Humility

• Amalek – Destroy
  
  

The main Mitzvah to destroy Amalek is to destroy our ego, which destroys Amalek (the nation which is just driven by ego).

{To destroy Amalek, what we need to do is destroy our own inner arrogance.}

24 Ki Teitzei– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Arrogance
  
  

One of the Yetzer Hara’s tricks is to induce arrogance after doing good.

156 Bereishis- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah

• Arrogance
  
  

When a pure person becomes impure, all that he does causes him arrogance.

Note 1 Shemois– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Arrogance
  
  

“Offer not any leaven nor honey in the ketores (incense) offering…”

Leaven refers to arrogance, which is based on narrow-minded (constricted) thinking, which causes judgmentalism.

Just as a child seeks to be big, the fool jumps to be first.
Our Sages teach, “Don’t offer this as a fragrance to G-d…” meaning don’t serve G-d from arrogance.

At the outset, one may approach G-d with arrogance, for a person must be self-centered to begin.
However when one is already within G-dliness, as in the inner Mizbeach (where the ketores was offered) one must not have any arrogance.  G-d does not appreciate arrogance – even a minute amount.

{You may have needed an ego to get to G-d, but you need no ego to remain.}

5 Vayikra– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Arrogance
  
  

“I heard from my Master (The Baal Shem Tov) a general life lesson:  If a person has an urge to shame someone, let him shame himself.
And if he has an urge to praise – best to praise G-d!”

10 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Arrogance

When a person is not pure, when they serve G-d – for everything small they do, they believe they should be greatly praised.

Note 1 Shemois– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Arrogance – G-d’s Help

Before the Baal Shem Tov passed, He told His young disciples that they should go find a new Rebbe.

They said, “How do we recognize a Rebbe?”

He replied, “You should ask the person how to rid oneself of Gaaveh / arrogance? If He gives you advice, leave.  But if He says, ‘G-d will help…’  then He is a Rebbe.”

Note 13 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Arrogance – G-d’s Help

The Baal Shem Tov said the only way to get rid of arrogance is through G-d’s help.

{Ask G-d to help you rid yourself of arrogance.}

Note 13 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Arrogance – Preventing

There are two types of people: the first one is completely wicked.
He knows His Creator and intentionally seeks to rebel.
The second thinks that He is completely righteous, but this is actually a scam of the Yetzer Hara.
In the eyes of the world, He appears completely righteous.  Although He continually learns, prays, and self-restricts (or “self-inflicts”) it is all a waste of time, as to G-d He is not attached.

He knows not the first foundation of faith, which is to study and pray, and do the Mitzvos, only for the sake of G-d.

The completely wicked person can repent and turn to G-d with all His heart and soul, and ask G-d to show Him the light. 

The other cannot be helped, for He does not see G-d, His greatness, nor His service.

Since He considers Himself completely righteous, how will He come to repent?!

This is why when the Yetzer Hara convinces someone to sin, it makes Him think He actually did a good deed…! so that He shouldn’t repent.

{Beware of assuming you are completely holy.}

74 Tzavaas Harivash

•  Avodah – Humility

If we think we are close to G-d, we are far!

But if we think we are far, we are close!

If we think we are distant from serving G-d, eventually we will be close.

The Tzaddik always thinks about serving G-d – and considers Himself deficient in His service – always recognizing how distant from G-d He truly is.

{This teaches us that if we are careful with our deeds, thoughts, and actions, the result is beautiful.}

Note 11 Mishpatim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Great = Humble

Precisely because Moses was so great (the greatest…) He was likewise the humblest.   

***

The more one is aware of G-d, the humbler one becomes.

The Baal Shem Tov said, “When I have great wisdom, I know that I don’t comprehend even a single letter of the Torah and I haven’t even begun to serve G-d.”

15 + Note 13 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Holy = Humble

The holier one is, the humbler they are.

Note 13 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humble
  
  

Imagine you don’t exist in this world…  As such what difference will it make if people honor you?   

{We all inhabit – live within a time-space dimension, however it can be based on where your consciousness lies that you are in a different dimension (as the difference between the dimensions is literally perception of the infinity / existence of G-d vs. the “reality” of the time-space dimension one inhabits) so worry not what people in a lower frequency / perception of reality think.}

53 Tzavaas Harivash

• Humility
  
  

When a Minister is in His own home or office people give Him much honor… but when He stands before the King, as He is feeling humble, both He and His desires are non-existent.

You should be like this before G-d.

This is the meaning of the verse, “What (mah) does G-d desire from you?”  In other words, G-d desires that due to your constant awareness of His existence you should be in a state of mah / humility.

21 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility
   

When a person has a sense that they are complete in their Divine service, this is an indication that they have yet to begin!  

In contrast, Moses towards the end of his life said, “I have just begun…”

A Tzaddik (righteous person), the closer they get to G-d and understand His greatness the more distant from G-d they realize they are!  

10 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility
  
  

G-d cherishes humble people – to the extent that even when they are with poor people, they feel even poorer.  

170 Kessser Shem Tov

•  Humility
  
  

Imagine someone who found an infinite treasure and was very excited, so they packed as much as they could take with them, nonetheless, they would be extremely sad by what must be left behind.

Similarly, though we may have found extraordinary treasures within Torah and Jewish mysticism, we know that we can never have it all…

{We must never think “how much I know…!” rather there is infinitely more to know!}

209 Kesser Shem Tov

• Humility
  
  

If a person were to fast even from Shabbos to Shabbos, yet have even the slightest sense of arrogance… such as “Look at the great service I do!” this would place his entire good-deed in the hands of the dark side. 

Rather one should think that “Relative to the Holy Angels who serve G-d day and night continually my contributions are but a joke.

Who am I but a (creation stemming from a) smelly drop, destined to be eaten by worms.”  

233 Kesser Shem Tov

•  Humility

The Baal Shem Tov gives an example: Every lock has a key – the two are perfectly aligned. 

Similarly, every problem has a specific alleviation (this refers to Kabbalistic mechanisms…) but there exists a thief who simply breaks down the door. 

By properly humbling (breaking) our hearts, we remove any barrier between us and G-d.  

243 Kesser Shem Tov

• Humility

If you have done much good – studied much Torah, grown, etc. think not, “I have done this…” rather Malchus did it. (Malchus is where G-d manifests, creating everything in our world).  

Otherwise, we take the Yud (G-d) out of the Ani from His name Ado-nay, and we are left with An – nothing.  

269 Kesser Shem Tov

• Humility

“If man will hide in a hiding place, will I not see him.”

The Baal Shem Tov explains this as follows: If a person is egotistical, it’s as if G-d doesn’t see him.

52 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)

• H Humility

The Head of The Heavenly Yeshiva said “Whoever sees themselves as great is “a nobody” and whoever sees themselves as “a nobody” is great.”
 
If when a person begins their service to G-d they feel as if they are great (holy etc.) then even in later stages they remain “a nobody.”

When one begins service to G-d the main thing is to realize / sense, how little you know!

122 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)

• Humility

The soul studies Torah from G-d in The Heavenly Academy and yet G-d sends this soul to earth, for in addition to the study of Torah on earth which one must learn, the goal is to change the Ani (I / ego, even based on Torah scholarship and good deeds) into Ayin (“nothing,” humility, lack of ego).

Even one who is great in Torah study and good deeds (Ani) must cause themselves to become Ayin (humble) by realizing that relative to the true simple sincerity of the humble sincere Jew, you are a “nothing.”

213 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)

• Humility

The Baal Shem Tov revealed that a Torah scholar should feel humbled before Jews who read Hebrew with errors. For their prayers come from true sincerity and wholeheartedness, which is infinitely greater to G-d.

366 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)

• Humility

The goodness that G-d gives us causes us to be humble. Because we think, “How can I have the chutzpah to sin against G-d!? when He gives me so much good!!”    

Note 43 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

Once there was a king who wished to live forever, and they gave him a remedy that he should distance himself from arrogance. 
However the more humble he conducted himself, the more arrogant his heart felt… “For he’s such a great king, as well as being so humble!”

Then his Master came to him and told him that he should conduct the Kingdom in a manner that outwardly he acts acts majestically while inwardly he should be truly humble. (He showed him a toilet which comes from man.)  

{Sometimes to do good you need to have an outward aura, but inwardly you need to be humble – though as the Rebbe teaches, humility is not low self-estimation, rather realizing your only ability / power comes as a result of G-d.}

2 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

Another version – The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of a king who wanted to live forever, and all the doctors said that this is impossible.  But one man came and said, “I will heal him, by showing him the eternal life.” And he told him to choose the way of humility. As such, when the King came to ride in his Royal carriage, he ordered that the carriage should ride in front of him and he would walk behind it.
 
And the man said to the King, “This is not the correct path.  Sit in the carriage… The greatest difficulty is being truly humble in your own heart.”

{In other words one must conduct life confidently as one is a servant of G-d yet within oneself be humble.}  

Note 2 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

If you perceive that your Divine service is greater than another’s… don’t let this cause you arrogance.  

8 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Humility

Another great principle is that if people mock your service to G-d, don’t argue with them in any way, so you don’t fall into hate nor arrogance​​​​​​ G-d-forbid.

Our Sages teach “Silence in the face of mockers leads to humility.”

11 Metzoirah

• Humility

It says in Proverbs, “Better a beaten servant, than an honored person missing bread.”

The sign that we are serving G-d is when we consider ourselves “beaten” (“a nothing”), but if you consider yourself “honorable…” you are “lacking bread” / Divine blessing.

13 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

G-d is your shadow – He behaves the same way you do. If a person behaves arrogantly (aloof, “higher”) so does G-d; but if a person behaves with humility, G-d humbles Himself to fill one’s needs.

{Be humble to receive Divine blessings.}

22 Kedoishim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Humility

Moshe Rabeinu felt that all that He had achieved in Avodas Hashem (service of G-d) was merely the beginning!  

{Feel not complete, rather as you are beginning your journey.}

3 Ve-eschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Humility

Before He passed, The Baal Shem Tov said that a person should imagine He hasn’t even begun to serve G-d! and His previous service of G-d was tainted…

When a person can humble themselves, then (and only then!) will they be able to beat the evil wiles of the Yetzer Hara.  

Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• H Humility

A person must be very careful that his service to G-d does not cause him arrogance, and that he considers himself the least…  

13 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

A person should be very careful that no matter the service of G-d one attains, one should always consider themselves lower than the lowest.
 
In this way, they remain connected on high.  

14 Nitzvavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

Never think you are better than another, as YOU serve G-d… for this is the reason that everything and everyone was created!

You and the worm have both been given (relative) intelligence, and the worm serves G-d with all his mind and effort, so in what way are you better?!  

In fact, a human is also called a “worm,” as the verse states, “I am a worm and not a man.”

Had G-d not given you extra intelligence, your ability to serve Him would be equal to the worm.  

If you are no greater than a worm, how much more so another human!

Consider yourself as a worm or another small insect. These are your counterparts in this world.

For everything and everyone is a creation and only has the power to serve G-d to the extent of the capacity G-d has bestowed.  Always keep this in mind.  

12 Tzavaas Harivash

• Humility

Consider that the Divine speech, the level of Malchus is what is talking in (through) you.

Now this level created every living thing (hence how awesomely great is it!)

Now if the level of speech is great how much more so is the level of thought!  Consider your thoughts coming from this level.

This idea should create in you great humility.
 

411 Kesser Shem Tov

• Humility

One should act humbly / secretly so others know not that they are pious. 

65 Tzavaas Harivash

• Humility

When you say words of Torah in public, keep in mind that your goal is to honor and spread Kedusha (holiness).  

Note 33 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

When you study Torah, do Mitzvos, and pray – do not think that you are doing this, but rather that the Shechinah is.  

{In this way we remain humble.}

57 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

The Baal Shem Tov said, “something that has no surface area cannot break.”

{In other words, if we have no ego, arrogance, and are humble we cannot be broken – in fact the larger our “surface area” the more likely the breakage.}  

12 Va-yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility

One must understand that there is infinitely beyond our mind.

{The Rebbe teaches, a healthy mind known there is infinitely beyond it. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that whatever we can understand is merely from (the lowest of G-d’s realms) Malchus.} 

74 Kesser Shem Tov

• Humility – Altruism

Any form of arrogance is very serious – all self-bias is due to arrogance. 

Every thought is a complete Being / Entity.  And through an arrogant thought, one banishes the feet of the Shechinah (G-d’s presence).  

92 Tzavaas Harivash

• Humility – Altruistic
  
  

Whatever you do, do it only to give pleasure to G-d.

Even if you serve G-d to give yourself pleasure, this too is selfish.  

11 Tzavaas Harivash

• (MM) Humility – Bad – To Good
  
  

Whenever a negative event, even something minor occurs to a person, they should attribute the cause of this due to their sins; and when this humbles them and they repent then their sin is forgiven (however a person who feels that everything is based on “my power…” this is an exile mentality vs. Moshiach stage when we will see how everything comes from Hashem / G-d.) 

31 Lech Licha – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility – Erroneous
  
  From false humility, namely being proud of one’s humility… and the desire to show others that one is humble, the Yetzer Hara slaughters the person. 
   
  (In other words, this causes their spiritual (temporary) annihilation.)  
  
  The Baal Shem Tov gives an example of such false humility: a person had all positive qualities except for the fact that he was arrogant, so people told him that he was perfect except that he needed to work on this one last thing. He then worked on himself to become humble, and one day someone mocked him and he retorted, “You nobody, I have all qualities, including humility!”
  
  {In other words, when we are arrogant we lose our rationality, hence our ability to rationally assess ourselves and improve properly.
  
  It also pays to mention that a person came to the Mitteleh Rebbe complaining that they were worried that they were becoming arrogant. He replied that this fear slaughters the person – in other words, focus on good and following G-d, not if you are humble or not…}  

17 Va-Yeira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Humility – G-d’s

The Baal Shem Tov queries the verse “G-d the king, wears pride…”

Doesn’t this contradict the statement of our Sages, “Wherever you see the greatness of G-d you see His humility!”

He explained that this is exactly what the verse is teaching, namely “G-d’s greatness is only worn for the sake of conducting of the Kingdom;” within Himself, G-d is only humble.  

{Assume not G-d-forbid, that G-d is arrogant.}

3 Metzoira– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility – Holiness

Holiness is ultimately humility and low self-estimation. Even a drop of arrogance poisons.

58 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah

• Humility – Just Do

If you desire to do any Mitzvah (good-deed etc.) just go do it! 

Do not let the Yetzer Hara connive you into thinking that this is a great thing and therefore it will cause you to become arrogant.  Even if it tries to convince you, just do it!
 
But be careful, for if you do find it making you arrogant, push the arrogance away!

You will certainly end up doing it (or continue to do it) without any arrogance.

As our Sages teach – when one begins doing something (such as a Mitzvah, studying, etc.) for personal gain eventually one does it altruistically.

Do as many Mitzvahs as you can, and G-d will assist you to do them without any biases.

But try to push away arrogance on your own.

{In other words – the main thing is to do good and work on humility afterwards.}

55 Tzavaas Harivash

•  Humility – No agenda

If a person has no agendas (neither positive or negative, just simple truthfulness and sincerity…) this leads to all the greatest spiritual levels. 

Even humility for the wrong reason is better than condemning another for the right.

12 Metzoirah– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Humility – Shechinah

Consider yourself poor… speak with a humble pleasing voice, like a poor person.
 

And always consider your thoughts to be with the Shechinah – think only how much you love her and she in turn will love you.

Constantly say in your mind, “When will I merit that the light of the Shechinah upon me shall rest.”  

32 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah

•  Humility – The Whole Torah

The last words of The Great Holy Baal Shem Tov before he passed was, “G-d, Master of all worlds, ‘Lead me not to the feet of arrogance.’”
 
Similarly, when the Holy Arizal’s soul departed, he said, “Protect me from arrogance.”

One cannot begin any true service of G-d if one’s soul is consumed by arrogance, and sin of the heart.

Note 158- Baal Shem Tov on the Torah

• Humility (Wisdom)

A humble person seeks wisdom but an arrogant person (being so filled with one’s own “knowledge”) seeks not.

149 Kesser Shem Tov

• Humility + arrogance

Tzaddikim constantly fluctuate between the state of arrogance and humility – for in order to incentivize oneself to do something new, particularly an entirely new service, one must have a trait of boldness.
 
Nonetheless, once one does this new thing (or while doing it) one must do so with humility.  

393 Kesser Shem Tov

• H Parah Aduma

The Baal Shem Tov was asked about the Parah Aduma (“red heifer”).

“Where can we find in it a hint (a lesson) in Divine service, as all of the Torah continuously applies in the realm of inspiration?” 

Furthermore it was only done once in a while, and it caused the person who purified the other to become impure themselves, which is a contradiction.

He explained that this is a lesson in the trait of arrogance.
 
One needs the arrogance to begin serving G-d, for to begin with everyone is self-serving.  As such this drive is important as it leads one to serve G-d (albeit for personal interest).

Nonetheless, after one starts serving G-d, then we must ensure we do so with complete humility.

The same applies when you seek to do more good, for the Yetzer Hara will cynically and slyly try to dissuade you by saying “Who are you to do something so important?”  One must uplift oneself by saying “Why the whole world was created for me?!” (as our Sages taught us…)

Then as you begin serving, go back to humility (“I am nothing and G-d is everything.”)

1 Chukas– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

• Peace – Silence

A great principle is: Even if people condemn you for your spiritual service in prayer or other things, don’t retort in order to not come to arguments nor arrogance which causes us to forget our Creator.
 
Our Sages teach, “A person’s silence leads them to humility.”  

49 Tzavaas Harivash

• Power

To a deep person, power is painful, as they see themselves unworthy.  

3 Nitzavim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Pride

If you do a great Mitzvah… study lots of Torah or pray with great concentration, do not take pride in your achievements – rather realize this was the Shechinah working through you.  

55 Kesser Shem Tov

• Sincerity

If our holiness is a pretense… a way of looking good, we are very far from G-d.  

58 Yisroi– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah

•  Truth – Sincerity

Everyone must know that not all people merit to come to truth, quintessential truth, unless one first really acquires the trait of humility. Namely seeing oneself truly as nothing, to the ‘nth degree; to not consider oneself important at all, as Moses said, “We are nothing.” 

See with your mind’s eye that “really there is nothing I have to be prideful about.” 

Pride (arrogance) is opposite to truth.

Truth is humility and feeling unimportant, while arrogance is a lie.

And this has already been dealt with at length in all the ethical works – however a fool who doesn’t understand, fails to realize their own issue.

And this unfortunately makes it impossible for them to realize the truth.

Such a person is distant from G-d whose seal (covenant) is truth.  And he is distant from the Torah, which is a Torah of Truth.

G-d says, “I and such a person together cannot dwell.” 

And it states, “Whomever is arrogant is as if they worship idols.”  As it is written, “G-d hates a haughty heart.”

This is especially as arrogance is a false reality. 

And the verse teaches, “A person of falsehood cannot stand in front of Me.”

However one who in their own estimation is like nothing – this person is close to G-d and His Torah. 

As the verse states, “To him I will gaze, to the humble-hearted.” 

And this is also hinted to, when the Sages taught, “When one is humble, G-d can dwell within them.”

Then one achieves the quintessential truth. And everything one does is true, and it elevates to G-d!

{Be truthful, sincere, and fair.}

17 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah

• Humility

If you pray and study with great devotion, think not that “I did this…” rather, this was done by the Shechinah / Malchus which is called “I” (the Divine I) from the name of G-d, Ado-nai.

However, if you don’t (have humility) you remove the Yud from Ani, and all that is left is “A-n” nothing.
  

58 Veschanan– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah