Festival Prayers-Ata Vichartanu

The Chatam Sofer once overheard a man protesting that he was unworthy of the respect paid to him. The Rabbi was irritated and said to the man, “You are not so great that you can afford to be so small.”

“You have chosen us from all the peoples; You loved us and found favor in us; You exalted us above all languages and You sanctified us with Your commandments. You drew us close, our King, to Your service and proclaimed Your great and Holy Name upon us.” It is not proper for us, in false humility, to say, “but we don’t deserve all this.” We are not yet so great.