Naso(Numbers 4:21-7:89)

Where Did All the Greatness Go?

Were there ever really "great people?" Were the presidents of yesteryear deeper, more insightful and of stronger character? Or is it all just legend? Were they true heroes - or shallow figures with good PR?

Jewish literature is filled with eyewitness accounts of the greatness of previous generations. Stories of women who gave away family treasures to help the poor. People who risked their lives to learn Torah. Others who traveled miles in order to fulfill acts of kindness. The stories are endless.

Endless, it seems, until now. Recent history shows a thinning out of the viscosity of greatness.

What happened?What lesson has been lost? What concept have we forgotten that in the past produced great people?

GREATNESS: A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Greatness is not in short supply because of a lack of interest in achieving it. Great people are very much admired. Presidents are not elected because of their weak opinions and lack of fortitude! Rather, greatness is lacking because there is a misunderstanding of how to achieve it.

Many think that greatness consists of making giant leaps in the areas of business or personal character. For example, many define greatness as getting up three hours early every day to exercise and losing 100 pounds.

This definition of greatness has a danger: The goal is too formidable and it keeps people from ever trying. Or, someone may try and then give up very quickly - because the goal was in fact too difficult to achieve.

Which is not to say that great people don't make great decisions. Of course they do. However, they approach the goal in a way that ensures their success.

GETTING FROM "A" TO "B"

Usually we only get to see great people after they've achieved success. So we can easily be fooled into thinking their greatness was natural. We see them after the race, not during the rigors of training.

Many great people from history were nothing special when they started on life's journey. Great people make greatness look so easy that it appears to us as though they mastered it without any effort. But experts in any field will tell you differently. Any difficult skill requires immense practice. But ... you haven't mastered a skill until it becomes natural!

This week's Parsha describes a unique Mitzvah called "Nazir." Nazir is the name for a person who decides he wants to achieve great holiness. Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch writes (in his commentary to Numbers 6:21):

"If we consider the whole of this institution of Nazaritism we see that the way is open ... for any individual ... to satisfy his urge for spiritual and moral ennoblement, to raise himself temporarily ... to a status comparable to the High Priest."

What steps does the Torah prescribe for a person to attain such a lofty goal? Surely it requires tremendous personal fortitude and self deprivation!

Actually, the requirements of becoming a Nazir are remarkably simple and few: For a minimum of 30 days, he must abstain from any grape products, is not allowed to shave or cut his hair, and is not allowed to come near a dead body. That's all one has to do to achieve the great level of "holy unto God!" (Numbers 6:8)

(Note: One should not become a Nazir today, as without the Temple, we cannot fulfill the requirements properly.)

ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN...

Why is greatness lacking in our generation? Because people mistakenly think that greatness is found in the "big" decisions of life. They think that great people are the ones who decide to become the Ghandi-like pacifists or Rambo-like heroes.

In their desire for greatness, people often make colossal gestures for mankind. They throw themselves in front of speeding trains or embark on intercontinental walks. These gestures are usually nothing more than that - gestures. Ironically, it seems people would rather take big steps to greatness and fail, then take small steps and succeed!

The Torah is telling us that greatness can be found in the smallest of life's decisions. Not the ultimate big leap, but the initial first step. Not the big character reformation but the modest changes in schedule or habit.

Communicating with one's family, a commitment to Jewish learning, sending your child to a Jewish school - these are the kinds of small but meaningful actions. Small decisions often hold the keys to greatness because they are usually adhered to. "Consistency" is the name of the game.

GREATNESS AWAITS US ALL

We mistakenly think that greatness is a function of "degree" - how big the leap will be. But greatness has less to do with degree of change than it has to do with our desire to change. To succeed, you must have the right motivation. Don't' seek the fame and prestige of greatness - which is a counterfeit, exterior pleasure. Rather, choose to discover the meaning and fulfillment of a better life.

We all want to be great. We all want to be more meaningful. The change will come when we spend more of our time doing actually meaningful things. We just have to be a little kinder, study and learn a little more, shift our priorities and even examine to make them just one degree better.

Greatness is available by making the smallest step for your largest goal.

BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Question 1: If you could be remembered as one of the truly great people in history, what would you want to be known for?

Question 2: Why aren't you great yet?

Question 3: What is the first step you could undertake to becoming great?