#Dov Baer of Mezritch

[challahbeloved]

Why should you consider yourself superior to a worm?

“Do not say in your heart that because you serve God with devekut, cleaving, that you are better than someone else. For the other person was created to serve God, and God has given the other person a mind just as God gave one to you. Why should you consider yourself superior to a worm? The worm serves its Creator with all its capacity and strength. And a human being is just another creature like even a worm or an insect, as it is written in Psalm 22:7, ‘But I am a worm, less than human.’ Indeed, had God not given you a mind, you would only be able to serve God like a worm. This being so — that you are no different from a worm — then how much the more so with regard to other people. Remember that you, the worm, and all the other insignificant creatures are considered as equal companions in the world. All were created and all only have the abilities they were given by God. Always keep this in mind.”

— Attributed to the Baal Shem Tov, but probably authored by Dov Baer of Mezritch. Selection from Tzava’at ha-Rivash. As seen in Lawrence Kushner’s The Way into Jewish Mystical Tradition. Pages 122-123.