OU TORAH YU TORAH and NAALEH.COM Honorable Humility By Shira Smiles

Adapted by Channie Koplowitz Stein One of the verses in Parshat Beha’alotcha describes Moshe as being exceedingly anav/humble. Since Moshe himself wrote the Torah, ask our commentators, how could he, in all humility, write that he was humble? What, in fact, is humility? Should it be mean not acknowledging one’s talents and skills? Rashi’s explanation of anav as shafel vesavlan/low and enduring, patient, tolerating also needs further exploration and examination, especially since anivut/humility is considered to be the highest form of praise for an individual. Its antithesis is ga’avah/haughtiness.