Editing Make yourself a Rabbi (section)

== The Mishna's Instruction ==
This directive is in addition to the Mishna's teaching "Who is wise? One who learns from every person." Even a great scholar who can learn from others and even learn from every person must also have a Rav, meaning to "accept them as your Rav" and rely on their words.

According to the [[The Rebbe|Rebbe's]] explanation<ref>From the Rebbe's Sicha on Shabbos Parshas Devarim 5746 (1986)</ref>, "a person is biased regarding themselves" and for this reason cannot rely on themselves. Therefore, one needs to make for themselves a Rav - to consider them greater than oneself and fulfill their words. One who is great in Torah and fear of Heaven, and finds it difficult to find someone greater than them, should make for themselves a Rav even if they are on a lower level, because a person cannot see what advice they need in their own matters like another can see. This is hinted at in the words "make for yourself a Rav" - even if they are not worthy, there needs to be an element of "making," since the language of making refers to something that requires effort and work, even to the point of compulsion (like the term "we compel regarding charity<ref>Based on The Meiri</ref>").