Who is the greatest student in a school? Is it the person with the highest GPA or SAT score? The one who wins a coveted award? The student admitted to the most prestigious college? From a Torah perspective, the basis of determination is none of these.
Consider this week’s parsha, Vayikra. It speaks about the different ways one can bring a voluntary offering. A poor person has the option to bring an offering of flour (mincha), whereas those with greater financial resources can bring birds, sheep, or cattle. “When a nefesh will bring a flour offering…” (2:1) Why does the pasuk identify the poor person bringing the offering as a nefesh? Rashi says this is because “it’s as if he offered his nefesh.” More expensive offerings are in no way superior to a flour offering brought with the proper intent.
We find a similar idea in a parsha we read previously. According to Rashi, Aharon Hakohen is considered equal to Moshe Rabeinu (Shemot 6:26). This is difficult to understand, as Moshe accomplished far more than his brother. Rav Moshe Feinstein explains that Aharon has equal status because he fulfilled his potential as much as Moshe did. Aharon did Hashem’s will with the resources given to him, no less than did Moshe.
If we internalized this truth, it would radically change how we look at people and ourselves. There is no need to “compare and despair.” Our task is not to replicate the accomplishments of others but to actualize our individual selves. An apple does not need to become an orange.
Internalizing this truth takes effort. It’s not easy to be flour when surrounded by birds, sheep, and cattle. However, the effort begins with clarifying one’s purpose. To become oneself is the only goal there is. Nothing else is possible or desirable.
At Maimonides School, our objective is to teach students to become their best selves. This involves studying Hashem’s will and applying it according to the nature of one’s individual soul. | 
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