Power of Midot

Midot is the plural form of the Hebrew noun mida often translated as "character trait" or "value." (Interestingly, a company named Midot Systems provides integrity diagnostic systems.) Paralleling this Biblical focus on character traits is the sixth step of 12-step programs which reads,"we were entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character." How is this done?

The origins of the word midot provide a clue. Midot actually means "measurements." Over time, its meaning evolved from "measurements" to "character traits." The evolution of midot implies that the way a situation is measured or sized up gives rise to a response. Over time, these responses pattern into a character trait.

A violent behavior can be measured as scary or pitiful (or both), depending on how it is measured. Some behaviors viewed as scary might give rise to anxiety that could evolve into a fear-based character trait. The same behaviors might be viewed as pitiful and give rise to sympathy that could evolve into a love-based character trait. The measurement is the key to character and remeasurement allows for character change.