The Dilemma in Approaching the King
Foundations of Tefillah
The beginning of Parashas Vayigash holds many secrets of tefillah—both in the esoteric sense as well as the practical sense—which we would do well to study and learn.
According to the Zohar HaKadosh, a great yichud (union) was made when Yehudah came close to Yosef. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh tells us that the reason יהודה, אליו ויגש Yehudah approached Yosef, was so there would be no interference from foreign entities, represented by the officials and advisers surrounding the king. The sifrei Kabbalah explain that this was the great yichud that must take place when every Yid davens.
When we read about this, it’s not merely theoretical. The Ribbono shel Olam revealed these secrets to the tzaddikim who relayed these foundations to us—aiding us in our avodas hatefillah.
Approaching the King with Unsoiled Garments
We begin with the words of the Zera Kodesh of Ropshitz (Vayigash) where he teaches: The holy Torah taught us the way in which we must approach the Ribbono shel Olam.” When a Yid stands before Hashem, he has difficulty opening his mouth, for if he grasps Whom he stands before, he is completely overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, because he feels, how can I stand and daven before Him when I’m so filled with sins. I’m unworthy of davening before Him—let alone to ask for my needs... how can I come before the King with soiled garments?
And the truth is that the question goes a bit deeper. When we think about it, what’s the problem of coming before the King with soiled garments? Is he soiling the king thereby?! Why would the King care about the state of his clothing?! If he speaks sensibly and respectfully, there should be no problem—no matter what his clothes look like.
The simple answer is that it’s disrespectful to the King to come before Him with soiled clothing, especially when coming into His chambers to daven before Him—but it goes much deeper.
Speech Forges Connection
When one person speaks with another person, a connection is created between them. If one speaks with a great person, a holy person, a spirit of kedushah and yiras Shamayim will enter him, and the opposite is true in the negative; when a person speaks with mocker, he is likewise affected in the negative. This is why David HaMelech exhorted us לא לצים ובמושב ישב, not to sit in the session of scorners, for one will absorb the essence of their negative words. It’s not only that he will learn from them how to jest and mock; the words themselves forge a connection. We see this constantly... for example, the connection that is forged between a Rebbi and his student through their learning together. Speech breeds closeness and connection.
Connecting with the King
Similarly, when a person speaks with the Ribbono shel Olam, a connection is forged. In fact, the meaning of the word תפילה connotes connection (the words of the pasuk נפתלתי אלוקים נפתולי is explained by many mefarshim as an expression of connection). If so, the primary problem with davening before Hashem when one is soiled and filled with sin is that he seeks to connect with Hashem in this state! It’s not merely a matter of disrespect: this person seeks to connect with the King in this state. This brings incredible pain to the Ribbono shel Olam. This is
