Individuality is known to be an important principle. "One was Abraham" That Abraham served God only by thinking that he was alone in the world and not looking at people that tried to stop him from serving God in the way he knew he was right. They were trying to tell him the only way of getting to God is by intermediates. And also anyone who wants to come close to God can do so only in this same way--by not looking at the people that want to distract him.
But it is less known that the Gra said a similar thing.on Proverbs 14 verse 2.
"We know from the Rambam that for a person to correct his own character flaws he has to do things that are wrong in the eyes of people." [This we know from Maimonides in the eight chapter introduction to Pirkei Avot.]
The Gra says one who succumbs to social pressure to do what is right in the eyes of people but which he knows is wrong in terms of his own need for character correction, God despises him.
In other words there is no mitzvah to follow social norms. There is only a mitzvah to follow the Torah. And the Torah does require of people to have good character. Good character is one of the 613 mitzvot. מה הוא רחום אף אתה תהיה רחום מה הוא חנון אף אתה תהיה חנון "As God is compassionate so must you be compassionate. As God is kind, so you too should be kind." And this is listed in the list of the 613 by the Rambam.
I have to say this because some people think the Torah requires conformity with the group. But clearly only stupid people can think that because it is self contradicting. Even so I have heard it from many people who have clearly not thought out their position.
But it is less known that the Gra said a similar thing.on Proverbs 14 verse 2.
"We know from the Rambam that for a person to correct his own character flaws he has to do things that are wrong in the eyes of people." [This we know from Maimonides in the eight chapter introduction to Pirkei Avot.]
The Gra says one who succumbs to social pressure to do what is right in the eyes of people but which he knows is wrong in terms of his own need for character correction, God despises him.
In other words there is no mitzvah to follow social norms. There is only a mitzvah to follow the Torah. And the Torah does require of people to have good character. Good character is one of the 613 mitzvot. מה הוא רחום אף אתה תהיה רחום מה הוא חנון אף אתה תהיה חנון "As God is compassionate so must you be compassionate. As God is kind, so you too should be kind." And this is listed in the list of the 613 by the Rambam.
I have to say this because some people think the Torah requires conformity with the group. But clearly only stupid people can think that because it is self contradicting. Even so I have heard it from many people who have clearly not thought out their position.
