STRENGTH OF HUMILITY

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Yeshayah on his opsheren which took place on Lag Baomer. We saw pictures of your beautiful party, and especially of Yeshayah with his first haircut, and wearing a kappel and tzitzis! All on such a beautiful day of Lag Baomer together with Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai, and thousands of people celebrating all over the world, ingeniously done in world lockdown BH.

Mazal Tov to Dovber on his first birthday next week! Wishing much nachas from him and many more simchos.

This weeks Sedra is combination of Behar and Bechukosai, and a common theme came up connected to Behar - on the Mountain, and this week's Sefira character of HOD - Humility.

BEHAR

We are told that Hashem chose to give the Torah on Mount Sinai because it was the LOWEST MOUNTAIN to teach us HUMILITY.

But the question is, if Hashem wanted to teach us humility why did he not give us the Torah in a valley?

The answer is that even although humility is an essential component of spiritual life, so is also a certain amount of pride.

A totally selfless person may feel powerless and 'trodden upon' by the mockery of the world, and the doubts and challenges that one experiences. These are from the forces that obscure G-dliness.

Hence we also need to be 'mountains - small mountains', mastering the art of asserting ourselves as representatives of Hashem on earth.

HOD

And even humility itself (Hod) is not weak. It only appears to be weak because it yields.

The root of Hod is hodaah, which means expressing 'thanks to Hashem'.

Hod clearly acknowledges one's qualities and strengths, but it also acknowledges that they are G-d given, and for a purpose.

This modesty of recognizing how small one is, allows one to realize how large one can become.

And humility is therefore actually, a FORMIDABLE STRENGTH.

Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos!