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Jewish World Review
March 14, 2008
/ 7 Adar II 5768
How not to be humble
By
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski
Hidden in the first verses of Leviticus, which we begin reading this week, is the secret on how to draw close to the Divine
“If a person among you brings an offering to G-d.”
— Leviticus 1:2
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The foremost commentator, Rashi, notes that the Torah uses the word adam, for ''person'' rather than the more frequently used word ish, and explains its use as meaning that just as
Adam did not serve G-d with anything acquired dishonestly because nothing in the world belonged to anyone else, so must a person who brings an offering make certain that the offering was acquired honestly.
There may be an additional significance to the choice of the word adam as
designating man.
The first human was called Adam because his origin was from earth, adamah. This term connotes man's humble origin, as expressed by the patriarch Abraham, ''I am but dust and ashes'' (Genesis 18:27). Following the example of the patriarch, a person must always bear in mind that he is a mortal being, of little significance in the cosmos.
But it is only man's body that is of little significance, because it was the body that
was formed from earth. Man has another component, the vital spirit that inhabits his
body, that was instilled in him by the Divine breath, and hence is Godly in nature.
The word adam also relates to the word adameh, ''I shall be akin, I shall be similar,'' and this refers to the way man bears a semblance to G-d. ''In the likeness of G-d did He create him'' (ibid. 5:1) refers to the Divine neshamah (soul) which is Godly. Man, therefore, is comprised of two components: the lowly earth and the Divine
soul. Both are represented by the word adam.
As praiseworthy a trait as humility is, it may conceivably result in a person feeling so insignificant that he gives no serious consideration to his actions. Of what consequence can this body be if it originated from dust and will return to dust?
This may result in a carefree attitude of abandon. To counter this, a person must remember that he was created in the likeness of G-d, and that he is, therefore, immeasurably great. Every move he makes is extraordinarily significant.
The word korban is generally translated as ''sacrifice'' or ''offering.'' Both are
inexact. One is not giving up anything nor making a gift to G-d. Korban means
''drawing close,'' and closeness to G-d can be achieved only when one is humble,
because G-d shuns vanity.
But this humility must be tempered with man's awareness of his Divine origin, which places upon him the obligation of the Divine attributes. Furthermore, it is the craving of the Divine neshamah to be reunited with its Creator that attracts man to G-d.
A closeness to G-d can be achieved only when a person appreciates and implements both aspects of adam.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes inspiring articles. Sign up for our daily update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here. Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. is a psychiatrist and ordained rabbi. He is the
founder of the Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh, a leading center
for addiction treatment. An Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University
of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, he is a prolific author, with some 30 books to
his credit, including, "Twerski on Chumash" (Bible), from which this was excerpted (Sales of this book help fund JWR).
© 2007, Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
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