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Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Pathways in Personality Development
- Humility, Holiness and Fearing Hashem
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Personality Development
- Anava - Humility
"The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: 'I desire you, for even as I bestow you with greatness, you humble yourselves before me. I bestowed greatness upon Abraham, and he said, "I am but earth and dust" (Genesis 18:27). I bestowed greatness upon Moses and Aaron, and they said, "And what are we?" (Exodus 16:7) I bestowed greatness upon David and he said, "I am not a man - I am worm" (Psalms 22:7).
'However, this is not the case with idolaters. I bestowed greatness upon Nimrod, and he said, "Let us build a city" (Genesis 11:4).' Nimrod reigned as king in the generation of the Tower of Babel, and his name describes him well ("nimrod" in Hebrew indicates rebellion), for he rallied the entire world to rebel against the kingdom of Holy One blessed be He. 'I bestowed greatness upon Pharaoh, and he said, "Who is G-d that I should heed his command?" (Exodus 5:2).'
The Jewish people, however, are not like the idolaters. They humble themselves before the Holy One blessed be He, and therefore He desires them. Abraham submitted himself entirely to the Holy One blessed be He, saying "I am but earth and dust." Moses and Aaron humble themselves even more, saying "And what are we?"
Earth and dust constitute a certain level of existence, albeit the lowest of the low. Moses and Aaron say "And what are we?" i.e., we are not not even earth and dust - complete self-nullification. True, Abraham was aware of his own outstanding qualities, but rather than attribute them to himself he attributed them to the Holy One blessed be He. The Holy One blessed be He graced Abraham with outstanding qualities, but these qualities were not his, for they ultimately belonged to the Almighty Himself. Were it not for God's generous gift, Abraham would have been as earth and dust.
Can a wise person take pride in his wisdom? Is the wisdom his own? If he is wise by nature, his wisdom is a divine gift. He did not create the wisdom he possesses: He received it from God. Can a rich person take pride in his riches? He is like a bank employee who holds the keys to the bank's safe. The money does not belong to him, he is just the guard!
But why shouldn't a person take pride in his God-given talents? After all, now that God has given them to him, they are his. Answer: Because these talents have been given to him not for his own personal purposes, but in order to serve God. It is not fitting, therefore, that he attribute them to himself.
But shouldn't a person be able to take pride in the fact that he has been graced with a greater capacity for serving God than others? Answer: If a person uses God-given talents such as wisdom, wealth, and courage in the service of God, he is indeed justified in being proud. This can be learned from the words of Jeremiah, "Thus says the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:22-23).
Taking pride in the service of God is not conceit, it is joy. It is joy in God, and it is thus praiseworthy. Conceit in the service of God is an impossibility, for while a person serves God he surrenders himself to God. He knows his place and understands that his entire worth stems from his attachment to God. He becomes filled with God's greatness.
Complete submission to God does not cause a person to feel worthless. Rather, it causes a sense of joy at being attached to God's greatness. Jews are characterized by humility. They are aware of their unique qualities but they are not conceited. They are humble and content and take pride in their God.
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Some biblical verses in the above article were taken from, or based upon, Davka's Soncino Judaic Classics Library (CD-Rom).
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
