The Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz, zt”l, once related that the Baal Shem Tov heard of a certain priest who “exemplified” the virtue of humility. The Baal Shem Tov had difficulty believing this, so he made the effort to meet with this priest to see for himself.
After spending some time in conversation with the priest, the Baal Shem Tov left the meeting. As he was walking away, he noticed the priest was running after him, and when he caught up, the priest asked, “What do you think of my humility?”
The Biggest Manifestation of the Priest’s Great Arrogance
When the Baal Shem Tov heard this, he understood that while the man outwardly acted humble, it was actually the biggest manifestation of his great arrogance!
Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein related a story about the humility of Rebbetzin Elyashiv, z”l, the wife of the Poseik HaDor, Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, zt”l. She had a “child of her old age”, and she went to parent-teacher night with all the young mothers. The Rebbetzin waited patiently for her turn, even though many others waiting with her respectfully tried to let her go ahead of them, but she wouldn’t accept their offers.
When it was her turn, she went in to speak with the teacher, got a beautiful report about her daughter, and then left the room. At the end of the long evening, the teacher was finally heading home. Suddenly, she noticed Rebbetzin Elyashiv sitting patiently in the hallway, long after her meeting had been completed.
A Surprised Morah
“Rebbetzin,” the Morah asked, with worry on her face, “did I say anything wrong? I told you that your daughter was a wonderful and fine girl.”
With a calm smile, Rebbetzin Elyashiv responded, “How could I allow the Morah to leave such a deserted place like this at night all alone?”
The teacher was relieved and left the school with Rebbetzin Elyashiv, excitedly declaring how honored she was to be walking home with the esteemed Rebbetzin.
Rebbetzin Elyashiv, however, responded, “You can’t imagine how happy my daughter will be when I tell her that I had the honor of walking home with her Morah!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Lech Lecha 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
