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This week’s parsha discusses the passing of two of the Bible’s greatest leaders, Yosef and David. In the Parsha Yosef says, at Genesis 47:29: “Please don’t bury me in Egypt.” And in the Haftarah, at I Kings 2:2, David haMelech says: “I am going the way of all mortals, Chazak! Be Strong!”
[pause]‘Do not leave my remains in Mizraim, outside of Israel’s Holy Land in Egypt, and Be Strong!’
Regarding Yosef’s request that his remains not be left in Egypt but returned to Eretz Yisrael, specifically to Machpelah, Rashi interprets: “So that the Egyptians won’t worship me after my death.”
NO righteous Israelite would ever want to be worshiped, G-d forbid! Only One God is to be worshipped. Biblically, this principle is set in stone.
But honor and respect differ from worship. Both men were elders of the people and anointed by God. It is correct that such leaders be honored. Indeed, without leaders who are worthy of respect, people soon fall from the state of goodness, as we see in the United States. But righteous elders lead any people into goodness — unless they have become too fallen. We pray this is not the case here in the United States, but we will soon see. In the Bible, Israel killed many of their righteous prophets because they were unwilling to repent of their personal and national sins. This is a different question than we have in the Parsha this week.
Proverbs 22:1 tells us that, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Righteous people must maintain ‘a good name’ or reputation. They must speak the truth as they understand it, and refuse to yield to dishonesty and cancel culture, whatever the price. As Job said: Even if God [Himself] destroys me, still I will trust in Him. Nevertheless, I will defend my ways before Him (Job 13:15)
Both riches (silver and gold), rightly gained, are honorable, but an honorable reputation is far greater than these.
No one wants to be disrespected, of course, nor does a person of understanding want to be worshiped or even honored above his station. The very human desire to be honored and respected, however, is so strong that people go to great lengths to make sure our departed loved ones are honored with respectful send-off gatherings, by sitting shiva, are placed in nice funeral plots with praiseworthy headstones, etc. To the departed, such things no longer matter, but to those left behind with our memories and longings, such rituals seem essential.
Our human egos cry out for recognition, for love, for respect, and, sometimes and in various ways, even to be worshiped. Do you really want to be worshiped? Think about it. Just imagine living a life in which you are worshiped. People consider you to be all-wise and all-knowing; every wish and whim is fulfilled, and gifts are brought to you without your asking. You live like a god! You have made it!
It is ironic but true that so many of the highly regarded ‘beautiful people,’ those who have ‘made it big time,’ are often among the saddest people of all. Having attained everything this world has to offer, such people realize they have nothing of real value. It was all smoke and mirrors. Sooner or later such people usually crash and burn! Today, it’s almost like hunting season! Such people are attacked by others wanting to destroy them to secure their own fame! They charge, “You wrote this in your high school yearbook fifty years ago! Now, you are going to pay!” Oi!
Why isn’t having “everything” enough? In part it’s because no one can meet the accompanying expectations for long. The longer they enjoy their exalted positions, the sadder and lonelier they usually become. And, as in the story when the people finally see that their king is wearing no clothing, it never goes well for the spiritually naked in the end! Their ‘houses’ were built on shifted sand,
The truth is we seldom meet a true tzaddik, one who surpasses the righteousness of average people regarding devekut or attachment to G-d. Instead, we hear tales about charlatans cloaked in religious garb who will do or say anything for popular approval. We seldom hear about good people who sincerely try to reach this elevated level of consciousness by applying themselves to material disciplines, prayer, and faith in One God that are way beyond their reach. Religious and other leaders especially must be careful not to succumb to the fleeting adoration of their followers. Doing so empowers urges and self-doubts they at first hide and deny but that are hiding within the shadows of their all too human consciousness. One must always strive to be open and honest even when the price is high.
Many Chassidim have a serious problem with Rebbe worship! NEVER worship ANYTHING or ANYONE other than HaShem! This includes even the greatest and most empowered spiritual leaders, like Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. He was a man, a human being. NO righteous human wants to be worshiped, as Rebbe Nachman explains in Likutey Moharan, Book I Lesson 194!
All human beings are fallible! Show respect, yes! Respect their positions, but never exceed the limits of piety and enter into the realms of worshipping fallen humans.
Pirkei Avot instructs us: “Acquire for yourself a teacher.” Given what we have shared today, the question is, ‘How can I find the right teacher for me, and how should I view the teacher?’
Understand that very often, the true tzadikim appear to be of no repute, just ordinary folk, but we sense they have some knowledge, some spark of anointing. Often, they are not part of the great religious institutions and organizations but often struggle alone with a small but loyal group of sincere learners and supporters under the proverbial radar. Sometimes, true teachers may have no talmidim at all. Do not allow yourself to be led astray by the external grandeur of “Show bottle Spiritualists”! Such people may look nice in your resume or on your bookshelf, but more often than you probably suspect, many of them do not even believe in HaShem! Many rabbis get paid outrageous salaries! Others raise huge amounts by selling trinkets with heartfelt appeals. But they have no belief in God and no faith in anything but money and the adulation of their followers. Be careful.
Honor and respect should be granted to leaders within limits, but what does the desire for honor say about a person? Rebbe Nachman writes that such desires indicate that the person is lacking ‘seikhel’ (good sense). Why? Because the less good sense one has, the more one desires honor, as described in Likutey Moharan I, #202). In another lesson, the Rebbe puts it more bluntly and says, “The desire for honor indicates that one is a fool (Likutey Moharan I, #194).
True honor is awarded by God. Who is a true rabbi? Who is a true Pastor? Who is a true Guru etc.? Despite ordination, group association memberships, etc., it is God alone who makes one a spiritual master. Blessed are those who find such a teacher!
And yet, it is precisely such deserved honors that can swell the heads and the egos of even the tzadikim, thereby, like poison, they are infected with self-importance. This destroys their righteousness and replaces it with a materialistic ego rather than spiritual realization.
This is perhaps why rabbis are commanded to be married. Wives have a way of humbling us when we need it! This is why Jews repeat the Eshet Chayil, composed by Shlomo HaShem, each Shabbat. Among the praises of valorous wives and mothers, we find the oddest thing: Shlomo adds to the list of her praises that, “her husband is well known as he sits at the gates among the elders of our people.” We men depend on our virtuous wives to keep us in check! We must recognize that our talents, such as we may have, are God-given gifts, and we must always strive to use them well without allowing leadership positions to deceive us into false egos. True ego is good. We should all honestly assess the gifts and talents God has given us, but it is vital to realize where we fall short and always give glory to God alone.
”A good name is better than riches”
And Yosef and David, both flawed in various ways, maintained their good names! Let us try and do the same!Got Questions or Comments?
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Be the Blessing you were created to be
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Don't let the perfect defeat the good
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