Questions for today:
Being honest about ourselves can sometimes come easily. However, I can always lift myself up, at least I’m not as bad as the next person. How can I fulfill the Mishneh, to be humble before everyone?
Have you ever walked into a meeting half an hour late, but then someone walks in even later than you, and all a sudden you don't feel so bad?
We're talking about how we can strengthen our relationship with the Creator through introspection and being honest about our flaws.
In this chapter we will go through an extensive exercise to bring that humility to a completely different level – we will be humble even compared to everyone else, and no one, no matter what, will dilute our honest evaluation of ourselves.
There is a fascinating story during the building of the tabernacle. Moses didn't want to accept donations of mirrors which he thought were used for vanity.
G-d responds that that's not how they were used. He tells Moses that the wives would show themselves and the husbands in the mirrors. The husband would take a look and see themself next to their wife. They would then realize that they aren’t greater than thier wife, which would strengthen their relationship.
People often feel that they could be really close to the Creator. But they think to themselves that they do so much good, and other people do so much bad, therefore, they deserve. Tanya, today, reminds us not to compare ourselves to anybody else until you've really looked in the mirror and then really walked a mile in their shoes.
074 Tanya Adar 3 ~ m085 Adar I, 16
Tanya book 1, ch 30, Pt 1
After looking in the mirror and being introspective, we mention an important element.
We must be humble even compared to others: that is, ALL others.
Study today’s Tanya in full:
https://www.chabadmed.com/dailystudy/tanya.asp?tdate=2/17/2022
See today’s video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMUjLzYjBxE&list=PLFZQPK6u-zSBls9Hwx3P5vKIBRnjBvHe&index=75