The special Passover flatbread, matzah, has the same ingredients as regular bread, except it’s unleavened so it doesn’t puff up and rise. One lesson we can learn from the matzah is to be humble and not puff ourselves up with false pride and negative self-importance. It’s great to feel good about ourselves, as long as we don’t let our self-importance cause us to expect people to honor us, and become angry or insulted if they don’t.

In our story, a kid discovers that puffing up with self-importance isn’t the way to happiness.

Blowing Up, Growing Up

Janet Kramer anxiously stuck her hand into the mailbox and pulled out the mail. There were a couple of catalogs, some bills and a free sample of toothpaste —- but no invitation.

Well,’she thought, miffed. This was the last day it could have arrived. I guess I really don’t count for much with Wendy after all.

Her nextdoor neighbor Wendy Ellis was having her gala bat mitzvah party that evening. It was the talk of the neighborhood and it seemed that everyone was invited — except for Janet.

She brought in the mail and then walked over to the neighborhood grocery store to buy a few things her mom had asked her to get. She was at the checkout counter and about to pay when Wendy walked in with her sister.

“Oh, hi Janet.” Wendy said with a smile.

The girl nodded back coolly.

“We’re just getting some last minute stuff for the party tonight,” Wendy said. “Will we see you there?”

Janet couldn’t hold back. “I would think that if you really wanted to see me there, you would have bothered inviting me.”

“Invite you? Of course I invited you,” insisted Wendy.

Janet shook her head.

“Look, I even have the invitation list right here,” Wendy said, pulling a piece of paper out of her bag.

She went over the list once, twice, and then turned white. Janet’s name wasn’t on it.

“Wow, Janet, I’m really sorry,” Wendy said nervously. “It was a mistake. Please, you must come. It will mean so much to me!”

“Thanks.” Janet smiled politely on the outside but on the inside she was burning up. Some nerve that kid has, not even caring enough to officially invite me, then inviting me at the last minute. Well, let her celebrate with the people whom she cared enough to invite and not me — I have my pride! Janet thought to herself as she stomped out of the store.

That evening, Janet tried to block out the lively sounds of the music and people at the party going on next door. She could even smell the barbeque.

Gee, maybe I should pop in, she kept thinking. But each time these thoughts were canceled out by the one that said, I’VE GOT MY PRIDE.

A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. It was her friend Amy, holding a bouquet of balloons.

“Hey Jan, I see you didn’t get to the party yet, it’s really great. Wendy was asking for you. Is everything okay?”

“I didn’t get a real invitation in the mail. Wendy said she forgot,” Janet said.

“That’s all? So what? These things happen all the time. Why should you miss a good party because of that?”

“Don’t you think I have any pride?” Janet insisted.

But Amy shook her head. “Pride? I always felt pride meant acting in a way to be proud of — doing the right thing. It doesn’t mean getting all insulted every time someone doesn’t treat us the way we want them to. That’s not pride, that’s getting all puffed up with ourselves like … a balloon. Well anyway, I’ve gotta get home — here, at least have one of these,” she said, handing Janet a balloon from her bouquet. “They’re giving them out at the party.” Amy smiled and walked out.

Janet looked at the pretty balloon and sighed. I would have a good time at the party and it would make Wendy happy… But no, I have my pride!

POP!!

Janet was startled by the loud popping of the balloon. It must have been blown up too much… Janet smiled to herself. Amy was right — she was also getting too blown up over the whole thing. So what if Wendy forgot to send her an invitation? Why should she let her blown-up pride ruin her whole evening and make Wendy feel bad?

She quickly changed into nicer clothes.

“Oh, Janet! I’m so happy you came,” Wendy exclaimed as she ran up to greet her. Janet had a great time and had something really to be proud of — that she didn’t let her puffed up sense of false pride get in her way doing what was right

Nesanel Yoel Safran is a writer, chef, and a teacher/student of Jewish spirituality. He blends these assorted vocations on his blog, Soul Foodie, where you can join him on mystical cooking adventures and glean practical wisdom for the kitchen — and for living. https://soulfoodiecom.wordpress.com.