The Secret of Standing in the King's Palace: The Significance of Every Movement

Lesson No. 27 | Wednesday, 14 Tammuz (continued from No. 26), Thursday, Friday, 15-16 Tammuz, Parashas Pinchas 5755

An article explaining the tremendous sensitivity required of every person, and particularly in Jerusalem, out of the recognition that we are always in the King's palace. Through the conduct of Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz and the Gemara regarding Yissachar of Kfar Barkai, it is explained how every small movement of ours builds or destroys worlds.

The prophet Yeshayahu says:

"Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful habitation, a tent that will not be moved."

The question is asked: How is Jerusalem called a "peaceful habitation"? After all, it is said of it, "Righteousness lodged in it," and spiritually, Jerusalem is like a sea of knives. A person who goes out into the street in Jerusalem must know that he is walking on a bed of knives. For every thought, for every contemplation, one receives the punishment immediately. It is not like other places where the reckoning is delayed for the future. In Jerusalem, in every moment and every second, a person is judged.

Why is this so? Because here, we are with the King. A person who is in the King's palace, for every small movement that is out of place – he is immediately chased outside.

The Preparation of Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz

Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz said that when he truly wants to pray with kavanah (focused intention), he sometimes prepares himself for eight full days for a single prayer. Throughout all those days, he watches himself regarding every single movement. He is careful not to make any unnecessary movement, any movement of mockery, or any movement of disrespect.

Every movement a person makes has tremendous significance. With a single uncalculated movement, a person can destroy entire worlds. A person must be careful with his every movement, because he does not know how he is overturning worlds. One's movements must be measured, clear, and calculated, out of the understanding that we are standing before the King of Kings.

A Single Movement of Disrespect

The Gemara in Tractate Pesachim (57a) tells of Yissachar of Kfar Barkai, who was a Kohen Gadol (High Priest). Once, King Yannai and the Queen were sitting and arguing about which meat is tastier – sheep or goat. They called for Yissachar, who was a Kohen Gadol offering sacrifices every day, to decide between them. When he answered that the kid goat is better, he made a dismissive gesture with his hand toward the King.

For that single movement he made before the King, the King ordered his right hand to be cut off. He tried to give a bribe so that they would cut off his left hand instead, and when this was discovered – they cut off both of his hands.

From here we learn a tremendous foundational principle: As is the earthly kingdom, so is the Heavenly Kingdom. A person must feel that he is standing before the King of Kings twenty-four hours a day. It is forbidden to make any movement of disrespect. Even when a person eats alone in the innermost chambers, he must know that he is sitting at the King's table. "I have set Hashem before me always" – the Great King, Hashem, the whole earth is filled with His glory, stands over him and sees his deeds.

The Voice of the Soul

If so, who will teach a person how to conduct himself at every moment? "The soul of a person will teach him." A person's soul teaches him every single second, regarding every movement, every word, and every utterance – what he must do. The Chofetz Chaim says that when a person speaks idle words, the soul screams at him: "Stop talking!" It is the same with the eyes; the soul begs to close them and not look at forbidden things.

After one hundred and twenty years, when a person departs from the world, he will give an accounting for his every single movement. They will show him how he overturned entire worlds, or Heaven forbid, destroyed worlds, just because of one incorrect movement, an improper word, or even a turning up of the nose. Therefore, we must listen to the voice of the soul, which guides us at every moment on how to stand properly in the King's palace.

Part 2 of 4 — Lesson No. 27

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