TZEDAKAH
CHARITY
A
1)All the charity and kindness which the Jews do in this world creates
advocates and produces great harmony between Israel and their Father
in Heaven.
2-4)So great is charity that it hastens the Final Redemption, saves the
giver from death and enables him to receive the Divine
Countenance.
5-7)[One who gives charity] becomes, as it were, a creditor for God.
His fortune is enhanced and he is called a "perfect Tzaddik."
8)Giving charity enables one to turn from bad ways.
9)It is a greater mitzvah to support those who occupy themselves in
Torah study than to provide for those who do not. With regards to the
letter of the law, however, no differentiation should be made.
10)Removing a stolen item from a neighbor's possession is like giving
charity.
11)Compromise is a form of judgement which contains the quality of
charity.
12)Giving charity to a poor person who does not deserve it carries no
reward.
13)You should always be grateful to the person who gives you something:
never say that it was not his [but came from God].
14)Charity is equal to all the other mitzvot combined.
15)Getting others [to give] is even greater than giving oneself.
16)Small amounts of charity [will eventually] add up to a large sum.
17)One who conceals his charitable deeds is even greater than Moses.
18)The person who gives even a penny to charity receives six blessings:
the one who consoles a poor man is rewarded eleven times over.
19)The Holy One makes certain that the person who is eager to give
charity receives the money to donate and appropriate paupers are
sent his way so that he will be rewarded for his benevolence. Such a
person is also rewarded with children who will be wealthy, wise and
masters of the Aggadah.
20)On Rosh Hashanah it is determined how much each person will lose
during the coming year. If he is worthy, he gives it away to poor
people.
21)Jerusalem will be redeemed through charity.
22)The evil Ahab had half his sins forgiven because he gave charity.
23)Hospitality saves one from the sins of idolatry.
24)So great is the mitzvah of hospitality that it has the power to draw
near to God those who are far [from Him] and yet distance those who
are close, [but who are inhospitable].
25)A Jew who hosts an idolator in his home causes his children to
suffer exile.
26)When people are not charitable, the government will invariably issue
evil decrees, taking away their money.
27)Give charity with both hands and your prayers will be heard.
28)By being generous, you will move up [in the world].
29)Charity fosters faith.
30-31)One who goes about collecting charity causes wrath to be abated
from the world. He also merits truth.
32)By giving charity, you will be blessed with children and
there will be harmony amongst them.
33)The land's produce blossoms in the merit of charity.
34)Charity hastens salvation.
35)In time of trouble, a person's charitable deeds are recalled.
36)When you give charity, officials and rulers will be sympathetic to
you.
37)By giving charity, a person is spared from injustice, oppression and
misfortune.
38)Giving charity brings one grace.
39)A person who speaks to others about giving charity increases
salvation [in the world].
40)A town in which there is no one to support the poor will suffer from
an outbreak of fires.
41)In reward for his benevolence, a person is saved from
haughtiness.
42)Having faith in God is reckoned like giving charity.
43)You can acquire the quality of modesty by giving charity for
Heaven's sake.
44)A person's benevolence brings him to feel love for the Tzaddikim.
45)One who steals from a poor man brings disgrace upon himself.
46)Giving charity is tantamount to bringing a sacrifice.
47)Charity brings the rains [needed for the land's produce to
prosper].
48)When they give charity, the Jews will not be exiled from their
land.
49)When people give charity, the land's produce prospers and there is
peace in the world.
50)By being truthful, your charitable deeds are noticed [Above].
51)Giving charity protects one's offspring.
52)When one prays for his neighbor, he is credited with having given
charity.
53)The prophecy (job 20:22-29), "In the fullness of his sufficiency he
will be pained ... [Heaven will reveal his sin ... The abundance of
his house shall depart ... I This is the lot of a wicked man ... "
will be applied to the person who has enough for all his needs but
[selfishly] begrudges the poor who approach him with outstretched
hands. It will also be fulfilled in the person who enables others to
enter into a business venture by giving them half of what they
require, but when they, through their efforts, earn enough to repay
him and have sufficient livelihood besides, he is pained [by their
success].
54)When a person performs kind deeds for those who love God, he repairs
the blemishes brought on by his immoral behavior.
55)The merit of the poor saves us from the gentiles.
56)When doing a mitzvah [which involves some expense], see to it that
you pay a full price and don't try to get it for nothing.
57)Rains are held back and prices rise because people have failed to
tithe their wealth.
58)Giving charity happily is a sign of a complete heart.
59)Keep giving:
- for as long as you find [people in need];
- for as long as you have [what to give];
- and for as long as you [have the power to do so].
60)Anyone who gives all his tithes to one particular kohain brings
hunger to the world.
61)One who provides a Torah scholar with all his needs earns himself a
place in the Academy of Heaven.
62)Charity is greater than all the sacrifices.
63)Acts of kindness are even greater than giving charity.
64)Should you think that anyone who is eager to give charity is given
the opportunity and immediately sent truly deserving paupers, the
verse therefore uses the expression "how precious" to teach that we
must exert ourselves and search after such worthy paupers. Indeed,
deserving paupers through whom a person can gain merit are hard to
find.
65)Charity has two facets to it: [A person who doesn't have much but is
very generous should give] in line with his generosity and [a person
to whom God has granted wealth but is not particularly generous
should give] in line with God's blessing.
66)When a person has enough for his own needs but chooses to take from
others instead, he is made to repay after his death, remaining
indebted to the one from whom he took.
67)Even by giving charity, a person has no guarantee that he won't
become poor.
68)Closing one's eyes to giving charity is tantamount to serving
idols.
69)The person who diminishes his wealth for charity is spared from the
judgement of hell.
70)Even a poor man should give charity; then the signs of poverty will
no longer be his lot.
B
1)Incarceration and pain in one's legs are punishments for immorality.
When a disciple who is unqualified to instruct others does so anyway,
he is also punished with one of these afflictions, as well as being
placed at the mercy of evil forces. Giving charity is a segulah for
nullifying these afflictions.
2)Studying Torah, giving tithes and keeping the Sabbath also provide
material benefits.
3)By giving charity, a person can defeat his enemies with a minimum of
effort, as God will save him from even their greatest attacks.
4)Helping a Torah scholar nullifies the dictates of astrology.
5)The merit of those who support the poor saves the masses from plague.
It is also in their merit that expanded consciousness precedes
[rather than follows] constricted consciousness.
6)Charity sweetens the harsh judgements destined for the future on the
Day of Great judgement.
7)There are those whose acts of kindness occasionally produce negative
effects. When they pretend not to see the harm brought on by their
kindness, they cause the harsh judgements from Above to be enacted
without moderation. This coincides with the warning given to the
priesthood - a priest being the "aspect" of lovingkindness - not to
take hurried steps [while performing the Temple service]. However,
when care is taken that no harm comes from their kindness, this
fosters moderation in the judgement.
8)Those who want to reveal their original insights into the Torah
should study the Codifiers [of Jewish Law] beforehand and then again
afterwards. This study of the Law will protect their insights from
being affected by foreign influences. This same procedure should also
be followed when a person wants to perform some act of charity.
9)Original Torah insights arouse the giving of charity and vice
versa.
10)So great is the power of tithing that it can turn a curse into a
blessing.
11)Tithing eliminates immoral thoughts [from the mind].
12)A person whose deeds are filled with kindness has no need of
ancestral merit.
13)Doing favors for others brings a person long life.
14)Certain prayers are accepted Above only after sufficient money,
equivalent to the number of letters in the appropriate prayer, is
given to charity. For example, when a person prays, "Give me
children," he must contribute a sum equal to the letters of these
very words.
15)By giving charity one merits having children.
16)One who provides support for many people draws a blessing from Eretz
Yisrael to the diaspora.
17)Because of the charity given to the poor people of Eretz Yisrael, a
person prospers monetarily.
18)When a person moves to a new place, he should distribute meat to the
poor inhabitants there. Doing so will earn him grace in the eyes of
the town's leaders.
19)Donating coins [to charity] saves a person from the Evil
Inclination.
TZADDIK
A RIGHTEOUS MAN
A
1)Should you find that a Tzaddik has left something unperfected, don't
be surprised. This is God's doing, so that the Tzaddik leaves an area
through which his son can later gain prominence.
2)There are times when the interruption of Torah study [actually]
enforces it.
3)[A Tzaddik will] accept presents from the wicked so that they might
repent.
4)The Tzaddikim use their merit to benefit the world, but not
themselves.
5)It is common for a Tzaddik to do something which will make him
another Tzaddik's teacher.
6)Seeing the faces of the generation's leaders is greatly
beneficial.
7)A Tzaddik will be punished when he fails to pray for his
generation.
8)The person who teaches Torah to an unsuitable student is called
wicked.
9)The manner in which the Sages speak brings health and prosperity. A
person should therefore learn to speak as they do.
10)When a person teaches Torah to others, the Torah is revealed to him
effortlessly.
11)It is common for a Tzaddik to complain when one of his disciples
draws closer to another Tzaddik in order to gain prestige.
12)When drawing closer to Tzaddikim involves [overcoming] difficulties,
it is all the more beneficial for serving the Creator.
13)There are times when Heaven shows the Tzaddik something which is
only imaginary.
14)Doing a favor for someone who is unaware of it is like "throwing a
stone at Mercury," [a form of idolworshipl.
15)Each person should practice [the Torah] as it was taught to him by
his rabbi.
16)There are times when God will bring a number of Tzaddikim together
in one place so that the discomfort caused by their mutual
infringement brings them to develop as they should.
17)One who does not neglect his physical needs will be worthy of having
students.
18)There are Tzaddikim who, [even though] their fame has spread far and
wide, will afterwards fall. This is because of their lust for
wealth.
19)One who cherishes God will record all the names of the Tzaddikim,
Tanaim and God-fearing Jews in a book to remember them.
20)"Why do the Tzaddikim accept benefits from others in order to have
the members of their household live in splendor and glory? Wouldn't
it be better to forgo such a lifestyle and not be obliged to take
from others?" This should not trouble you. All the pleasures and
satisfaction which the Tzaddik experiences actually serves to
elevate his soul, thereby providing the Holy One's Shekhinah with a
place of tranquility and rest. Therefore, one should never come to
the home [of a Tzaddik] emptyhanded.
21)When you want a Tzaddik to pray for you, go to a Tzaddik who is
compassionate.
22)You are obligated to refer to the most famous leader of the
generation as "my master," even if you are greater than he is.
23)When a Tzaddik falls upon some misfortune, he should ask another
Tzaddik to pray on his behalf.
24)Even if those who travel to be with the Tzaddik do not receive any
Torah lesson from him, they are rewarded for having made the
journey.
25)A person who does not attend Torah scholars deserves to die.
26)The Tzaddik can elevate the dead to a very high level.
27)When a person travels to be with a Torah scholar, the journey itself
rectifies the wrongs he committed [by failing to recite any of the
required] Blessings for Enjoyments.
28)Anyone who is in a position to prevent [others from sinning] but
does not, is punished for their sins.
29)It is improper to accept the authority of others in the Tzaddik's
presence.
30)Anyone who is apathetic at the eulogy of a Torah scholar will not
live long.
31)[The extent to which] the Tzaddik has the ability to exact
punishment is proportionate with his mazal.
32)When a Tzaddik dies, he leaves behind a void [in the world]
proportionate to the attributes by which he lived.
33)The disciples of a Tzaddik receive their livelihood in his merit.
34)When one hears a Torah lesson from the Tzaddik, it is as if he
delivered it himself.
35)The death of a Tzaddik is as much a tragedy as the burning of God's
Temple.
36)If a Torah scholar is fitting, learn from him; if not, part from his
company.
37)One should not let his eyes fall upon his teacher's [nakedness] in
the bathhouse, or in any other similar situation.
38)There are times when two Tzaddikim are on equal par, yet great
mysteries are only revealed to one of them. You should realize that
the reason one is not shown is because his merit is required
[elsewhere,] to protect others.
39)It is better to draw close to a Tzaddik who is compassionate.
40)One who attends to the needs of a great person is saved from
death.
41)A person who teaches a Torah Law in the presence of his rabbi
deserves to die, and by right should be bitten by a snake. He is
called a sinner and should be removed from a position of status.
[Eventually,] he will descend to hell, childless. source from
which
42)Once you have ascertained that the you draw wisdom - your rabbi - is
blessed and suitable, don't substitute or exchange it for
another.
43)Each person should behave in a manner consistent with the blessing
given to his tribe [by the patriarch Jacob].
44)The wellspring of Torah departs from the Tzaddik when there is a
wicked person in his home.
45)In the merit of the Tzaddik buried in their midst, all those buried
outside the Holy Land will be resurrected without suffering.
46)Benefitting the Tzaddik with one's money is tantamount to performing
the service of the Holy Temple.
47)There are some Tzaddikim who are never known by the title rabbi.
48)When the Tzaddik says something which remains unfulfilled because
its time has not yet come, his words are engraved Above without
shining brightly. However, once the time has come for his words to
be realized, they begin to shine brilliantly.
49)One who benefits the Torah scholar should strengthen [his faith] so
as not to lose his respect for this scholar.
50)Denying Torah from one's student is tantamount to stealing his
inheritance. [Everyone] curses such a teacher, even the fetus in the
womb, and his body will be riddled with holes like a sieve. However,
by teaching his pupil, he is rewarded with great blessing, like
Joseph, and he merits teaching Torah in the World to Come.
51)A person who does not use his wealth to benefit a Torah scholar will
never see a blessing in what he owns.
52)One who ridicules the words of the Sages is punished with death.
53)Being close to the Tzaddikim is beneficial in this world and in the
next.
54)The Tzaddik has the power to decree Heaven for one person and hell
for another.
55)It is worth expending even a great deal of time in order to spend
but one hour in the proximity of a Tzaddik.
56)When a person begins to lose the use of his physical senses, he
should beware of his impending death or some [Similar]
misfortune.
57)There are those who can create beautiful Torah expositions and yet
not be in tune with the truth.
58)One Tzaddik can elevate the Torah lesson of another Tzaddik.
59)When a Tzaddik originates an insight into the Torah, the Holy One
repeats it in his name.
60)The words of wise Tzaddikim are more precious than the words of
Torah and the Prophets. You must obey them even if these Tzaddikim
do not [try to impress you] by performing some miracle.
61)One who praises the Tzaddik will be blessed.
62)Everything which happens in a town depends upon the Tzaddik living
there.
63)[Even though it is forbidden to turn a student of the Jewish Law
into one's attendant,] the Tzaddik may use him as his attendant, but
only after he has taught this student something new.
64)One who brings an ignorant person under the Tzaddik's influence will
be rewarded.
65)When a person goes out to greet his rabbi, he is rewarded with
eternal life.
66)There are times when a person receives [God's] help as long as he
keeps praying. Once he stops, the Holy One does as He sees fit.
67)Giving a present to a Torah scholar is like bringing a firstfruit
offering.
68)Do not try to force God's hand.
69)One who loves the Tzaddik must keep him from getting a bad
reputation.
70)The Tzaddik despises the favors of wicked men.
71)Do not beseech or pressure your Maker as long as it is possible to
achieve what you want by doing something yourself.
72)As long as a Tzaddik is still in this world, his portion of Paradise
is being used by the Tzaddikim already there.
73)There are certain disciples whose very essence is dependent upon the
merit of the Tzaddik. When the I'zaddik dies, they either die or are
punished.
74)Those who were followers of the Tzaddik during his lifetime will be
his followers evenafterhis deathortheirs.
75)When a person was close to one Tzaddik and then becomes a follower
of a second Tzaddik, the Torah taught him by the first Tzaddik
troubles him.
76)Occasionally, a Tzaddik [must] die in order to subdue some harsh
decree from Above.
77)Who merits the World to Come? One who is honored for his wisdom.
78)A person who gives charity is able to turn from bad ways.
79)You need not chastise and chase away a student who refuses to follow
the proper path. Rather, bring him closer to you. This will benefit
your other pupils and eventually he will also take heed.
80)A person sometimes dies before his time because of the Tzaddik's
complaints against him.
81)It is possible to be a great Tzaddik even without being very
learned.
82)A person who does not believe in the words of the Tzaddikim and
certainly one who ridicules them deserves to be punished.
83)The Tzaddik is permitted to discourage a person who wants to get
closer to him but who poses questions unnecessarily.
84)Before publicly delivering a Torah lesson, the Tzaddik may say
things which will endear his words to his listeners.
85)[Though Heaven decrees who will be] a person's first marriage
partner, even this can be changed through prayer.
86)In this world, anyone who wants to get closer [to the Tzaddik] can
do so. But in the World to Come, only those who were already
followers are brought closer.
87)When a person refuses to respond to the Tzaddik's attempts to draw
him closer, the Tzaddik has every right to push him away.
88)The Tzaddik can punish his offender with death even for [nothing
more than] feeling that he's been slighted, and even if he is
mistaken.
89)That which you hear directly from the Tzaddik is more beneficial
than what you learn from a book.
90)A person is better able to understand when he sees the face of the
speaker.
91)The Tzaddik's simple statement reveals a great light, making it easy
for [even] common people to understand deep wisdom.
92)When a person does not behave properly, you are free to make him
your attendant.
93)The Tzaddik will sometimes elevate a person only to later lower his
status. This is for the man's own benefit.
94)There are Tzaddikim known for their goodness and others who are not.
Likewise, people call some evil men wicked, while others they do
not.
95)It is a disgrace and a humiliation for the generation when its
leader has no one tending to his affairs.
96)Teaching others [how to perform the mitzvot] is preferable to
performing them oneself.
97)Don't display piety in front of an important person.
98)You can determine a person I s inner character from his affiliation
[to a Tzaddik], provided you have seen [the Tzaddik] he follows.
99)A Tzaddik should not endanger himself by being the only one to pray
on his behalf. Rather, he should ask a second Tzaddik to pray with
him.
100)The Tzaddik's prayer has the power to save a person from
sinning.
101)The Tzaddik is the image of God for his generation.
102)The Tzaddik bears the suffering of those who support him.
103)A person can be a Tzaddik even if he hasn't perfected his trust in
God.
104)The Tzaddik is able to enjoy physical pleasures without fearing the
Evil Inclination because his Torah study will protect him.
105)A person who does not rise in the presence of his rabbi is called
wicked; his days are shortened and he will forget his learning.
106)Do not burden the Holy One when you can find help by some other
means.
107)Sometimes, pleasing the Tzaddik just once, and only slightly, is
enough to earn the World to Come.
108)A person who has perfect faith in God is capable of pleasing the
Tzaddik.
109)One who is free of idolatrous thoughts will always yearn to save
the Tzaddikim.
110)When a person wants to benefit the Tzaddik, the Holy One gives him
the strength to do it.
111)A Torah scholar who rejects his rabbis has his days shortened.
112)The person who wears the mantle of rabbi when there is someone
greater than himself has his days cut short.
113)When a Tzaddik must pray for something he needs but is afraid of
those who will dispute his righteousness, he should ask for the
very opposite of what he wants.
114)When a wicked man has done something evil and comes to the Tzaddik
seeking his approval, the Tzaddik, in order to save himself, may
tell him that he has done well.
115)A person's children fall into servitude because he has prevented
others from joining the ranks of those who serve God.
116)There are times when the only way to seek mercy for a sick person
is by praying that he dies.
117)The Holy One first reveals a hidden aspect of the Torah to the
Tzaddik and then says it over in the Tzaddik's name. 118)There are
times when the fasting and prayers of the Tzaddik are to no
avail.
119)The Tzaddik may violate the boundaries set by others in order [to
establish] his own path [in serving God].
120)There are times when a person whom the Tzaddik loves has been
included in a group of people who are destined to die. The Tzaddik
has the power to pray for him and save him by putting someone else
in his place.
121)The Tzaddik has the power to take from one person and give to
another.
122)The Tzaddik's blessing is a redemption.
123)Each Tzaddik [exceils] in his own particular devotion, which even a
greater Tzaddik is unable to match.
124)The reason Tzaddikim travel from place to place collecting money is
because the words of the Torah are concise in one passage and
[explained] extensively elsewhere.
125)Torah scholars live long when they show respect for one another.
126)The prayers of a Tzaddik who is the son of a wicked man cannot
measure up to the prayers of a Tzaddik who is the son of a
Tzaddik.
127)Testing the Tzaddik is like testing God.
128)All the demands for money which the gentiles make upon the Jews
stem only from the disrespect the Jews have shown for the
Tzaddik.
129)It is a great honor for the Tzaddik when those who are God's
enemies also speak against and argue with him.
130)Faith in the Tzaddik sweetens harsh judgement.
131)The Tzaddik, using God's Torah, teaches Him how to act towards
us.
132)A prayer which a person prays while binding himself to the
Tzaddikim will be answered.
133)The Holy One pardons the sins of the Jews because of the
Tzaddikim.
134)A person's derisiveness prevents him from going to Tzaddikim.
135)By giving charity, a person merits getting closer to the
Tzaddikim.
136)There is no Tzaddik who is free from controversy and scrutiny.
137)The wicked man who is too embarrassed to deny the validity of the
Tzaddik himself, will instead berate those who follow this
Tzaddik.
138)Seeing the face of the Tzaddik sharpens the mind.
139)The person who protects the Tzaddik from suffering wins respect and
will benefit from the Tzaddik's righteousness.
140)Hearing a Torah lesson from a Tzaddik gives one vitality.
141)A wicked man who has sinned often can make amends by doing things
which bring vitality to the Tzaddik.
142)When a wicked man humbles himself before the Tzaddik, it indicates
that some misfortune had been decreed against the Tzaddik but that
it is no longer destined to come.
143)Fearing the Tzaddik will enable you to turn from your bad ways.
144)When a wicked man prays for mercy on behalf of a Tzaddik who is in
pain, he merits standing at the gates of righteousness in the World
to Come.
145)The Holy One will occasionally not listen to the Tzaddik's prayers.
This, in order to dissuade the wicked [from repenting], so that
they will then remain with their evil ways.
146)Those who quarrel with the Tzaddik forget the Torah.
147)Praising the Tzaddikim is like praising the Holy One.
148)The sounds of war, turmoil and bad news will not be heard in a city
which obeys the Tzaddik.
149)Opposition to the Tzaddikim stems from the opposition which [the
Tzaddikiml show for each other.
150)God makes the Tzaddik dependent upon the masses for his livelihood
so that the Tzaddik should have some connection to them. Thus, when
God remembers the Tzaddik, He also remembers everyone else.
151)Mashiach's coming is dependent upon our getting closer to the
Tzaddik.
152)The soul's perfection depends mainly upon getting closer to
Tzaddikim.
153)When a person's drawing closer to the Tzaddik lacks simplicity, he
will later become the Tzaddik's adversary.
154)While in the presence of the Tzaddik, a person who is a liar
wonders how he will ever be able to speak afterwards.
155)Those who speak against the Tzaddik eventually have their words
turn on them and they suffer sickness.
156)One who humbles himself before the Tzaddik arouses the Tzaddik's
love for him.
157)Telling stories about Tzaddikim brings a person closer to them.
158)The more God rests the spirit of prophecy upon a Tzaddik the more
this Tzaddik receives support from the wealthy; and the more
support they give him the better the Tzaddik is able to bring the
wicked back to God.
159)Tzaddikim are made to suffer so that the wicked will have no claim
against the good which God will give the righteous in the World to
Come.
160)When God-fearing people join with the Tzaddik, they cause the Holy
One and His Shekhinah to unite face to face; after which, there is
no descent [from this elevated state].
161)Praising the Tzaddikim causes the wicked to suffer a great
downfall.
162)The Tzaddik's death is brought on by the use of magic and by
immoral behavior.
163)People guilty of lewd behavior are usually opponents of the
Tzaddikim.
164)When the Tzaddik passes away, people are left [in a spiritual
state] akin to impurity and their righteousness is repulsive in
God's eyes.
165)When people rise up against the Tzaddik, they incite [Heaven's]
wrath and promote an outbreak of fires.
166)There are times when Tzaddikim are made to wander from place to
place in order to reveal the existence of some hidden Tzaddik.
167)Sometimes the Tzaddik is made to suffer in order to lessen the
sorrows of the Jewish People.
168)When the masses fill their stomachs, they bring about the loss of
the Tzaddik.
169)The suffering of the Tzaddikim atones for all of Israel.
170)God grows angry with and strikes fear into the [heart of a] person
who ref uses to accept the authority of the Tzaddik.
171)When a person brings a gift to the Tzaddik, God grants him with
peace of mind.
172)A person can overcome his enemies and nullify the evil spirit which
has rested upon him by bringing a gift to the Tzaddik.
173)By prostrating oneself on the grave of a Tzaddik, the Holy One
shows a person favor even if he does not deserve it.
174)God performs acts of lovingkindness for the person who relates
stories about the Tzaddikim.
175)The Tzaddik is able to lead others because of the fear of God which
he possesses.
176)A person must stand up while receiving the Tzaddik's blessing.
177)A king may raise funds required for his expenditures by taxing his
nation.
178)The respect shown for the Tzaddik's offspring awakens the Holy
One's will to bring the Mashiach. 179)By visiting the Tzaddik, a
person subdues his enemies. 180)One who violates the Tzaddik's
instructions falls from esteem.
181)When a person uses his possessions to benefit the Tzaddik, it is as
if he benefits all the Jews and he will be saved from death.
182)Objecting to the words of the Tzaddik is tantamount to seeking
advice from a sorcerer.
183)When a person possesses [true] wisdom, God is with him and people
fear him.
184)One who provides all sorts of support for the Tzaddik will be close
to this Tzaddik in the World to Come.
185)A person who provokes the Tzaddik will eventually be caught in an
evil trap.
186)One who relates stories about the Tzaddikim has his own
righteousness recalled.
187)A Tzaddik is able to give even something which does not yet
exist.
188)The Tzaddik takes possession of wherever he goes.
189)By offering advice to Tzaddikim who face opposition, a person's
achievements will be established and will never be undone.
190)While observing the Tzaddik, study him with reverence so that you
will not be punished by Heaven.
191)A person's fear of Heaven makes him yearn to draw closer to the
Tzaddik.
192)Sitting at the table of the Tzaddik eliminates war [from the
world].
193)A fraudulent person eventually joins those who oppose and disagree
with the Tzaddik.
194)There are times when the Tzaddik will contract leprosy because he
has gotten some person to repent.
195)One who says of the Tzaddik that he is wicked and of a wicked man
that he is a Tzaddik will suffer sickness. He also causes the sun
and the moon to be eclipsed.
196)Binding oneself to the Tzaddik is very healing.
197)It is very difficult for a person to get the help he needs if he
does not ask the Tzaddik of his city to pray for him.
198)Occasionally, a person, though very close to the Tzaddik, feels
that he has no fear of God. He should know that were he not close
to the Tzaddik, he would not even deserve to be alive.
199)There are times when the Tzaddik is too embarrassed to ask for
God's help in [alleviating] his suffering. What does God do? He
brings similar suffering upon a wicked man who then comes and asks
the Tzaddik to pray for him. In this way, the Tzaddik is also
helped.
200)One who disagrees with a Tzaddik to his face clearly has no fear of
Heaven.
201)Sometimes, the strife a Tzaddik encounters is definite proof of his
righteousness.
202)There are wicked men who are successful. When they persecute the
Tzaddik, however, the evil forces themselves take revenge against
these wicked men.
203)The difference between a Tzaddik and a person who fears God is that
the God-fearing person is not given permission to reveal God's
secrets, whereas the Tzaddik is.
204)One who speaks against the Tzaddik is clearly arrogant.
205)When the Holy One wants a Tzaddik to teach the [proper] path to
people, He indicates this to the Tzaddik through his livelihood.
206)The Tzaddik, while praying for a person, is able to understand
which sin brought on his particular misfortune.
207)One who maintains a high moral standard certainly cherishes the
Tzaddik.
208)When the Tzaddik serves God and shows no concern for teaching the
common people, he will fall from his [spiritual] level.
209)By financially supporting the Tzaddik, all a person's sins are
pardoned just as when the kohanim would eat from a sacrifice and
the animal's owners were forgiven.
B
1-2)By telling over stories about the Tzaddikim you draw the light of
Mashiach into the world. Relating these stories also chases away
much darkness and pain, and the teller is rewarded with beautiful
clothing.
3)During the seven days of mourning after the Tzaddik's death, God
fills the mourners with the light which has been hidden away since
the Six Days of Creation.
4)It should not surprise you that man, though such a small part of
Creation, has all the Worlds dependent upon him. For this is true of
wherever the Shekhinah resides: the little contains the much.
5)Each person's [portion in the] Garden of Eden is pictured in the
shine on his face.
6)Generally speaking, the livelihood of God-fearing people comes as a
result of their wandering and moving from place to place.
7)There are times when a Tzaddik must wander from place to place so
that he can later recall all these places when he enters the World to
Come; thereby bringing them prosperity.
8)Anyone who knows the names of the living descendants of the Tzaddikim
knows everything that will happen.
9)A person who justifies the actions of others will have all his wishes
carried out, without anyone interfering.
10)When a Tzaddik loses his strength, so that he cannot fulfill the
will of his Creator the way he once did, he should realize that God
no longer wants him to teach the path of repentance to the
wicked.
11)The power of the Tzaddik is at its strongest [level] when harsh
judgement is sweetened - through God's Oneness.
12)When the fame of the Tzaddikim spreads in the world, it inspires the
composing of new songs.
13)When a person is totally self-sacrificing for the Jewish People, his
directives are not annulled. Whatever he decrees will be
fulfilled.
14)Tending to the needs of the Tzaddik brings freedom and nullifies
curses.
15)Those close to a God-fearing person will acquire fear and true
knowledge [through him].
16)When the Tzaddik becomes wealthy, the wicked return to God.
17)When God sees that a certain Tzaddik is unable to inspire people to
devotional service, He stirs up opposition against him. God does
this so that the Tzaddik will indeed succeed in inspiring others,
for the Tzaddik who has no enemies cannot do so. This can be
compared to the times of Mashiach, when peace will reign and
converts will no longer be accepted.
18)There are two types of Tzaddikim: one whose words resemble the art
of ploughing and one whose words are like the art of reaping. Said
otherwise, one Tzaddik's speech is the male arousal for marital
relations while the other's is the drawing of the seed into the
womb, the fetal conception and gestation. When there is a dispute
between these two Tzaddikim, an outsider should not mix into their
conversation, so as not to destroy the intended design.
19)When visiting a Tzaddik's gravesite, a person needs some merit which
will enable him to gather the Tzaddik's spirit and soul at the
grave, as if he were alive. Without this merit, the Tzaddik's spirit
and soul will ascend Above to join the other Tzaddikim.
20)Mentioning the names of the Tzaddikim has the power to bring about a
change in the works of Creation - altering nature. This is alluded
to through a parallel in the verses: "These are the generations of
heaven and earth' (Genesis 2:4) and "These are the names of the
Children of Israel" (Exodus i:i).
21)A person who knows of the Holy Land, who has really tasted Eretz
Yisrael, can recognize in another whether he has been with the true
Tzaddik for Rosh HaShanah. For when one merits being with the true
Tzaddik for Rosh HaShanah, wherever he focuses his attention he
transforms the air there into an aspect of the air of Eretz Yisrael.
Therefore a person who knows the taste of the Holy Land, each
according to his own level, will of necessity feet Eretz Yisrael
when he comes together with this man who has been with the true
Tzaddik for Rosh HaShanah, through whom the air becomes an aspect of
the Holy Land.
Copyright © 1986, 2000, Breslov Research Institute
All Rights Reserved
