I am unworthy (Vayishlach 32:11)
A certain chassid was ‘notorious’ for his extreme humility and self-effacement. Once he was asked: “Does not the Talmud1 say that a Torah scholar must not belittle himself too much? That although he must be humble, he is to retain ‘one eighth of one eighth of pride?’”
Replied the chassid: “Let us assume that you are right, and that when I come to stand before the heavenly court it will indeed be found that I am a ‘Torah scholar.’ ‘Hmm,’ the Supernal Judge will sternly demand, ‘What have we here? I see a Torah scholar. Where is your ‘eighth of an eighth’?!’ Let us further assume, my friend, that as you claim, I was somewhat deficient in this area. I guess that this would put me into somewhat of a bind. Nevertheless, I am fairly confident I will somehow manage to scrape together enough evidence of ego and pride in my life to satisfy the talmudic requirement.
“But what of the following possibility: I come before the heavenly court to account for my life and I am told: ‘’Eighth of eighth’s we see aplenty, but where is the ‘Torah scholar’?’ You see, I’d rather take my chances with the first scenario...”
1. Sukkah 5a.
By Yanki Tauber
Published by Kehot Publication Society
