THE HUMBLE SERVANT

“You shall attach five of the curtains separately and six of the curtains separately, and you shall fold the sixth curtain over the front of the Tent.” (Shmot 26:9)

The Talmud (Makkot 26a) records several great leaders, amongst them King David and the prophet Habakkuk, who ‘reduced’ the 613 mitzvoth. They did not, Heaven forbid, suggest that any mitzvah should be cancelled or removed. Rather, they supplied “chapter headings” under which all of the mitzvoth could be categorised. One of these was the prophet Micah who condensed the mitzvoth into three categories (Micah 6:8): “He has told you, O man, what is good! What does Hashem require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?”

In his commentary, Rabbi David Kimchi (Radak, Provence, 1160-1235) explains that “doing justice” includes all of the precepts between man and his fellow man, such as monetary damages and the forbidden sexual unions. “Loving kindness” is a reference to all aspects of gemilut chasadim, which require a person to do more than what the law asks. “Walking humbly with your God” refers to the love a Jew must have for Hashem with all his heart and all his soul under all conditions. The Prophet uses the adjective “humble” because these thoughts are known only to God Himself. One might act in a pious manner in the presence of other people but only God will truly discern if that piety is real or not. Metzudot David writes more simply: “One must do justice, love righteousness and walk with God in the way of His mitzvoth in a humble fashion rather than in a public, boastful manner.”  Although this a general principle relevant to all the mitzvoth, the Talmud (ibid) refers to specific mitzvoth that should be done as modestly as possible even though they involve a public spectacle, such as escorting a bride to the chuppah or a dead person to his or her final resting place. The passage concludes, “If this is so of mitzvoth that are done publicly, how much more so should one be modest when performing mitzvoth that are usually done privately.”

An example of the modesty demanded by God in mitzvah observance is found in our parsha. The Torah gives precise measurements for the hangings/tapestries that served as the ceiling for the Tabernacle. In one instance, the hangings made of goat wool were longer than the length of the Tabernacle. The Torah prescribes what is to be done with the extra length (Shmot 26:9): “You shall fold the sixth curtain over the front of the Tent.” Rashi explains that when this curtain hung over the partition at the Tabernacle’s eastern entrance, it resembled “a modest bride whose face is covered with a veil.” Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin (Lithuania and Israel, 1881-1966 in Oznayim Latorah) explains that within the structure of the Tabernacle there were hints and indications to the spiritual life of the Nation of Israel. No object, design or measurement was arbitrary. Even the positioning of the furnishings in the Tabernacle, such as the Menorah in the south and the Table in the north, involved deep wisdom. In the case of this “extra” curtain, which resembled a modest bride, the hint to the Israelites was the importance of modesty in their service of God that is “a condition for the resting of God’s Presence in Israel.” A Jew can build the most magnificent edifice to be used as a shul but if his intention is to show off his wealth and power, God will stay far away from that building.

Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein, in his book The Legacy (co-authored with the late Rabbi Berel Wein, of blessed memory), demonstrates how the principle of modesty was an important value in the life of Lithuanian Jews (page 69): “Truth resides in the hidden world and not the world of externalities, a value the prophet Micah called “walking modestly with your God.” This verse is a “great principle in the service of God” according to Rabbi Pinchas, the son of Rabbi Yehudah (known as the Maggid of Polotzack), student of the Vilna Gaon (in Asher Yetzaveh, page 111). He says that a person should conceal his good deeds as far as possible because such modesty leads to purifying one’s intentions when serving God… [Commenting on the Talmudic passage above] Rav Chaim Shmulevitz (Sichos Mussar 31:46) writes that good deeds performed publicly provide ulterior benefits such as receiving honour and recognition from others. Therefore, great effort is required to purify one’s motives by doing these deeds in as modest a manner as possible.

A very different view on this matter may be found in the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory. He believed that there are times when modesty in mitzvah performance is actually negative, whether it be for the person himself or onlookers. An extract of his opinion may be found in the Gutnick Edition of the Haphtaros (Parshat Balak, page 92): “In our generation, however, there is a need to spread the wellsprings of Judaism (especially Jewish mysticism) to as many people as possible, and it is impossible to do such a task “discreetly.” Rather we need to follow the advice of Rashba, who wrote that, “It is a mitzvah to publicize those who perform a mitzvah.” (Responsa 1:581) Furthermore, even in one’s own religious life, a sincere effort to be discreet about one’s piety is likely to be counterproductive since, knowing that one’s pious deeds are hidden from the eyes of others, the yetzer hara (evil inclination) is more likely to persuade a person to stop being pious altogether. If, on the other hand, others know of one’s righteous acts, it is much more difficult to stop doing them. “Walking discreetly” is a very worthy path but not if it is at the expense of increased activity.” (Sichas Shabbas Parsha Eikev 5748)

In our affluent (but Jewishly ignorant ) generation it would be wise to follow the advice of the sages and act with humility, whilst at the same time realising that occasionally we have to “advertise” our good deeds so as to influence others to do likewise.

Lee, Chani Merryl & Naomi join me in wishing you Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Liebenberg.

For this week’s YouTube message:  https://youtu.be/YK1faiuIGLo?si=YyHwcECOAmoO05q7