Financial Modesty

As originally appeared in The Jerusalem Post on April 10, 2026.

When someone saves your life and gives you life, there’s gratitude, humility; there’s a time you’ve been so blessed you realize you’ve been given another chance at life that maybe you did or didn’t deserve. – Pat Summerall

In this week’s Torah portion, Shemini, we read about the culmination of the dedication of the Tabernacle. We read, “Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the Altar and offer up your sin-offering and your ascent-offering, atoning for yourself and for the people, and offer up the people’s sacrifice, atoning for them, as God has commanded.” (Leviticus 9:7)

The famous commentator Rashi is bothered by why Moses tells Aaron to ‘approach’ the Altar? He answers, “For Aaron was embarrassed and afraid to approach. Moses therefore said to him: “Why are you embarrassed? You were chosen for this role!”

Aaron was embarrassed over his role in the incident of the Golden Calf and was hesitant about whether he was worthy of the position of high priest. For the previous seven days, Moses did all the work in the Tabernacle, and now it was his turn, and he was lacking in confidence.

The nation as a whole was anxious, as for seven days sacrifices were brought, but there was no divine presence. After completing all his work, Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them. He descended from the Altar, after having offered up the sin-offering, the ascent-offering, and the peace-offering. Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. They came out and blessed the people, and the glory of God appeared to all the people. “(Leviticus 7: 22-23)

Again, Rashi is bothered by why Moses and Aaron went together into the Tent of Meeting. He answers that “ When Aaron saw that they had brought all the offerings and all the rites had been performed, and yet the Divine Presence had not descended for the Israelites, he was pained and said: “I know that the Holy One, blessed be He, is angry with me, and because of me the Divine Presence has not descended for the Israelites.” He said to Moses, “Moses, my brother! Is this what you have done to me, that I entered into the service at your bidding and was thus embarrassed?” Immediately, Moses entered with him, and they prayed for mercy, and the Divine Presence descended for Israel.”

One of the many lessons we learn from this story is that, as Rabbi Yissocher Frand says, “Hesitancy, embarrassment, intimidation, and humility are the very essence of what is needed to be worthy of assuming Jewish leadership.”

It occurred to me that three times a year, we witness a public declaration of humility and humbleness at a point where our lives hang in the balance. The Hineni prayer before Musaf on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is a powerful moment of humility. The chazzan (prayer leader) stands as the messenger of the congregation, declaring “Hineni, here I am,” yet immediately acknowledges his unworthiness.

This tension is the essence of the prayer: leadership not as authority, but as responsibility. He pleads not on his own merit, but on behalf of the community, asking that his personal shortcomings not hinder their prayers. It reflects a core Jewish idea: true spiritual representation requires humility, sincerity, and the recognition that one stands before God only through divine mercy, not personal greatness.

The juxtaposition of this principle with the declarations made by politicians after the tenuous ceasefire with Iran is, at the very least, ironic. The extreme comments on both sides may give a glimpse of what is lacking in our current and wannabe leadership.

Humility is key to financial success

Humility is an important character trait of financially successful people. Financial markets are unpredictable. Even the most experienced investors and professionals make mistakes. The problem isn’t always the mistake itself; it’s the unwillingness to admit one was made.

Overconfidence can lead individuals to make bold decisions without fully understanding the risks. It might show up as chasing hot stocks, ignoring diversification, or refusing to adapt when conditions change. At its worst, overconfidence blinds people to reality.

A few years ago, I quoted Tony Giordano, senior financial advisor with Vanguard, on a piece that appeared in the Journal of Economic Perspectives, titled “Overconfident investors, predictable returns, and excessive trading.” The report said, “Investors attribute strong portfolio performance and high returns to their skills, which leads to self-assurance. When the same investors experience poor performance and low returns, they attribute it to bad luck. The result: persistent overconfidence.”

It’s that persistent overconfidence that can lead to poor investment decisions. Call it greed or whatever, but I’ve seen it too many times where, after a good year in the market, the investor loses sight of his financial goals and needs and decides to chase after higher and higher returns. And you all know what eventually happens, and it’s not pretty. As I am fond of saying, “It won’t end well.”

People who lack humility are more likely to double down on poor decisions, rationalize losses, or assume they can outsmart the market. On the other hand, a humble investor takes time to evaluate the landscape, admits when they’ve made an error, and adjusts with clarity rather than ego. They understand that success often lies in caution, not bravado.

Another powerful advantage of humility is the willingness to seek advice. Too often, people feel pressured to “go at it alone,” whether out of pride or the belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness. But truly successful individuals know better. It’s just like asking for directions when lost, and your Waze isn’t working. It isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s the practical way to get to your destination in a timely fashion.

A little humility goes a long way. It helps us recognize what we don’t know, avoid the pitfalls of overconfidence, and lean on others when needed. It’s a sign of strength.

The information contained in this article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates.

Aaron Katsman is the author of Retirement GPS: How to Navigate Your Way to A Secure Financial Future with Global Investing (McGraw-Hill), and is a licensed financial professional both in the United States and Israel, and helps people who open investment accounts in the United States. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. (www.prginc.net). Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, SIFMA, FSI. For more information, call (02) 624-0995 visit www.aaronkatsman.com or email aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.

As originally appeared in The Jerusalem Post on April 10, 2026.

Humility is key to financial success

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As originally appeared in The Jerusalem Post on April 10, 2026.

Humility is key to financial success

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