… But what requires deeper contemplation and greater effort is [preventing] the inclusion of forbidden [intent]. Sometimes a person sets out to perform a Mitzvah truly לשמה, because it is the decree of our Father in heaven, but yet he does not prevent other interests from entering into the equation; either that people should praise him or that he will receive reward for his act. Other times, even if he doesn’t really intend for [people] to praise him, his enjoyment of the praise [he receives] will cause him to be more meticulous [in future performances of this Mitzvah]…
Mesilas Yesharim, Chapter 16
The human interest in honor and praise can derail the best of men, even when they set out to perform a מצוה לשמה!
Although it is not a crime to lack Tahara (see beginning of chapter 13), it is a crime to pursue honor (see end of chapter 11). It turns out that the struggle to achieve higher spiritual levels opens wormholes that drag us back down to the lower levels. It’s kind of like Candy Land. No one said this was going to be easy.
Perusing the Seforim stores in Yerushalayim after Pesach, I picked up a newly published volume of Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe’s letters. Here’s a gem I discovered this week which gives another example of the insidious nature of honor. The translation is mine.
ז' ניסן, תשמ"ו
To my dear illustrious friend, Rabbi …
Shalom and many blessings!
A heartfelt Mazal Tov on your appointment! May Hashem grant you success in returning many from their sins and drawing many close to real Torah and Mitzvos! I am delighted that you have found a place that gives you satisfaction – and in an area with Talmidei Chachomim. Certainly there is a lot of aggravation in being a rabbi, but nonetheless, a rabbi can accomplish a great deal.
When I received your letter and the invitation to your installation, I was reminded of what I heard in the Mir: The Mashgiach זי"ע [Reb Yeruchum Levovitz] had set up a certain Talmid as a rabbi and he came to the Mashgiach to thank him. Our Teacher said to him: “The thanks will be that you won’t be a ‘Rabbi’!” His point was that the rabbinate is a dangerous office. Just as there are many “occupational hazards,” so too the rabbinate has its “occupational hazards”: protecting the so-called “honor of Torah” can bring a rabbi to seek honor and haughtiness – as if he is God’s right-hand man… Our Teacher told this student that he must be very wary of the negative side-effects which tend to develop in a rabbi…
Letters and Writings of the Mashgiach, Vol. II, letter 388, pgs. 138-139
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