The Chafetz Chaim commented on the pasuk in Iyov 3:18, Katan v’gadal shom hu, “Small and great are equal there” (in the World of Truth). In the next world, all external differences disappear. The distinctions we make in this world between wealthy and poor, strong and weak, influential and unnoticed, are irrelevant in Olam Habba. In this world, the barometer for determining who is “considered” great and who is small is a superficial measure. Society elevates those who appear successful, while those who seem as insignificant go unnoticed. This is an illusion. In the World of Truth, the only barometer is emes, the truth – where the true essence of a person is revealed.
How often do we judge people by their positions or by their material wealth? What about: the quiet baal chesed, the mother who raised her children with dedication to Torah, who did whatever she could do to make them feel “rich,” even if they were not; and the simple Jew who davened every day with sincerity – not concerned about who was watching. These people will sit with the truly great. What about the janitor in one of the most prestigious yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael, who conceded that, in the camps, he risked his life to smuggle in and keep a pair of Tefillin hidden – secretly sharing them with the other internees. When the Rosh Yeshivah heard this, he declared, “In Olam Habba you will sit higher than I will!” The janitor was invisible to the world – but, in the World-of-Truth, in the eyes of Hashem, he was luminous.
While this perspective has been presented with regard to the manner that we look at others, what about how we view ourselves? Where do we focus our avodas HaKodesh, sacred service? Is it on Torah study, mitzvah observance, acts of lovingkindness, or rather, chasing honor, public acceptance and accolades? Whom do we want to impress – our peers or Hashem? Those who foolishly think that greatness is predicated on public acceptance and accolades will be in for a shock when he comes face to face with the truth. Veritably, it takes a strong-willed person to look beyond the façade of what is important in this world.
Horav Elchanan Wasserman, zl, discusses the contrast between perceived greatness in this world and true distinction in the World-of-Truth. He emphasizes that the defining characteristic of real greatness is humility. He explains that how one perceives himself is a reflection of the nature of his character. The greater one is, the smaller he thinks of himself, realizing how far he is from true greatness. One who views himself as small is actually quite great. Hence, Moshe Rabbeinu, who was the humblest man on the face of the earth, was also the greatest. The greater he became, the more he achieved, the smaller his anochi, “I,” became.
