The Power of Self-Worth in Jewish Faith: Why Every Soul Matters

In order to face any challenge in life, it’s essential that we learn to accept ourselves, appreciate who we are, and become aware of the strengths and talents that God has given us. This is far more important than we often realize. According to our sages, it is the duty of every Jew to know their worth, to believe in themselves, and to understand their unique value. Only through self-recognition can we overcome life’s trials and grow in every area. This too is part of our service to God, and we must never neglect it.

When a person recognizes the talents and abilities that God has placed within them, they gain much greater emotional strength to endure and rise through hardship.

Some of the insights here were taught by Rebbetzin Tikochinsky. Presented here is only a small part of the wonderful wisdom I received from her, and I highly recommend hearing it from the source. I’ve also included ideas from our rabbis of blessed memory, material I’ve gathered over the years, and twenty years of personal experience. Time and again, I’ve witnessed how self-acceptance and self-esteem empower people to face life’s toughest tests.

It’s a Mitzvah to Value Ourselves

It’s a Jew’s obligation to believe in themselves and in God’s love for them.

Just as we are commanded to believe in God, we are also commanded to believe in ourselves! Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin writes in Tzidkat HaTzadik (144) on the verse “And they believed in God and in Moses His servant”: “Just as one must believe in God, so too one must believe in themselves — that God desires a relationship with them and delights when they do His will.”

This self-worth is the foundation of all spiritual growth. Rabbeinu Bachya writes: “The first gateway is that a person must recognize their own value, understand their greatness, their importance, and how beloved they are by the Creator...for through this one can reach true service of the heart.”

Only when a person truly knows how much God loves them and how valuable they are can they receive moral guidance and grow in their Divine service. The Yesod HaAvodah of Slonim interprets the verse “Do not despise the discipline of God, my son” (Proverbs 3:11) as follows: What is God's discipline? The declaration: “My son”, you are My beloved, My cherished child. Therefore, do not despise yourself. Recognize your worth and how precious you are to your Creator, who longs for your return.

Understanding how much we matter to God can give us emotional strength and joy. In the beginning of Exodus, it says, “These are the names of the children of Israel”, and Rashi explains: Even though God already listed their names in their lifetime, He repeated them after their death to show how beloved they are, comparing them to stars that He brings out and names individually.

The Sfat Emet asks: To whom did God want to show their belovedness? And he answers: To them — to the Jewish people themselves, so they would believe that God counts and cares about every single one of them. How important it is for every Jew to know their worth!

Every Jew Has Incomparable Worth

Every Jew has immeasurable value, no matter their current state. God loves them more than we can possibly imagine.

As the holy Baal Shem Tov said: “If only I could love the greatest tzaddik in Israel as much as God loves the most wicked Jew.” (Quoted in She’erit Yosef)

The Baal Shem Tov once walked with his students and saw an elderly man who had finally fathered a child, joyfully playing with his son. The Baal Shem Tov said: “Do you see the joy of this old father with his only son, born in his old age? Know that God loves even the lowest Jew far more than that, and He delights greatly in every word of Torah, every prayer, every act of kindness that Jew does — no matter who they are, even the most downtrodden.”

The Zohar Is Full of Proof of a Jew’s Value

The Zohar is filled with teachings emphasizing how deeply God values every Jew and every mitzvah they do. In fact, the Arizal’s entire body of work is intended to show the infinite value of a Jewish soul.

To illustrate this, a speaker once took a tissue, crumpled it up, and threw it on the floor. “Would anyone want this now?” he asked. “No,” the crowd responded. Then he took a crumpled 200-shekel bill, stomped on it, and asked, “Do you still want it?” Everyone answered yes.

He explained: “Why is it that no one wanted the crumpled tissue, but everyone still wanted the dirty, wrinkled bill? Because you knew it still had value. Every one of us has deep worth, no matter how crumpled or dirty we may feel.”