והאיש משה ענו מאוד מכל האדם…(בהעלותך יב:ג)

Maran the Sar Shalom of Belz zt’’l was a young man when he traveled for the first time to the Rebbe of Lublin zt’’l.  He arrived in Lublin not knowing anyone and sat down to diligently learn Torah in the Lublin Beis Medrash.

That day the Rebbe of Lublin told his talmidim (students): “You should know that a yungerman (young man) arrived who is as humble as Moshe Rabbeinu…”

The talmidim were astounded.  Not every day do they hear their Rebbe expressing the words “An עניו – humble person like Moshe Rabbeinu…”

They started searching for this man who arrived in Lublin since they wanted to see the person whom their Rebbe holds of such high regard.  They noticed a newcomer learning in Beis Medrash and they approached him asking: “Our Rebbe told us that a yungerman arrived who is as humble as Moshe Rabbeinu, are you that Yungerman?” And the Sar Shalom answered, “Yes, your Rebbe meant me!”

The talmidim wondered aloud: “If you can admit to yourself that you have the midah – trait of humility, how can you praise yourself with this worthy midah?

The Sar Shalom replied: “It says in the Torah והאיש משה ענו מאד מכל האדם – and who wrote the Torah? Moshe Rabbeinu wrote the Torah…

The talmidim realized the Sar Shalom’s great humility and worthiness.  The Rebbe of Lublin used to fondly honor him, especially with a well-known incident when the Sar Shalom was honored to read the Megillah on Purim.  After Megillah reading the Rebbe of Lublin exclaimed: “I heard the story of the Megillah many times, but the way this yungerman read it today, so nicely and profoundly, I never heard…”

Despite all honors bestowed upon the Sar Shalom, he still remained humble and the honors didn’t have an affect on him; just like Moshe Rabainu.