Covered with Yirat Shamayim
I once delivered a sermon to Jews who are distant from Torah observance. They did not cover their heads, observe mitzvot, or study Torah. But, unfortunately, there was one thing that they did persist in doing: studying Kabbalah. One who is unobservant, yet involves himself in the secrets of the Torah causes untold damage to himself, to his environment, and to the entire Jewish people. He fortifies the forces of tumah and kelippah.
I knew that discouraging them from their practice would be a difficult undertaking. Therefore, I put forth a prayer to Hashem that He should pave a way for me into their hearts by putting the right words into my mouth.
As I entered the room, I noticed that the majority of the men were bare-headed. I decided to open my words with the importance of wearing a kippah. I explained that this mitzvah has the power to grant a person pure yirat Shamayim.
“You have all exerted yourselves to hear the word of Hashem, not just any ordinary lecture. But in order to do this, you must cover your heads. Words of Torah enter the mind and the heart only when the head is covered.”
Most of the people hurried to put on a kippah. Some did it out of a feeling of inspiration toward yirat Shamayim and submission to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and some did it out of respect toward me.
Those who were filled with a sense of awe for Hashem went on to become full-fledged ba’alei teshuvah. But those who did it merely to appease me did not become inspired at all.
The Torah must be observed with utmost seriousness and submission to Hashem. Only in this manner will our actions impact our hearts, encouraging advancement in Avodat Hashem.
