If you see a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him. (Proverbs 26:12)
A very holy rabbi came to town for a visit. The whole town, led by their most honored scholars, turned out to gaze upon this man of G-d. As for the saintly guest himself, he did not as much as turn to face them. He simply stood looking through a window at a certain high mountain. Those who had assembled there longed to hear at least some holy thoughts from his holy lips — but he remained in his place in intense meditation.
Now among all those present there was a certain young man whose scholarship and distinguished lineage were equaled only by his conceit. He was always ready to show everyone his vast knowledge and engage in debate over the revealed and hidden meanings of TaNaCh (Scriptures). He became angry because the holy rabbi was not showing the assembled scholars the anticipated honor and reverence which were their due, in his opinion.
This was too much for the young man to swallow.
“Esteemed sir,” he began, “would you perhaps be so good as to explain why, you are gazing so intently at that hill — which is, after all, only a pile of dust?”
“That is precisely what amazes me,” replied the holy rabbi. “How can a plain pile of dust blow itself up so mightily until it becomes a proud mountain? “
The arrogant young man had learned his lesson as he remembered:
“Be not wise in your own eyes; fear HaShem, and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:7)
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
