“How dare he!” The king rose from this throne in fury. “Summon my scribes immediately! There’s only one way to exact sufficient revenge"

Reb Tzidkiya returned home in a state of terror. He discussed the king’s impossible request with his colleagues, but none were able to offer a solution. A heavy sword was hanging over the heads of the Jewish community and time was passing quickly.

“The king has only granted me one day! Even if I had a million days it wouldn’t make any difference!”

Reb Tzidkiya sat alone in the forest, his head in his hands. All seemed lost.

“Please, Hashem, You know there is no one on this earth who can physically demonstrate what the king desires. Save us from destruction!”

A few leaves crunched behind Reb Tzidkiya and he whirled around.

“Shalom aleichem.”

A man of average height, wearing very simple clothes, stood before Reb Tzidkiya.

“It is always good to seek solitude to pour out one’s heart to his Creator.” The man said this with a smile.

“Yes, especially when so many Jews are in need of immediate salvation.”

“Tell me what has happened.”

Reb Tzidkiya poured out his woes to the stranger and told him the entire story.

“It can be demonstrated,” the man said simply. “Bring me to the king.”

***

“A peasant you have brought before me?” The king was not pleased at the sight of the simply dressed man standing beside Reb Tzidkiya.

“He can physically demonstrate the concept of a thousand years only being one second to G-d, Your Highness.”

“If this is actually true, then I will be very pleased.”

“Whenever you are ready, I will begin,” the man said.

“I first want to assemble every single person inside my palace, from the lowliest slave to the most prestigious adviser. I want everyone to witness this.”

“I will wait.”

It took a full hour for everyone to gather inside the throne room. From wall to wall, the people eagerly looked on in anticipation of something incredible about to unfold.

“I ask everyone to take note of the time!” The man shouted so that everyone could hear him. His voice sounded oddly magnified and it echoed all around the room. “Look at the mechanism beside the king which tells the time of day. It is midday, correct?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the clock.

Indeed, it was exactly midday.

***

“Your Highness, I carry an urgent message!”

The king raised his eyes and beheld a lone messenger racing into his throne room.

“Why are you interrupting me in middle of a special demonstration from this Jew? And why are you all panicky and out of breath? What’s wrong?”

“The king across the ocean has insulted you in a grievous manner, unlike anything the world has ever seen! He has written slanderous lies about you and he had documents written up containing riddles and stories that make you out to be a complete fool!”

“How dare he!” The king rose from this throne in fury. “Summon my scribes immediately! There’s only one way to exact sufficient revenge. We will write a grand poem depicting that disrespectful man as nothing more than a brainless chicken strutting around with a crown on its head!”