{"id":16282,"date":"2026-07-10T14:47:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T14:47:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.torahmates.org\/jewish-resources\/?p=16282"},"modified":"2026-07-10T14:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T14:47:04","slug":"upright-citizens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.torahmates.org\/jewish-resources\/upright-citizens\/","title":{"rendered":"Upright Citizens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning to Walk Tall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some years ago, I went to a chiropractor who told me I was slouching forward. I don\u2019t mean when I was just relaxed, but all the time. He compared our heads and spines to bowling balls on broomsticks. If not balanced right, the ball will tip everything over. He said that\u2019s what was happening to me. My head was leaning forward, causing my back to curve. Thankfully, when this happened, there was still time to adjust it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I changed my sitting posture in the car, and began to mindfully walk more upright. The situation began reversing itself and I now stand straighter than before. Better than that, the forward progression of my spine has stopped and I\u2019m not stooping. While there are times I forget, I\u2019m usually pretty good about reminding myself. And sometimes I have help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I\u2019m walking and see someone hunched over or stooping, it frightens me. I don\u2019t want that to be me, so I will make sure I\u2019m walking more uprightly. I think about this often when I say the morning bracha of \u201czokeif kefufim, Who straightens out the crooked.\u201d I want to be healthy, so I straighten myself up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Example Worth Following<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another time I do this is when I see someone else walking with an upright posture. I have a neighbor who walks VERY straight. When I saw him walking past my house one Shabbos, I immediately straightened up. What\u2019s funny about this, is that he doesn\u2019t just walk<\/u><\/em> straight. It seems to me that just about everything he does is with a sense of uprightness. He isn\u2019t a guy who plays games in business<\/a>, and when he gives his word, he means it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t want to wax eloquent about his virtues, because I\u2019m sure he might guess who I\u2019m talking about, but the concept is a great transition from the beginning of this column. As I said, when I see something, I take it to heart. If I see someone stooping, I straighten up so I\u2019m not going to end up like them. If I see someone standing ramrod straight, I also straighten up, because I see that they\u2019re doing it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Than Physical Posture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The same goes for people\u2019s behavior, not just their posture, and we have to ask ourselves how we respond to it. When we see people stooping to conduct that should really be beneath them, saying or doing things that are not exactly just and upright<\/a>, what is our reaction? Do we recoil in fear that we might end up like that, crippled and scarred for life, and therefore choose to straighten up and ensure we don\u2019t do things like that? That would be a great response, and the right one, in my humble opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Danger of Comparing Downward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If, however, when we see people bending the rules<\/a>, we pat ourselves on the back, thinking how wonderful we are because we don\u2019t do the same things, I think we\u2019re missing the boat. To pat yourself on the back means twisting your body into a strange position, and it works the same way figuratively as it does literally. If comparing yourself to people who do bad doesn\u2019t scare you into being better, then you probably could stand to work on your self-improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same thing goes for someone who is extremely upright. If, when you look at him, you imagine he\u2019s over-the-top, a machmir worry-wort, or goody-two-shoes, you\u2019re not doing yourself any favors. Your mental posture is crooked and you don\u2019t even realize it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Yourself in Alignment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like the bowling ball on the broomstick, the further away from straight your head is, the more it succumbs to gravity and pulls the body down with it. If your behavior is less than stellar, the longer this goes on unchecked, the more likely you are to sink lower and lower. At a certain point, it will be almost impossible to correct the curvature, and you\u2019ll be stuck like that, an object of pity to those who understand the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walk Tall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, the next time you see someone hunched over, unable to lift their head, neck, or shoulders, stop and think about how you will react. It should make you scared straight, and teach you to walk tall with your head upright<\/a>. But don\u2019t stop at the physical manifestation. Think about whether all your actions are just and upright, or if maybe you\u2019ve stooped to some pretty awful lows, or even if you\u2019re just a tad out of alignment. Try to surround yourself with people whose deeds are straight<\/a>, and learn from them how to carry yourself. When you can look in the mirror and smile, seeing yourself for what you are, and knowing you\u2019re remaining upright, then you can be proud of fixing your flaws, and you have even more reason to hold your head up high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you enjoy this column? Feedback is welcome and appreciated. E-mail info@JewishSpeechWriter.com<\/a> to share your thoughts. You never know when you may be the lamp that enlightens someone else.<\/em><\/em>
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