Way 7: Humility Is Not Weakness – The Torah’s Secret to Real Greatness

In episode seven of the 48 Ways series during the Omer, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe teaches Anava — “with humility.” He clarifies that true humility is not self-deprecation, staying silent, or pretending to be small. Instead, humility means recognizing that everything we have — talents, accomplishments, successes — is a gift from Hashem. We can (and should) feel proud of our achievements, but always with the awareness that the credit ultimately belongs to God who granted us the abilities.

Rabbi Wolbe explains that people are not judged against the average percentile of others. If God gave someone exceptional gifts, they are held to a much higher standard. Great Torah sages always felt inadequate precisely because they recognized how much more they could have accomplished with the extraordinary tools they were given. Humility allows us to learn from everyone (even younger or “smaller” people), accept criticism, and let others shine without feeling threatened. Arrogance “sucks the air out of the room,” while humility creates space for growth, prayer, and real relationships.

Additional powerful points: Moses received the Torah and the five books are named after him precisely because of his humility — he gave full credit to Hashem. Mount Sinai was chosen because it was the humblest mountain, and the Torah was given in the desert (midbar) to teach that we must make ourselves humble like the desert. God Himself showed humility by saying “Na’aseh Adam” (“Let us make man”), consulting the angels. Humility is required even to believe in God, because it acknowledges something greater than oneself.

Rabbi Wolbe shares inspiring real-life examples: Mariano Rivera crediting God for his record-breaking pitching career; the two Temple families (one shared their baking secret, the other hoarded their singing gift and lost it); Senator Joe Lieberman’s wife humorously reminding him he would always be “vice president” in their home; Rav Moshe Feinstein personally answering a woman’s weekly candle-lighting question for 25 years; and his great-aunt Bambi (who delivered over 40,000 babies) humbly listening to a young nursing student’s instructions. He also recounts how his grandfather refused the seat of honor at a siyum, choosing instead to sit by the door to support his grandson.

The episode concludes that humility generates truth, objectivity, freedom, and pleasure, while arrogance is a form of inner pain. It deepens our relationship with God and enables us to maximize life every single day.

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Recorded in TORCH Centre - Studio B on April 29,  2022, in Houston, Texas.
Released as Podcast on May 5, 2022

The 49 days we count between Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot are an exciting time for powerful and impactful change. The Mishna (Avot 6:6) teaches us 48 masterful tools and ways to maximize life and get the most out of each day.
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Share your questions at [email protected] or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  
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About the Host:
Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: [email protected]

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Listen More
Other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: 

• NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodes
• Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodes
• Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes
• Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes
• Living Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodes
• Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes
• Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes
• Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes

For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org
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Keywords:
#JewishInspiration, #Omer, #Count, #48Ways, #SpiritualGrowth, #TorahWisdom, #PirkeiAvot, #WisdomDaily

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