{"id":62044,"date":"2019-06-12T12:05:06","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T17:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/?p=62044"},"modified":"2024-06-18T13:09:47","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T18:09:47","slug":"the-emperors-new-clothes-was-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/the-emperors-new-clothes-was-right\/","title":{"rendered":"“The Emperor’s New Clothes” was Right!"},"content":{"rendered":"

A few weeks ago, I published an article titled The Ugly Duckling was Wrong<\/strong><\/a>, in which I analyzed the classic children\u2019s tale, determined that its lesson was not what we might assume it to be, and then disagreed with what I concluded was the real lesson. For some reason, this resonated with readers, though I\u2019m not sure why. Maybe they just wanted a Jewish take on Hans Christian Andersen. (See what I did there?) Whatever the reason, those who like such things are in luck because I have a few thoughts on another of Andersen\u2019s stories. If you read the title of this article, then you already know it\u2019s the story of The Emperor\u2019s New Clothes<\/em>. Let\u2019s review it:<\/p>\n

There once was an emperor who was the victim of his own vanity. In particular, he was obsessed with his ornate and elaborate wardrobe. The emperor contracted two master tailors to make him a fabulous suit of clothes but the tailors were actually con men. They told the emperor that they were weaving his new outfit from a fabric that was so fine it would be invisible to anyone who was unfit for his position. The tailors pretended to make clothes from this miracle material, causing the emperor and the members of his court to lie, saying that they could see this wonderful suit. When the emperor\u2019s new clothes were \u201cfinished,\u201d the tailors pretended to dress the monarch, who then paraded his new ensemble through the streets of his capital. The citizens, fearful of being revealed as unfit for their positions, all praised the emperor\u2019s wondrous attire. Ultimately, a young child exclaimed, \u201cThe emperor is naked!\u201d causing all the adults, royalty and citizen alike, to realize that they were hoodwinked.<\/p>\n

As with The Ugly Duckling<\/em>, I don\u2019t think the point of this story is what many people think at first glance. It\u2019s not about foolish adults and wise children. It\u2019s not about gullibility or giving into a herd mentality. No, the characters in the story behaved as they did from fear of discovery as \u201cas unfit for their positions.\u201d The Emperor\u2019s New Clothes<\/em> is clearly about imposter syndrome.<\/p>\n

Imposter syndrome (or \u201cimpostor syndrome\u201d \u2013 and believe me, I agonized over which spelling to use!) is a term that was coined in the 1970s by Georgia State University psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes. The syndrome is a feeling experienced by successful people, causing them to feel like they don\u2019t deserve the success they\u2019ve achieved. People suffering from imposter syndrome attribute their accomplishments not to their own innate abilities but to luck or circumstances. They live with a constant fear of being found out as the frauds they believe themselves to be. Imposter syndrome was originally assumed to be exclusive to women but subsequent research demonstrated that as many as 70% of all people \u2013 both men and women, from all social strata \u2013 experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a striking example of imposter syndrome in action: Olivia Cabane\u2019s 2013 book The Charisma Myth<\/em> reports the results of a survey showing that more than two-thirds of incoming students at Stanford Business School believe they were only admitted because of an error of some kind on the part of the admissions committee; another study revealed that nearly 75% of students at Harvard Business School feel the same way. Imagine that \u2013 the majority of students at two of America\u2019s most prestigious schools don\u2019t believe they belong there, despite their long records of academic accomplishment!<\/p>\n

Imposter syndrome isn\u2019t limited to professional or academic accomplishments; people can suffer from religious imposter syndrome as well. Converts can experience it. Baalei teshuvah<\/em> can experience it. People who show up in shul or at a Seder without knowing what to expect can experience it. Really, anyone who ever felt that they weren’t “Jewish enough” has experienced it.<\/p>\n

It might be comforting to know that some of our greatest leaders also felt inadequate for the tasks they were charged with undertaking. Most famously, Moshe argued with God that he was unfit to serve as His representative. \u201cWho am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?\u201d he protested (Exodus 3:11).<\/p>\n

This sentiment is not unique to Moshe; it was echoed by others of our greatest prophets. Yirmiyahu protested his mission saying, \u201cI can\u2019t speak \u2013 I\u2019m a child!\u201d (Jeremiah 1:7) and Yeshaya objected \u201cI am a man of unclean lips!\u201d (Isaiah 6:5). Of course, we know that all of these prophets were supremely suited for their tasks.<\/p>\n

Aharon suffered from imposter syndrome when he was appointed Kohein Gadol. As Rashi on Leviticus 9:7 explains, Aharon was afraid to approach the altar, considering himself unsuited for the responsibility. Yaakov might have felt a little imposter syndrome when he told God, \u201cI am not worthy of all the kindness and truth that You have shown Your servant\u201d (Genesis 32:11). While Shaul was being named king, he was hiding among the luggage (I Samuel chapter 10<\/strong><\/a>) and even after his coronation, he was still acting like a farmer (chapter 11<\/strong><\/a>). There are many such examples.<\/p>\n

The good news is that people who suffer from imposter syndrome are usually really just right for their roles. True imposters tend to vastly overestimate their own abilities in what\u2019s known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. If you\u2019d like examples of people who overestimated their own importance or skills, look no further than Balaam, who acted as if he could dictate terms to God (Numbers 22), and Korach, who couldn\u2019t accept that he wasn\u2019t better than Moshe, who had been Personally chosen for his job by God (Numbers 16). And let us not forget Haman, who couldn\u2019t conceive that anyone other than he might be deserving of honor (Esther 6:6).<\/p>\n

While our examples of those who underestimated themselves tend to be from among our role models, and those who overestimated themselves are from our antagonists, in truth we are each capable of feeling both extremes. Regarding this, Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa said, \u201cA person should have two notes in his pocket, each to be read as needed. On one, for when he is feeling lowly or discouraged: The whole world was created for my sake (Sanhedrin 4:5). On the other, for when he is feeling conceited or self-important: I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27).\u201d (Years ago, OU Torah created a wallet card with these two messages that readers could print out and carry; we are pleased to re-present it here<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/p>\n

God knows what is right for us and He puts each of us where we need to be. He knew that Moshe, Aharon and Shaul were right for their jobs even when they weren\u2019t so sure. Similarly, we need not be so concerned of people discovering that \u201cthe emperor has no clothes.\u201d When we feel that way, let us remember that \u201cthe whole world was created for my sake\u201d and we deserve our successes. If we swing too far in the other direction \u2013 thinking, \u201cWho should the king want to honor besides me?\u201d \u2013 that\u2019s the time to remind ourselves \u201cI am nothing but dust and ashes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trick is remembering when to look at which note.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Rabbi Jack Abramowitz is Torah Content Editor at the Orthodox Union. He is the author of nine books, including\u00a0The Tzniyus Book<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0The Taryag Companion<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0The God Book<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Ask Rabbi Jack<\/strong><\/a>. His two-volume\u00a0The Complete Targum Onkelos<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is available from\u00a0Kodesh Press<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0as well as on\u00a0Amazon<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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