During a recent address, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto delivered a powerful message about the dangers of envy, disappointment, and the pursuit of personal greatness at the cost of others.
“Many people have experienced a moment of great success,” Rabbi Pinto said. “Everyone yearns to reach something higher. But over time, questions arise: Why not me? Why isn’t it happening for me? And then people begin to believe they’re entitled, that it’s theirs. But not every demand is legitimate, and not every thought is correct.”
He offered a pointed example: “Someone who left a partnership suddenly becomes jealous and starts questioning: Why are you succeeding? You left, you walked away – so what do you want now? Why are you jealous? Why are you trying to take something back?”
Rabbi Pinto stressed that the sense of entitlement can lead to moral confusion – and sometimes cause damage to the broader community. “Jacob told Reuben: You are my firstborn, but this is no longer yours. You lost it. So why are you shouting? Why are you shaking the entire nation of Israel just because you crave honor or greatness?”
He explained that there are times when a person forgets the path they took and the decisions they made – and now seeks to return to a position they once forfeited, not from repentance, but from ego or personal ambition. “It’s not yours anymore. That path is closed. Build something new – but don’t destroy what others have.”
