From Reb Zadok haCohen. Ikar (essence) of a person is their ratzon (longing) to come closer to Hashem. It is a safer world since the yetzer hara (evil inclination) for avodah zarah (ido worship) was killed. Today the emphasis is that we should all be the same. Each of the Avos used their middah (personality characteristics) for good which was passed onto their descendents. Yidden have an intrinsic nature to fight for life which comes from the Avos.