without. And it got me thinking. There are heroes that we find every 7 years - the Pasuk calls people who keep the Shemitta laws as being heroes of strength, doing G-d's will. It was only in the last Shemittah year that I saw the clips of what it was that they gave up and give up every time (including those who perhaps are of a less religious level). I couldn't do that! 

And what are they meant to do whilst they watch their livelihood go to rack and ruin? Sit in the tent of learning. Literally ready to give up everything for the truth of Torah, of a relationship or chavrusa with G-d. To see their fields turned into a desert, in order to be real.

The fight for truth can be seen within an interesting and subtle interplay between the Satan and Yitzchak at the Akeida. (The very blindness, according to the midrash which allows the blessings to be given to Yaakov, rather than Eisav stems from here - don't be fooled into thinking that Yizchak was tricked...but that's for another time). It is what gives rise to Yaakov being able to learn in the tents of Torah years later. It is the secret of Choni Hama'gel's yearning for a real chavrusa...

...till death do us part