Be a Humble Person. Be a Proud Jew.

Parshat Behar: Har Sinai and the Limits of Humility

“And G-d spoke to Moshe at the foot of Har Sinai, saying…” (Vayikra 25:1)

One of the first lessons that grade school children learn about the giving of the Torah is that the location carries special significance. Our sages teach that Har Sinai was chosen specifically because it was not the tallest, or most grand, or most lush with vegetation. It was a simple and humble mountain. The powerful lesson of Har Sinai’s selection is that humility is an essential ingredient in one’s acquisition of the Torah, and indeed, necessary to be a successful Jew.

It has been suggested that for this reason the parsha itself is named “Behar” and not “Behar Sinai.” The focus is not on the specific mountain upon which this foundational event occurred. Rather, the Torah is choosing to keep things simple and low key — it took place on ‘a mountain.’ The Torah reinforces the message of humility.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe notes this powerful lesson and raises the following question: If the goal is to highlight the significance of humility, it is all well and good that the Torah was given on a smaller mountain, and that the parsha simply refers to an anonymous mountain in its title. But it is still a mountain! Mountains, even smaller ones, are large by definition. They are imposing and can be challenging to climb. Why not give the Torah in a low field, or even a valley?

What lesson is the Torah teaching? What is significant about being a mountain but being small and humble?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe answers his own question with a framework that runs through so many Jewish practices and concepts: balance.

Being a Jew means that we maintain a balance of humility and pride. When it comes to our own accomplishments, vanity, arrogance and pride are to be avoided. We recognize that every characteristic we possess, every gift we have been given, comes from G-d. There is nothing for us to be boastful of. That is the lesson of Har Sinai’s specific selection over other mountains. It is only through humility that one can become great.

At the same time, when it comes to our religious identity, we are directed to stand tall and proud. The Gemara in Shabbat says Kol Yisrael Bnei Malachim Heim — all Jews are princes.

We are royalty because of our connection to the King. This type of Jewish pride is not personal, but rather tied to a pride in Hashem, our Torah, and our Judaism. The Torah was given to a low mountain. But it was given to a mountain nonetheless! Our mission is to stand tall and be proud to be a Jew.

We are all too familiar with the Jewish historical experience and the scourge of anti-semitism that is associated with it. Unfortunately, in this moment we do not have to look to historical events to see Jews both collectively and individually being harassed and attacked. It may be a human instinct to retreat and seek shelter when attacked. The timely lesson of Har Sinai is that this would be a grave mistake. The only way to survive and thrive as a people is to remember the lesson of the mountain. We must remember that before anti-semitism, before there were other religious and political groups that challenged our existence, that our Creator chose a mountain as the place to give us His Torah and create an eternal bond with us. We must remember with pride that G-d has given us a special mission to impact the world. We must accept this mission with excitement, and while we must remain humble individuals, we must always be proud Jews.