Who is Dignified?

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In Pirke Avot 4:1 we read: “Ben Zoma says: Who is the wise one? He who learns from all men, as it says, "I have acquired understanding from all my teachers" (Psalms 119:99). Who is the mighty one? He who conquers his impulse, as it says, "slowness to anger is better than a mighty person and the ruler of his spirit than the conqueror of a city." (Proverbs 16:32). Who is the rich one? He who is happy with his lot, as it says, "When you eat [from] the work of your hands, you will be happy, and it will be well with you" (Psalms 128:2). "You will be happy" in this world, and "it will be well with you" in the world to come. Who is honored? He who honors the created beings, as it says, "For those who honor Me, I will honor; and those who despise Me will be held in little esteem" (I Samuel 2:30).”

Earlier this week I was studying this passage with a Mussar group I am leading at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire in Great Barrington. In connection with this well-known passage from Pirke Avot we also read the following commentary from Rabbi Shalom Noach Barzofsky (The Slonimer Rebbe) on the passage, “When the Mishnah asks, ‘Who is dignified (an alternative translation for m’chubad – more often translated as ‘honored’)?’ it does not mean, ‘Who is made dignified by other people,’ as is the common understanding. What value is there in being dependent on other people giving you dignity? Eizehu m’chubad - Who is dignified? One who gives dignity to all people’ is teaching that the gaze of one person to another is like glancing in the mirror – if his face is dirty, he will see in the mirror a dirty face. So, it is the same when a person looks at the other – the amount that he is pure and refined internally, so he will look more generously upon the other and see good attributes. On the other hand, if he is infected with bad attributes and behaviors, so he will see bad attributes in everyone else. Therefore, the truly dignified person is the one who treats all people with dignity, who appreciates all people. This behavior is the true sign that he is dignified himself.”
Rather, ‘

As we studied this passage I could not help but think of the words of the great Rabbi Moses Maimonides who taught, Ha-Meyveen yavin – “Those who understand, they understand!” Indeed!

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