Jewish Pride Without Arrogance: A Call to Humble Greatness

by Ram ben Ze’ev

Jewish Pride Without Arrogance: A Call to Humble Greatness

In an age of blurred identity and moral uncertainty, the phrase “Jewish pride” has resurfaced across generations of our people as a banner of resilience, identity, and hope. But as with all things that carry power, it must be properly directed. Pride, when misunderstood or misapplied, can become the very thing the Torah warns against—גאווה (gaavah – arrogance). Yet when harnessed with clarity and rooted in truth, it becomes a sacred strength.

Our tradition leaves no ambiguity about the dangers of pride. The sages teach in מסכת סוטה (Masekhet Sotah) 5a that G-D says of a haughty person, “He and I cannot dwell in the same place.” The Rambam, in הלכות דעות (Hilchot De’ot) 2:3, commands us to flee pride more than any other trait, calling it the root of many spiritual failings. Pride, in this context, is self-elevation—believing one’s worth or success is self-made, independent of the Creator.

So how do we reconcile this with the deep, righteous feeling so many of us carry when we say, “I am proud to be Jewish”?

The answer lies in understanding what Jewish pride truly is—and what it is not.

Jewish pride is not superiority. It is not a license to belittle, exclude, or elevate ourselves above others. It is not a declaration of ego or entitlement. True Jewish pride is התפארות בשם (hitpa’arut baShem – glorifying in the Name of G-D). It is a humble and sacred acknowledgement that we are the children of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, tasked with carrying forward the eternal mission entrusted to us at הר סיני (Har Sinai – Mount Sinai).

When we say we are proud to be Jewish, we are expressing a deep awareness: We have been chosen—not for privilege, but for purpose. Not for comfort, but for covenant. Not for ease, but for eternal obligation.

Chassidut, particularly the Tanya, offers a nuanced but vital distinction. The Alter Rebbe teaches in chapter 30 about שפלות עם התפארות (sheflut im hitpa’arut – lowliness with pride). A Jew must see himself as nothing of himself—utter humility—yet everything for G-D—utter strength. Like a soldier obeying a king, he does not act from ego but from duty. His confidence is not self-confidence; it is mission-confidence.

To walk in Jewish pride is to stand tall with humility. It is to be fierce in defence of Torah and mitzvot, but soft in heart and spirit. It is to hold our head high not because we believe we are greater, but because we believe our task is holy.

Our pride must be in the Torah, in our mitzvot, in our history, and in our destiny. And our humility must be in remembering that it is not we who are great—but the One Who chose us, formed us, and sustains us.

Let the nations see a people that walks upright not with arrogance but with sacred purpose. Let our children grow up knowing that Jewish pride is a badge of honour only when worn with awe of Heaven. Let us teach them to be fearless in their Jewishness, but never boastful in their being.

In the words of the prophet מיכה (Mikhah – Micah), “What does the L-RD require of you? Only to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-D.”

This is Jewish pride.

This is humble greatness.

And this is our eternal strength.

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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue