1 Adar II, 5774 (3/3/14) – Sukkah#28 {Eliezer}

R’ Eliezer said: No one ever beat me to shul, I never fell asleep in shul, and I was always the last one out of shul. Why would R’ Eliezer be boasting about himself? Because people did not understand why he would not answer Halachik questions unless he heard it directly from his Rebbe. Other people should always answer questions, he was just stating that since he has accepted these other things upon himself in his life, that is why he had the obligation on himself not to talk (even Rabbinic rulings) on his own accord.

E’s Lesson #1: We should never boast about our accomplishments. When we do good, we should keep it to ourselves. Do not look to be accredited for it, for not to diminish the good deed, or yourself, in any way.

E’s Lesson #2: R’ Eliezer ONLY accepted the ruling upon himself based on the level he was already at. Never bite off more than you can chew. Judaism is about alway improving, but taking accomplishable steps one at a time. Never climb the ladder too fast that you may miss a rung and end up lower than you even started.