The Beauty Of Being Simple

As the summer moves into full swing, we are all looking to have a break and some peace of mind. There is a great quality that can help us bring composure into our service of Hashem and our day to day activities. This quality is heavily underrated and overlooked. It is sometimes frowned upon and seen as boring. This quality is called being simple. In all areas of life, when one learns to be simple, one can accomplish way more than expected. Let us begin to understand the beauty of being simple.

If you ask anyone what they think it means to be simple, they might say that it refers to something negative. They might say that being simple means being dumb, foolish or a simpleton. However, this is not what we mean. The Torah tells us that one of the great attributes of our forefather Yaakov Avinu was that he “was a simple (tam) man who sat in the tents” (Bereishit 25,27). Yaakov Avinu was definitely not lacking intelligence. Rather, being simple means being straightforward and not deceitful. It means being unassuming and not sophisticated. It means being sincere and not using twisted reasoning. Hashem himself calls us “my dove, my simple one” (Song Of Songs 5,2). We are also commanded to “be simple with Hashem your Lord” (Devarim 18,13).

Many times, our imagination gets the best of us and convinces us that to be great and happy requires some extra quality that stands out and is different. We think sometimes that a great person is someone who stands out and his glow attracts attention. From the following parable, we will see that it is not always true. Rav Nachman z”tl used to say the following parable.

There were two friends who grew up in the same town. They lived very similar lives. However, one grew up to be the “sophisticate” and the other grew up to be the “simpleton.” The simpleton had very little education and had limited skills. He learnt to be a shoemaker and made triangle shaped shoes for a living. He was poor and had to share the same coat as his wife to keep warm. Even though he earned less than his peers, he would tell his wife, “Why do you have to speak about others? Why do I care about that? That is their work, and this is my work.” He was simple, honest and was happy with what he had. Because of his simplicity, he never felt he had a lack and was always happy.

His friend, the sophisticate, was different. He had advanced education. He was very worldly. He learnt business, craftsmanship and medicine by traveling the world. However, he was never satisfied. He was always looking for the next big and better thing. He was so exacting and strict with himself due to his sophistication. He always had so much anxiety because he expected so much from himself and others. Even when he completed cutting gems and did a great job, he would point out the minute imperfections and yell at himself. He was worried about what people would say. His clothes, home, and life had to be up to a certain standard or else he would become upset and depressed. He did not know how to appreciate the simplicity of life. He had no life. The sophisticate ended up having no self-confidence as well due to his constant fear of doing things right or perfectly. He would not talk to his inferiors because he was worried it would affect his status. He could not talk to anyone about his burdens and became miserable. His sophistication made him doubt anyone and trust no one. They later met with each other after many years and saw who really was the happy and successful person in life.

From this story we see the beauty of being simple. How it opens up so many parts of life that being too sophisticated might close for us. Anxiety and comparing ourselves to others no longer ties down the simple person. The simple is not dumb rather he is content. He does not let his expectations rob him of his life force. May we merit to be simple and see the days of the Messiah very soon. Amen.

By Rabbi Tomer Zino