Smarty Pants

The attorney I work for paraphrases every person she knows either personally or in a working relationship as "absolutley brillant" as if to be in her circle, this is what is required. Often, more than not, these absolutley brilliant people have behavorial and mental problems. I do not have all the letters behind my name, I did not go to college and get a degree. I was fortunate to gain my knowledge by hard work and experience. God gave me smarts, and perhaps a large dose of humilty, that did not require letters to follow in order for people to see what I have to offer. What I notice is that the first things out of folks with degrees is just that. Here's my letters, where's yours. Bless you for reminding me that it really about how you are as a person. That you could have all the education in the world and still be a stinker.

I consider "Vision" as the sum of moral values (compassion above all), experience and common sense. "Brains" is simply an intellectual matter ... it is by no means the only resource to build better humans ... and a better world. Judaism, I think, privileges "Vision" over just "brains".G-d bless you, Rab.

I keep my Phi Beta Kappa certificate with my name misspelled on it right above my desk to remind me that we all make mistakes. Smart isn't necessarily better.

Brings to mind the prep school, ivy league educated broker who bilked his clients out of millions and millions of $$. His expensive education did nothing for his ethics. I advocate a Jewish education to friends who are on the fence about whether or not to invest in day school for their kids by bringing this particular example to bear. Ethics must be taught. Especially in today's culture where anything goes. Also, there are different types of intelligence... social intelligence, emotional intelligence, spatial intelligence... A brilliant scientist may be a social idiot. It is important to know where one's strongest forms of intelligence lay.

In order to really understand what is going on we would need to compare the numbers. There are approximately 44 million people seeking assistance and out of those there are 330,000 who have higher education, including graduate education. It should be noted that this does not mean that these people are unemployed. It simply means that they are not making enough money to support themselves. Thus, a Ph.D. whose hours have been cut because of State legislation is now in different economic situation than before. Of course the numbers have gone up dramatically because of the overall economic situation but so have the numbers in the general population. It has nothing to do with being smart or not being smart. It has to do with the times, unfortunately. Of course, it is also a law of supply and demand and people are slowly shifting their priorities. Thus the Ph.D. in Medieval Art is now teaching part time and doing contract work at a local high school in the hopes of landing a full time job at either place or somewhere else. In the meantime University counsellors are not changing their priorities when giving young people advice. They are still giving them the same advice as before: "Do that which you desire regardless of the job market." The university counsellors are there to fill the seats for the professors. They are not interested in the general welfare of the students or society at large, unfortunately. Personally, half the students should never be in university. University should be there for 2 types. The very best in the arts and the professions. Unfortunately it is there for the party animals who never learn to think. Send them to trade schools.

It seems that Rabbi Solomon only talks about "book smarts", i.e., the number of letters a person has after his/her last name (B.A. M.A., Ph.D. M.D. etc.). My late husband a"h was one of the smartest people I know, and he didn't have any of these letters after his last name! He had "street smarts", the kind of intelligence that really counts! I have found that often, the amount of real intelligence (and I include common sense in this category) of a person is in inverse proportion to the number of letters he/she carries after his/her last name!

Intelligence does not equate with goodness and average is just that - average, neither here nor there. It is what one does with their intelligence or lack of that matters. Yes, there are so many people with degrees doing menial jobs and so many mediocre people with more money than they know what to do with. It is goodness in the individual rather than whether they are educated to degree level or illiterate.

I think the key point is - what really matters is what one does with that intellect one is born with. One is "gifted" - because one received a gift - from G-d, so one is expected to use it accordingly. And it's not really only intellect - all the assets one is born with - they are all gifts from G-d, they need to be used to the max. In a certain sense they are rather not assets, but liabilities - the more is given to a person, the more is expected from one. We all need to pay back for the gifts we received - pay by utilizing them completely, as they were given to us to use them.

I feel comfortable with Romney's demonstration of faith.

This is not a political discussion, but just in case you missed it, and in case you are Jewish, Romney's faith involves 3 separate flesh (as in meat) gods. Yes, as in Zeus. Yes, gods as in the highest one conquered this part of the galaxy but there are others as well. Now, do you still feel comfortable or should I keep going? When Christians think that Romney's faith is a cult then what do you think that we think of it? Can you spell idolatry? So, are you still comfortable with Romney's faith? Or, are you just trying to get the Jewish vote? And, if you are, maybe you can convince all those Jewish seniors in Florida that their healthcare will not disappear with Ryan as VP. Yes, it will because that was part of his budget. But, this is all about smarts and not about politics, obviously.

Important to remember the difference between “smart” and “wise.” The difference? “The smart person can figure out solutions to problems that the wise person avoids in the first place.” Of course, we should remember the maxim, “the greatest wisdom is kindness.” Too often our emphasis on “brains” encourages cheating, unhealthy competition, hubris and anxiety. What are the dangers of emphasizing kindness?

I have known some people who have a lot of college but are really not very smart, cannot get along with people & have no common sense. no matter how much education you have with no common sense you are an idiot.

I do agree with the general point that having emphasizing any quality to an extreme is problematic. However, the argument that was used based on unemployment and degree is problematic. Yes, those with an advanced degree are more likely to be smarter than those without, but this does not mean that someone with an advanced degree is "smart." Further, it is implied that someone who has a PhD and is a janitor is not successful. I thought that Judiasm teaches us that success is not based on our jobs but on how we live. A janitor with a PhD may be a person who rejected the options available for using the degree and is living a more principled life as a janitor. Such a person would be a success. Finally, we need to distinguish between "smart" and intelligence. There are many types of intelligence, but having true wisdom is having wisdom like King Solomon. Such wisdom is the ability to analyze situations and decide how to act in a way that Hashem would want. It is impossible to have too much of this sort of wisdom.

My mother used to say, "study hard like the Jewish boy next door." That Jewish boy introduced me to Judaism, but hated it himself. He went on to become a surgeon, never sets foot in the Synagogue and is very unhappy with life. I converted and lead a very Jewish life. I guess I took away from the smart boy the important lesson.

The emphasis on smarts comes from our mothers and from rabbis. Have you ever noticed how a rabbis eyes light up when smart and rich people show up ? This month a more than usual number of Jewish sites and synagogues are campaigning for money/tzedakah, including Aish. Who is going to be greeted with glee ? The rich man or the poor ? It's a no brainer.

I've met a lot of people who have a high IQ but have zero common sense. So they need a lot of help from other people to set them strait. However, intelligence can be a real blessing and, if you have it, should be used to better the human condition. I think that G_d made people with different abilities because we've always lived in a world where different abilities are required. For instance, if you have a lot of physical strength, that's great for certain professions that are essential, too. Different strengths in people keep society going Thing is - working to our ability is all that G_d expects of us. He knows who we are and what we're capable of. Our job is to best use what we have.

I do not agree with you at all. Most of the advances in every aspect of our lives, especially medical, are accomplished by "smart" people, truly intelligent people, not just those who can "ace" a test. Add common sense to intelligence plus being a good person and you have a winning combination.

R' Yehoushoua ben Chanania said "Lo Lchacma Lechem" loosley translated it means not necessarily does wisdom mean you'll have bread to eat, ie: a job. A lot of great rabbis were poor, like the Iben Ezra.

King Solomon was called, "Chacham Mikol Adam", the wisest man who ever lived. Yet in Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), he says at least seven times that he despised wisdom. After all, he built a glorious unified empire with his wisdom that his son was able to ruin in a matter of days, as well as an unparalleled Temple whose destruction he probably foresaw. What remained that was worth anything? "Sof davar, hakol hanishma... In the end, after hearing it all, be in awe of G-d and observe his commandments, because THAT'S the entire person." I guess you weren't called Rabbi Salomon for nothin'...

Yes, you're absolutely right. Intelligence is definitely overrated. It also creates intense pressure on children having to make the grade in school and then go on to the best colleges. And integrity, chesed, beyn odom lechavero are often relegated to the bottom of the list...although no one would ever admit that. As someone who is considered bright (but never internalized that until later in life), I've often beat myself up for not being more ambitious professionally. To me, it has always been more important to enjoy what I do and to see the results of my hard work and building relationships with people. All that being said, I admit I often have little patience with really stupid people.

Rabbi Salomon is absolutely right. It is nice to be smart, but like my mother (may she rest in peace) always said: "Common sense is more important than book knowledge. It is nice to have book knowledge, but if a person has no common sense, what is the book knowledge worth?"

Wisdom is what matters. Making wise choices is what gets one far in life; not intelligence.

Yes. My father used to say, "It's not how much you know, but how much you do with what you know." He said many of the people that have been highly successful were often not the most knowledgeable in their area of expertize, but did a lot with what they did know. They had a desire or interest in something, and kept at their goal UNTIL it happened. They did the dirty work, long hours, listened and adjusted what was necessary, but went past all the nay sayers UNTIL they reached their goals. An example of this would be, well my father. An example others would be more familiar with would be Bill Gates or Oprah, with all they've done; both of which were certainly not the most knowledgeable in their field when they began. Many success stories have this in common. And like you say, it is so important that a person is a good person. They have to keep their priorities straight. And loved ones need to be at the top of the list, before business. They need good values/character. Well, I guess I just contradicted myself. Because, only the really smart ones out there know to do this. Like you say...that's something to think about.

Thanks Rabbi Yaakov, I agree whole heartedly with you on this. I know really smart people who are not necessarily wise and worse than that sometimes they are not kind either, and to boot they are arrogant which in my book is a recipe for disaster. Thanks for your wisdom, Shalom, and blessings to you and yours

Good person? I went up to you in LA while you were just sitting at the table not talking to anybody because I was thrilled to be able to hear you. You basically ignored me. I thought your wife was super nice.

I see that in the nursing field. We are pushed to have a BSN, which I have, now we are pushed to have a mastesr degree. Does that make better nurses? NO. If the HEARTt isn't at the bedside you are nothing but a jingling cymbal. There is a difference between intellect and intelligence. You can have a lot of intellect and little intelligence, lots of intelligence but NO wisdom. My parents were WISE people, didn't have the opportunity to study a lot but they educated themselves in Holy Wisdom. G'D's WORD gave hem that Holy Wisdom. "israel Chai" ! Rivka

A rosh yeshiva once asked me about a girl for a shidduch. He wanted to know whether she is very smart. I said, "I don't know, but why is it important?" He answered, "If she is very smart, the children might be and would be better able to learn Torah." I think that something to think about also.

I always find it funny when people think someone is smart because they are well educated. Many people are intelligent enough to memorizethings and pass tests, but it doesn't mean they are good at applying the knowledge. That's why Bill Gates who has no college degree is a billionaire and some PhD's are out of work. The formal education doesn't guarantee anything! the best skills you can have are people skills which will make you successful in many areas even without much of an education. That doesn't make you a nice person either - con men have great people skills. I personally like a lively conversation with an intelligent person, that doesn't mean they are the best people to be friends with or work with. It's just one aspect of their personality.

I really agree. There is so much importance put on education and the kindness & integrity is just overlooked in so many ways. And it leaves people who can't get a job later in huge debt.

Whenever God gives us a gift, we are also begin tested. A wealthy person has the obligation to use his money for good and a smart person has the obligation to accomplish more with his brains than others. Sometimes I feel down on myself because I believe that with my intelligence I should have accomplished more. Maybe I would have, but I often lacked the confidence, and now I am no longer young. I the movie The Great Dictator, the late Charlie Chaplin said that the world needs less cleverness and more kindness. Many of the planners of the Final Solution held PhD's. Brains, like everything else, may be used for the good or they may be used to work evil. God is watching to see which choices we will make.

I disagree with Yisorel. If we really believe one must be smart to be good we will constantly be amazed at how often that equation does not work. A person with limited intellect but who has a good heart and who desires to please God may not understand the workings of moral thought deeply but is able to do many good things in the service of his family and community. On the other hand most of the carnage caused to humanity in the last generation was done by arrogant people who thought themselves brilliant. Count for yourself the number of places in the Torah where God shows himself to be impressed by human brilliance. On the other hand notice the places He values humility, obedience to Him, and righteousness.

The most important challenge is to realize God has instilled in all of us different talents. It's up to us to honor God by using our talents he has given us. In other words we have to use the cards God has dealt us whether we are mensa intelligent or average.

Spot on Shirley!

1. PHDs and Masters degrees can be awarded (in many different fields) to non-intelligent people. They are not in any way a guarantee of intelligence. 2. You can have kind smart people and cruel "average" people, or it can be the other way around! Of course the type of person you are is the most important thing. But, often times a certain degree of intelligence allows one to realize that there is something more out there and strive to become better. I don't like your assumption that smarter people automatically have a harder time being good.

Rabbi, As usual you're "spot on." I totally agree with your commentary.

That is why personally I am trying to have full clarity and do all I can so that I can make wise and well informed decision that will benefit myself as well as anyone else involved..which will lead to a productive, long lasting harmonious..situation.

Bullying has become a serious problem in our culture and that, I believe, is because we have adopted the values of those who believe scoring high on an SAT and getting into a good college is the ideal. We have seen how brilliant college students have gone on to cause the suicide of others and still others have became cold blooded killers. We have to say "No" to those values. President Obama wants us to emulate South Korea where students have high test scores. Yes this is true, but South Korea also has the second highest suicide rate in the world and they suffer from a culture of bullying and brutal character assassination. I thank you for bringing balance and character building back into the equation. Smarts without character is a hollow shell.

A study looking at the intelligence levels of weathy business people found that this group generally possessed average intelligence. Obviously, their incredible successes were due to something other than raw brain power. Salomon's lecture re this issue was right on the mark.

I have CERTAINLY been thinking about this week’s topic. Let’s change the Master’s and PhD’s to Rabbinical S’micha, and Magid Shiur. What are the guidelines now? and, while we’re at it, What happened to: “Learning Lishma”? I agree that one should not WORSHIP (the Rav’s term) anyone for how smart they are but In the context of “Gadol B’Limud” Where does veneration come in? This topic, in my opinion, needs a lot more Clarification, than Consideration.

thank you, Rabbi, for giving me a balanced perspective on being smart. I went for testing because I thought I had a learning disability, and found out I was in the top 2 percentile of intelligence. I joined Mensa and celebrated the gift God gave me. However, I started to to become fixated at nurturing my intelligence, being proud of my intelligence, and finally fearful of losing my intelligence. My intelligence became the totality of who I am. High, low, or hitting the average, intelligence is just one aspect of many that makes me human. You have reminded me to keep celebrating myself, whom God made in totality, not just one aspect which happens to be well done!

Dear Rabbi Of all the subjects, videos and stories I have read over the years, this is right on the mark. We as Jewish parents have always heard about the value of education from our parents and in turn we have passed this on to our children. In today's turbulent and very difficult times, my wife and I(having 2 highly educated children)always say to one another "education is highly overrated". As you state being a good person, being a kind person, being a "Mensch" is the most important quality of a human being. Being concerned about one's family, being concerned about helping others giving "tzedkah" these are the qualities that make one a person you want to be associated with. Caring for others, caring for your family are the true qualities of being a "Human Being". Thank you for telling everyone what we have always believed. Keep up the good work.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom....now that is being smart...... Shalom

The fact is people differ and Jews are exceptional in many fields. Why do they try to deny this? Is it anti-Semitism to say Jews are exceptional people? Yet exceptional people can do a great deal of damage or great good. Jewish leftism is very destructive when they reject their Jewish roots that can moderate secular extremism. (and vice-versa) So it seems to me when a Jew retains their religious roots but allow reason to moderate their views, that is true wisdom.

For sure brains are gifts that can do harm as well as good but your statistics seem to me misleading. First off schools and financial institutions make money off education/loans so if one has brains he/she should use them in deciding what to learn unless financally independent. It's doubtful that many MD'S are getting public assistance but those with advanced degrees in Philosophy,Native American studies ,film making even law etc are another story. If researched before hands they likely would have known what fields would enable better opportunities to make a living. Seems to me that the greatness of Channa was that after being childless for so long she so much wanted a child in order to serve HaShem. She prayed for any child she could raise for that purpose.She may have believed any normal average child left with the Kohen at age three would be able to pull it off, but a super gifted or challenged kid would be more risky than an average one to complete the job successfully . As Shmuel ha Navi turned out well it seems to me that she was correct.The fact that she became the Jewish role model for prayer also points in that direction. Thanks, Andy/Aviel

What I can't stand is being surrounded by brilliant individuals that have no common sence. I have a magnet that sums it up for me-Why do they call it common sence, when it is so rare. Something to think about, no?

we all have it - but in varying degrees!

There is nothing common about common sense, unfortunately.

You got it all wrong. To be a good person you got to know what’s good and for that you got to have smarts. Dumb people are rarely if ever good. Why would that be? Because they’re so dumb it doesn’t occur to them that it would be good to be good. Even if the thought were to pass through their mind they wouldn’t know how to act on it. Being good entails having good knowledge of what the world is like and of what’s good. Otherwise you’re at a total loss to know. Sometimes people who seem smart do awful things. But that only goes to show they’re not so smart after all. If they were, they’d know better. What needs revising is our preconceived notion of what smartness consists in. But our notion that smart is good is right on target. Some equate smartness with ability to follow an intricate mathematical proof. Others see it at manifesting itself when someone rattles off the whole of Homer’s Iliad verbatim. But if these very people go around doing nasty things, all they have is talent.

According to your argument, (and correct me if I'm mistaken) it sounds to me that what you're saying is that the smarter someone is, the more free choice one has. Just because someone may be highly intelligent, doesn't mean that their desire to do things which may have very clear, negative consequences is diminished. For example: I personally know someone who is more intelligent than your average person, is financially successful, and yet has an alcohol addiction. Does that mean he's not smart, or that he doesn't have the brains? Absolutely not. He definitely knows that addiction is bad, however, that knowledge does not, in any way, guarantee that he will stop. Every person, on his or her level of intelligence, knows when they're doing something right or wrong. Otherwise they wouldn't have free choice.

I have to disagree. What I claim is that being smart and doing wrong are mutually exclusive. If a rocket scientist does something he shouldn’t, then he proves himself to lack smartness. I don’t equate smartness with sheer brain power. As I said, a person can have lots of talent without being smart. If you’re smart, you channel all the facts at your disposal in a positive direction. Smartness manifests itself in someone’s general pattern of conduct. It indicates a pervasive internalization of one’s knowledge. In the blessing we recite in the morning (Ahava Raba), we ask the A-lmighty to endow us with deeply penetrating understanding that will enable us to learn, teach, and actively observe all the commandments of the Torah. That’s what understanding is all about: practice and observance.

1. There are different kinds of intelligence. 2. I value wisdom more than I value smartness nor quickness. 3. It is good to have people who compliment each other, rather than duplicate each other. There are a lot of positive attributes, being good, being kind, being upbeat, being supportive, being enthusiastic, being humorous, being a problem solver,being stimulating, . . . all or some of the above.

Thank you Rabbi. As some one who is average, this is something I've always thought and have tried to instill in my children. Of course I want my children to be smart but maybe just so they won't have to struggle so much through school like I had to. What is in our soul and heart? What virtuous qualities glow inside of me and how do I build on this to help the world? To simply build on ones brains by absorbing outside information to better oneself is not "hitting the mark". To better the world and to provide, give, and help those around us, that is something amazing.

I could not agree with Rabbi Solomon more. How could someone aggue his point?