Rabbi Moshe Haber Iggeret Ramban: Lower Yourself: God Elevates the Humble 11.30.25
Description
Lower Yourself: God Elevates the Humble
The text, an excerpt from a religious lecture, centers on the vital necessity of humility and the fleeting nature of worldly achievements, drawing on a letter from Ramban to his son. The speaker asserts that common sources of arrogance, such as wealth, talent, and social honor, are merely temporary gifts controlled entirely by God, who constantly manages a "ladder of life" by elevating the simple and humbling the successful. A primary implication of this divine control is that all material possessions are subject to vanishing or obsolescence, prompting the wise to invest eternally by utilizing their resources for charitable works and community building. Furthermore, embracing humility ensures greater clarity and correctness in decision-making, as demonstrated by the sage Hillel, whose respectful and modest character allowed his legal opinions to prevail. Therefore, the ultimate goal is to pre-emptively lower oneself to avoid the consequences of pride, guaranteeing that one remains grounded while being uplifted by divine blessing.
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