Horav Shlomo Levinstein, Shlita, asks: What is the difference between a tzaddik, righteous person, and a chasid, pious person? Simply, a tzaddik follows halachah to the letter of the law. He is meticulous in his observance, never cutting corners, always doing exactly what is expected of him. A chasid goes the extra mile. He carries out mitzvos lifnim meshuras ha’din, beyond the letter of the law. Not only does he not look for shortcuts, but he also takes the longer, more strenuous route.
The Kotzker Rebbe, zl, offers a powerful distinction between these two approaches toward serving Hashem. A tzaddik does not fool others; he is always careful to be considerate of others, never cheating them. The chasid goes one step further: he is careful not to cheat even himself! This means that (especially) in areas of yiraas Shomayim, fear of Heaven, he will never convince himself that he is frum, observant, G-d-fearing. He is always questioning his spiritual integrity, “Am I really observant – or am I observant relative to others?” A scale that is based on the behavior and religious observance of others is flawed.
Chazal teach that a person should demand of himself, “When will I reach the spiritual plateau of the Avos – Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov?” While this should be a primary form of motivation, one who even dreams that he is in the “running” of achieving the madreigah, spiritual level, of the Patriarchs is seriously confused. This is an example of fooling oneself.
There is a well-known story (quoted by Rav Levenstein) concerning the Pnei Yehoshua, who left early in the morning one day for davening, bedecked in his Tallis and Tefillin, when suddenly, a lion stood in front of him. He now understood why the streets were unusually empty. The Pnei Yehoshua pulled back his Tallis, revealing the Tefillin Shel Rosh on his head, and the lion immediately ran. He later explained the reason for his unusual reaction and its effect on the lion, as based on the pasuk in Devarim 28:10, “Then all the peoples of the earth will see that the Name of Hashem is proclaimed over you, and they will revere you.” When the lion saw Hashem’s Name on the Tefillin Shel Rosh, he was filled with awe.
Imagine a person walking on the street wearing Tallis and Tefillin who confronts a large alley cat that, upon seeing him, runs away. Now, if this person would compare his incident to that of the Pnei Yehoshua, he obviously has a problem. Do not fool yourself into thinking that you have yiraas Shomayim.
