Rav Shmelka Horowitz, zt”l, was on his way to being appointed as the new Rav of Nikolsberg, when his new Gabai, Chaim Yankel, overheard a strange “conversation” taking place in Rav Shmelka’s new office.
“Shmelka, you are a Tzadik,” he heard the Rav whispering in the empty room. “Shmelka, you are a Gaon! Shmelka, there is no one like you in all of Nikolsberg. No, in all of Poland. No, in all of Europe. No, not even in the entire world!”
The odd tribute finally came to a close. Knocking tentatively on the door, the Gabai stepped in, looking somewhat bewildered. Rav Shmelka noticed his Gabai’s expression, and with a smile he inquired, “So, Chaim Yankel, you heard my little speech? What did you think?”
Of course, the Gabai, who was actually quite shocked, answered, “Well, Rebbe, I thought you were all alone, but I must have been mistaken. But now I see that you are here alone, so I am confused.”
Rav Shmelka explained to the Gabai, “I am afraid that since the custom is to praise the incoming Rav beyond his actual attributes, I would become filled with arrogance, so I decided to praise myself first. I know how ridiculous I sound when I do this, so when I will hear others praise me, I will realize that they are all just empty words, just like the words I said myself, and it will mean nothing. I can therefore avoid feeling any kind of Ga’avah!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Vayeira 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
