Only the 'Best' People May Read This Article

Before reading this article, answer the following questions: How many degrees do you have? How many push-ups can you do in a minute? How much money do you have in your bank account? Did you pass the test? You may continue reading. Surprised by the questions? Well, they are simply meant to filter the readership (this article is intended only for the right kind of people...)

But seriously—consider the impact of Western culture. The following saying expresses it succinctly: “When you’re born, you’re issued a birth certificate. When you die, you’re issued a death certificate. The more certificates you earn between the two, the more you’re worth.” For many people in today’s generation, a person’s importance is determined by a set of external factors, such as certificates, wealth, influence, beauty...

Trying not to be swept along with this current is an ongoing struggle, even though we tell ourselves that it’s the person inside who counts. This is the Torah’s message, as the mitzvot make clear. What really matters is how much of a “mensch” you are. How you relate to others, how caring you are. Not external achievements or impressive resumes.

Take a classic example of the difference between external beauty and inner beauty: the destruction of the Second Temple.

Our Sages state, “Why was the First Temple destroyed? Because of three things: idolatry, sexual immorality, and bloodshed ... But the Second Temple, where they were engaged in Torah study, mitzvot, and acts of kindness, why was it destroyed? Because there was baseless hatred. This teaches us that baseless hatred is equivalent to the three [major] transgressions” (Yoma 9).

Torah study, mitzvot, and acts of kindness—and yet, the Temple was destroyed because of something that couldn’t even be seen. Outwardly, the Jews living in those times cared about each other to the point that they expressed it via acts of kindness. But these were just externalities; within, they hated one another and those kind acts were just acts.

This is what the Piaseczno Rebbe taught: “Did we not speak to you saying, that it is not enough for you to do good deeds alone, but that you yourself should be good?” (A Student’s Obligation, p. 132).

Throughout the Torah, there are examples of how even the most impressive actions are worth little unless they are accompanied by genuine feeling. While the Torah stresses that our behavior does ultimately affect our way of thinking and feeling, this usually only applies if the person is not motivated by honor-seeking.

The Sages stated: “One might feed his father the finest pheasants yet drive him from the world, while another might make him grind at the mill yet bring him to the World to Come” (Kiddushin 31). What this means is that it doesn’t matter how impressive your external actions are—it’s the heart that counts.