Quality 1: Humility
(ג) וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה ענו [עָנָ֣יו] מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ (ס)
(3) Now Moses was a very humble man, more than any other man that was upon the face of the earth.
אמר רבא ואיתימא ר' יוחנן: גדול שנאמר במשה ואהרן יותר ממה שנאמר באברהם. דאילו באברהם כתיב, 'ואנכי עפר ואפר'. ואילו במשה ואהרן כתיב, 'ונחנו מה?'
Rava said (and some say it was Rav Yochanan), greater was that of what Moshe and Ahron said than that of what Avraham said. Avraham Said, "and I am dust and ash", whereas Moshe and Ahron said, "Who are we?"
Moshe was implying, "Who are we?
We are nothing, not even dust and ash"
(יד) מה בין משה לכל הנביאים? רבי יהודה ב"ר אלעאי ורבנן ר"י אומר: מתוך תשע איספקלריות היו הנביאים רואים, הה"ד (יחזקאל מג): וכמראה המראה אשר ראיתי וגו'. ומשה ראה מתוך איספקלריא אחת, שנאמר (במדבר יב): ומראה ולא בחידות. רבנן אמרין: כל הנביאים ראו מתוך איספקלריא מלוכלכת, הה"ד (הושע יב): ואנכי חזון הרביתי וביד הנביאים אדמה. ומשה ראה מתוך איספקלריא מצוחצחת, הה"ד (במדבר יב):
What is the difference between Moses and all the prophets? Rabbi Y'hudah in the name of Rabbi Il'ai and the Rabbis (differed). Rabbi Y'hudah said: All the prophets saw through nine lenses . . . but Moses saw through one lens. . . . The Rabbis said: All the other prophets saw through a dirty lens, . . . but Moses saw through a polished lens. . . .
Moshe saw G-d clearly; he had a tremendous amount of knowledge. That knowledge bred humility.
Sichos HaRan: #3
It's interesting, we all think we know everything about a certain topics. But when we learn some topics inside, and we see what different Rebeim have said on the matter, we start to realize that we don't know as much as we thought we did at all. The more you learn about something, the more you realize how much you don't know! Take this and start to realize that Hashem and the Torah are infinite and that we've barely scratched the surface; it's humbling.
However, don't get discouraged about the fact that we have only seen a tiny percentage. The goal is not to run away, but rather that we should want to jump in all the more so!
Chabad.org
The Midrash says that when God was preparing to give the Torah, all the mountains stepped forward and declared why they thought the Torah should be given on them. "I am the highest mountain," said one. "No," said another, "I am the steepest mountain and therefore the Torah should be given on me."
One by one, they all stated their claims. In the end, God chose Mount Sinai - not because it was the tallest or the grandest, but because it was the most humble.
If G‑d wanted to emphasize humility, why did he give the Torah on a mountain? Shouldn't He have given it in a valley, or on the plains?
This teaches us about modesty and pride: A very strong personality can have an unassuming nature only by realizing that talents, genius, and skill come directly from G‑d. As the first paragraph in the Code of Jewish Law tells us, “Do not be embarrassed by those who mock you.” We, as Jews, do not have the luxury of being like a valley or a plain—of having our height and pride sapped from us. We should be like a mountain—and elevate ourselves with a strong identity.
Still, we must retain a sense of humility: we must be a mountain, but a low mountain.
"True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less"
- C.S. Lewis
Quality 2: Stepping Up
(יא) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֗ם וַיִּגְדַּ֤ל מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֵּצֵ֣א אֶל־אֶחָ֔יו וַיַּ֖רְא בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑ם וַיַּרְא֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י מַכֶּ֥ה אִישׁ־עִבְרִ֖י מֵאֶחָֽיו׃ (יב) וַיִּ֤פֶן כֹּה֙ וָכֹ֔ה וַיַּ֖רְא כִּ֣י אֵ֣ין אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־הַמִּצְרִ֔י וַֽיִּטְמְנֵ֖הוּ בַּחֽוֹל׃
(11) And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. (12) And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
(ה) ...ובִמְקוֹם שֶׁאֵין אֲנָשִׁים, הִשְׁתַּדֵּל לִהְיוֹת אִישׁ:
(5) ...In a place where there is no man, strive to be a man.
(טו) וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ לַהֲרֹ֣ג אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיִּבְרַ֤ח מֹשֶׁה֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִדְיָ֖ן וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב עַֽל־הַבְּאֵֽר׃ (טז) וּלְכֹהֵ֥ן מִדְיָ֖ן שֶׁ֣בַע בָּנ֑וֹת וַתָּבֹ֣אנָה וַתִּדְלֶ֗נָה וַתְּמַלֶּ֙אנָה֙ אֶת־הָ֣רְהָטִ֔ים לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת צֹ֥אן אֲבִיהֶֽן׃ (יז) וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָרֹעִ֖ים וַיְגָרְשׁ֑וּם וַיָּ֤קָם מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיּ֣וֹשִׁעָ֔ן וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־צֹאנָֽם׃
(15) Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. (16) Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. (17) And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
- Herding sheep
- Whenever bnei Yisroel complained
- At cheit haEigel
- At Korach's rebellion
The Bystander Effect
New York Times
Martin Gansberg
March 27, 1964
For more than a half an hour, 38 respectable, law-abiding citizens in Queens watched a killer stalk and stab a woman [Kitty Genovese] in three separate attacks in Kew Gardens.
Twice their chatter and the sudden glow of their bedroom lights interrupted him and frightened him off. Each time he returned, sought her out, and stabbed her again. Not one person telephoned the police during the assault; one witness called after the woman was dead.
The First Person Effect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO8MwBZl-Vc
The Doggy Bag
1) Being Humble: It was said of Reb Simcha Bunem that he carried two slips of paper, one in each pocket. On one he wrote: Bishvili nivra ha-olam—“for my sake the world was created.” On the other he wrote: V’anokhi afar v’efer”—“I am but dust and ashes.” He would take out each slip of paper as necessary, as a reminder to himself.
What do you think this means?
Have you ever utilized each of these concepts in your own life?
2) Stepping Up: Lets take upon ourselves that once day we will find an opportunity where we can "step it up". It can be anything from starting a movement, to being the first person to run and get paper towel to help clean up your friend's spilled soda.