“Why should I leave my comfort zone, and go out to some far-off place to help Jews who have no Yiddishkeit?” “I know plenty of great Yidden and massive Bnei Torah and Tzaddikim, who do quite well in their own setting.” An older Lakewood Ben-Torah told me, that these Pesukim are strikingly similar to the typical Ben-Torah’s hesitancy to leave his “status quo” and “go out” for the Klal.
Moshe hesitated four times, for four different reasons why he didn’t want to get involved in Klal work! כִּ י כְ בַ ד פֶּ ה וּכְ בַ ד לָ שׁוֹן אָ נֹ כִּ ידַיַ “I’m not a good speaker!” Ahron is the best person, not me!” “I’m simply not capable”! וְ הֵ ן ל ֹא יַאֲ מִּ ינוּ לִּ י וְ ל ֹא יִּ שְׁ מְ עוּ בְ קֹ לִּ ידַאַַ “But I don’t connect with the American non-frum element, I’m a different type!” And: מִּ י אָ נֹ כִּ י כִּ י אֵ לֵ ךְ אֶּ ל פַ רְ עֹ הַַגַיא “Who am I anyway?”
We know nothing about Moshe Rabeinu. But in our world, this is called Anava P'sula, which destroys thousands of potential giants who can literally turn over Klal Yisroel if they were primed and encouraged, and if they were given this kind of Chinuch. R’ Kalmanovich’s father didn’t want his son, R' Avrohom Zatzal, to leave his blatt Gemara for Avodas HaKlal, and the Chofetz Chaim convinced him. As a result, he was Zoche to save the entire Mir Yeshiva from the Holocaust.
There were other Gedolei Torah V’yir’ah who were willing to give a Shiur in White Plains, but only R' Ahron Kotler Zatzal was willing to also go out and collect money for the Kollel. R' Ahron was happy to be Moser Nefesh for the Klal, and he and R' Avrohom Kalmanovich Zatzal were seen in a car on Shabbos to collect money to save Yidden from the Nazi Holocaust. Notice how Lakewood and Mir became by far the two biggest Yeshivos in Klal Yisroel, with thousands of Talmidim each.
The Zechus of these giants is beyond understanding. And the Chofetz Chaim told R’ Kalmanovich’s father that if he stays to learn by himself, then he’ll only have Schar for his own learning. But when he works for the Klal, then he has the Schar of every single Talmid in his Yeshiva! I was told by R' Yisroel Kanarek Zatzal that R' Yisroel Salanter Zatzal was the: ר שׁ כ ב ה "ג Rash’kebe’hag (undisputed Gadol HaDor), in a Dor loaded with Gedolei Yisroel.
It is known that R' Ahron Kotler and R' Chaim of Brisk would shake when they spoke about R' Yisroel Salanter (in the name of R' Boruch Ber Leibowitz Zatzal). Notice the striking difference between R' Yisroel Salanter and others, in that he took a trip to Paris and Amsterdam, and was: יח ַר ַט ַמ ַ (went out of his way) for Klal Yisroel like nobody else. Chazal say that there were plenty of Gedolei Yisroel in the generation of Moshe Rabeinu, but Moshe cared more for the Klal.
Yet, we see how extremely difficult it was for Moshe to get involved with the Klal, hesitating four times despite Hashem’s request!! It is not so simple to judge anybody in such a weak Dor, and R' Gershon Liebman Zatzal told me that these days, always be Dan L'kaf Zechus. How much Tefila we need to be Zoche to really do what Hashem wants. And as soon as a person shows a small interest in a little Mesirus Nefesh, then Hashem gives him much more Kochos that he never had, and it becomes much easier.
In the simple Pshat of these Pesukim, the lesson is how Anava P'sula can ruin a life, Chas V'shalom. If Moshe had felt that he just can’t, then there would be no Yetzias Mitzrayim, Rachmana Litzlan. And how much coaxing may be needed to push a person to become his real self. I know a Yungerman whom R’ Yehuda Jacobs coaxed day and night to do for the Klal. He told me that if not for Rabbi Jacobs, he would never have become much. And how strong and unending is the Yetzer Hara to stop you from blossoming and into using your real Kochos. It’s a war! The Anavim P’sulim (inappropriately humble ones) can be robbing Klal Yisroel from Gevaldige Yeshuos, Hashem Y’racheim!
All kinds of grump Yetzer Hara’s that “I can’t! I really can’t! I’m not cut out! Let someone else!” R' Noach Weinberg Zatzal felt that even if you have zero abilities, you’ll still be Matzliach, since it’s all Hashem who really does everything. The Chashuva Yungerman who pointed out this Vort to me, is the son of a famous Metzuyan who learned in Lakewood under R’ Ahron Zatzal. He left Lakewood after 5 years in Kollel, because he knew that R' Ahron would send him out to get a Chinuch job in an out-of-town place.
He told me that R' Ahron was doing this to just about everybody in Lakewood. They say that R' Ahron was a big: ןדַָח ַפ ַ fearful person, yet he did all those things that he was afraid to do. TRUE STORY Reuven was telling Shimon his Chidushei Torah, and he was constantly asking Shimon’s opinion. Finally, Shimon told Reuven that if he always needs Haskamos (approval), he’s very insecure....
Reuven said that the greatness of a person is his ongoing movement, despite his shortcomings. יוֹצ רַ אוֹרַ וּבוֹר אַ חשֶּׁ ךְ Hashem creates the light and the darkness. Who needs darkness? Because the greatness of a person is his ability not to give up despite his shortcomings (his “darkness”) and insecurities, or else he’s like a Malach who isn’t worth anything, compared to an Adam who accomplishes despite his Yetzer Hara.
