{"id":16466,"date":"2026-07-31T17:20:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.torahmates.org\/jewish-resources\/?p=16466"},"modified":"2026-07-31T17:20:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:20:47","slug":"parashat-eikev-hidden-arrogance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.torahmates.org\/jewish-resources\/parashat-eikev-hidden-arrogance\/","title":{"rendered":"Parashat Eikev: Covert Arrogance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Success Leads to Pride<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this week’s Torah reading the Torah warns us of the trap of abundance. The Torah says: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“[For] you might eat, be satisfied and build good houses which you will dwell in. And your cattle will multiply and you will amass gold and silver, and you will increase all your possessions. And your heart will rise and you will forget your God Who took you out of Egypt.” <\/p>\nDevarim 8:11-18<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In these verses, the Torah is warning us against conceit. When one is successful, he is likely to have his wealth get to his head. Instead of feeling humble for being the recipient of all the blessings he was granted<\/a>, he falls into the trap of feeling proud of all that he amassed. Feelings of arrogance have their ways of slowly creeping into our psyche without grand announcements. If we do not stand guard, before we know it, we will turn into fully-blown arrogant people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hidden Arrogance Behind Humility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Haughtiness expresses itself in many, and sometimes opposing, ways. When we think of someone who is arrogant, we think of someone who holds his head high, and expects everyone to honor him<\/a> in every possible way and more than everyone else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mesilat Yesharim (chapter 11) describes another type of haughty person: someone who holds so highly of himself that he feels he doesn’t even need to draw attention and respect from others. Instead of walking around in a proud manner, he feels he is so great that he can afford to act humbly without it detracting from his high status! Therefore, he purposely displays acts of humbleness to prove his humility, when in truth, it is nothing more than a disguise to his true egotism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most of us are not so extreme and do not fall into either of the cases mentioned, many of us are somewhere in between. While we may not dismiss the opinions of others completely and we attempt to refrain from openly displaying superiority, there are usually plenty of arrogant feelings lingering in our hearts, staying under the radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re Not as Great as You Think\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There was a man who founded a girls’ school. His efforts bore fruits as the school flourished year after year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One time, while he was attending an event, he met a friend who asked him, “So how is your school doing?” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My school?!” replied the man, “It’s not my school, I just help out in running the institution.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon hearing his response, the friend retorted in Yiddish, “Macht zich nisht azoy klein; du bist nisht azoy grois.”<\/em> In other words, “Don’t have yourself appear so humble; you’re not as great as you think you are to begin with.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do We Really Feel in Our Hearts?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Diminishing our self-pride is a real battle. Our natural inclination is to think deep down that we are the best and the smartest. Many times, the only thing hindering us from sharing these feelings with others is the fact that it’s not socially appropriate. Sometimes we express verbally to others that we are truly nothing special because we feel self-conscious receiving undue attention. We may even be embarrassed to admit to ourselves how haughty we really are, and we will claim to ourselves dishonestly that we are just ordinary people. The question is, what do we really<\/em> feel in our hearts? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the verse describes the haughtiness which is prohibited, “And your heart will rise and you will forget your God.” The Torah doesn’t merely address speaking or acting with arrogance. Even arrogance which is kept stored in one’s heart is already a fault. The Orchot Tzaddikim (Chapter 1) further says that an arrogant heart alone is considered an abomination, as the verse states (Mishlei 16:5), “An abomination to God is any haughty heart.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Test of Genuine Humility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may prove enlightening to investigate the matter and ask ourselves: Do we truly value the opinions of others? Are we ready to admit that others who give us unsolicited advice might truly know better<\/a> and we are mistaken? How do we feel if word gets to us that someone else<\/em> said we are not so special? If we really<\/em> view ourselves as ordinary, would we get insulted so easily by others?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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True humility begins with seeing ourselves honestly. Grow through meaningful Torah learning with a personal study partner\u2014join TorahMates today.<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

By Rabbi Yitzchok Aryeh Strimber<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n