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Are Self-Esteem and Humility Mutually Exclusive?

A Taste of Text—Vayikra

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Are Self-Esteem and Humility Mutually Exclusive?: A Taste of Text—Vayikra

Experience your largeness, but at the same time feel your smallness. Talents are gifts endowed to you by G‑d.

Handouts:	Vayikra
Audio:	Listen to Audio \| Download this MP3
Topics:	Humility, Vayikra

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By Chana Weisberg

Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.org and host of the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories podcast. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.

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10 Comments

Jenifer Nech houston March 17, 2018

Very good teaching. I think that humility 'tempers' self-esteem. They are not mutually exclusive but one can enhance or distract from the other. Without humility self-esteem can become narcissistic. ? Reply

Phil Oceanside March 30, 2017

So refreshing to hear a woman's voice/perspective. Great message to boot. Reply

Bathsheva Gladstone Branford, CT March 18, 2016

Spot on. It's truly amazing that no matter when I shine in. I always find something pertinent to what's going on in my life--this very day. Thank you! Reply

Anonymous Saudi Arabia March 13, 2016

It's an amazing lesson even though Moses was in close relationship with G-d , he recognized his human nature ,that's humility.Self-esteem is to be what you're .When I look to myself say in mirror or just pondering I tell myself :Thank G-d how divine you are. This is the reality of being one's self,that's self-confidence. Reply

Anonymous February 1, 2014

Chana before, looking into your eyes, I thought you were sad, But now I can see, you are a very profund woman with a beautful and well treined mind. Congrats. Learning from you. Thanx. Reply

ruth housman marshfield hills, ma March 25, 2012

Face to Face: in fact: G_d speaks to us all Anyone who gets close to Hashem knows they are very small, in terms of the magnitude and power and majesty of this encounter with the Divine. There is no conflict here, in terms of having self-esteem and being in a state of total humility. To have self-esteem is to feel one is actualizing one's potential, and one feels strong in that encounter of the "me" in the mirror. There is a very different feeling when it comes to knowing how small one is, in the cosmos, under that magnitude of stars, even in being one star, but one in millions. The more one encounters what is Divine in all of our lives, including the knowledge of Divinity within ourselves, the more humility one feels, and in fact, ego has to take second place to this knowledge. Ego becomes non existent, except for a small part, and I am told and do understand more and more that this very tiny amount as in 1/64 of a total portion, is really all there is. Why? I think it has to be very clear we're all souls and it's about love. Reply

vivian Gonzalez raleigh , nc March 23, 2012

SELF ESTEEM AND HUMILITY For me self esteem and humility could walk together. To be humble is to recognize the attributes you have without ignoring what you are missing. For example Moses or king David, even though they have this close relationship with G-D they recognize they still were human. They could see that they will never be as G_D. The more you walk with G-D the more you realize what you are missing. Self Esteem in the other hand is to understand what you are , an imperfect human being with the hope that everyday is an opportunity to learn and walk to a better path. Reply

Maya Josebashvili Antwerp, Belgium via chabadantwerp.org March 21, 2012

Hi Chana
My name is Maya. First of all I would like to tell you that I like all your teachings even is some of them take only 2 to 4 minutes. But this lesson of self esteem and humility is amazing. I love the way you taught me to think about oneself. And it's like as if you were talking about my life in the end, about the unwanted pregnancy. So thank G-d that He wanted me to be and He sent me here with so many talents and gifts to be able to thank Him for. Reply

Anonymous Mesa, Arizona, USA March 18, 2012

Mrs Weisberg,
This teaching of Vayikra, is so moving to me. Can you imagine Hashem calling us by our name? This most be amazing! As per the study of humility, I believe that acknowledging one's talent as a gift from Hashem always and thanking him always for them is also honoring him. For He, blessed be He, is the Giver of all! Thank you Chana Weisberg for such wonderful teaching I love to listen to the Hebrew pronunciation. I am learning a lot! Reply

rosa epelman alfano nazereth illit nazereth illit , Israel March 18, 2012

self esteem and humility self esteem and humility are basic things that we have to learn to live well but sometimes they cannot use at the same time. Everyday just our self esteem cares about our entire life in the society and the humility is necessary to understand that we are just human beingswith our virtues and defects alltogether Reply

A Taste of Text

Each 20-minute video class uses a text from the weekly Torah portion to convey a contemporary insight on leading a more enriched life. Source sheets are included to help students follow along and gain a "taste" of the actual texts studied.

Are Self-Esteem and Humility Mutually Exclusive?: A Taste of Text—Vayikra

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