A Taste of Torah in honor of Shabbat
from Rabbi Avi Weiss

Parshat Beha'alotkha 5760
June 23-24, 2000 / 21 Sivan 5760

The True Root of Humility

Moshe (Moses) had many qualities we should emulate.  Yet, the quality he was possibly most famous for was his humility.  This week's portion tells us of this unparalleled humility.  In the words of the Torah, "now the man Moses was very humble above all people. "  (Numbers 12:3)  How does one attain this most important quality?

Maimonides argues that in life one should always try for the middle road, the golden mean.  Humility, however, is so difficult to achieve, that Maimonides feels that one should try to go to the extreme, becoming absolutely self-effacing.  Unable to reach that level, Maimonides argues one will fall short and automatically reach the middle level. 

By taking a closer look at the verse from the Torah, we find another approach to humility.  At first blush, Moshe's actions seems to reinforce the suggestion that he was extraordinarily humble.  After all, when Moshe is told that two men, Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the midst of the camp, he was not upset.  Indeed, rather than seeing Eldad and Medad as threats, Moshe declares "would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put His spirit upon them."  (Numbers 11:29) 

It appears that here Moshe is expressing deep humility and, therefore,
declares "let others be prophets just as I am."

But a closer look may suggest an opposite idea.  Moshe may have recognized that he could not do everything.  He was able to step back and allow others to assume prophetic leadership.  In a certain sense this gracious act may have reflected his self confidence, rather than his meekness.  Assured of his own capabilities, he was not threatened by Eldad or Medad. 

Herein lies an important message.  Humility doesn't mean thinking little of oneself.  All of us created in the image of God should feel a sense of self worth in our abilities to succeed.  It is this confidence that gave Moshe the inner strength to share leadership with others.

From this perspective, humility is the assessing of oneself in relationship to God.  It is within that comparison that one recognizes how small one is.  In fact, the closer one is to God, and Moshe was the closest to Him, the more one recognizes one's finitude in comparison to God's infinite nature.  

A story teaches this lesson.  The great Hafez Chaim was among the humblest of people.  Once, on a train, a fellow passenger who did not recognize this famous rabbi lauded the Hafez Chaim to his face.  The Hafez Chaim responded that he knew him personally and knew that he actually had many weaknesses.  The passenger was outraged and slapped him.  When coming to the next town, and realizing who he had slapped, he begged the great rabbi for forgiveness. 

"No" responded the Hafez Chaim.  "There is no need to apologize.  I was wrong in belittlling myself."

The upshot: humility should not be associated with putting oneself down.  But rather this valuable quality should emerge from the recognition that as much as we, created in the image of God, can do, it is but a fraction of the endless power of the Almighty.

Shabbat Shalom!