Glossary · Torah Ohr · Likkutei Torah
Tzaddik
צדיק
The righteous one (tzaddik)
A tzaddik keeps Torah and mitzvos and draws G‑dliness down into the world, giving life to the mitzvos as one gives tzedakah; tzaddik also names the bond of giver and receiver: Yosef above, Binyamin below.
Where it’s explained
- Torah Ohr, Beshalach 4, ¶19One who keeps Torah and mitzvos is called tzaddik. The name does not chiefly mean one who is just in judgment and wrongs no one, which is no great praise, but one who gives tzedakah: by doing the mitzvos in deed he draws life and Or Ein Sof into them, as a soul into a body.
אלא עיקר שם צדיק ע״ש שהוא בעל צדק׳ שהוא המשפיע צדקה וחסד במדת טובו ורחמנותו להחיות את המצות
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 35, ¶3The level of tzaddikim, called “brothers” (“as a brother to me”), is that their whole service is from above downward: through the mitzvos they draw G‑dliness below, making Him a dwelling in the lower worlds. The second level is the baal teshuvah: not only one who sinned but anyone separated and not aflame, like a businessman returning to study, whose arousal is greater.
והמדרגה הזאת הוא בחי׳ צדיקים שנק׳ אחים כאח לי כו׳ כנ״ל שכל עבודתם מלמעלה למטה להמשיך
- Likkutei Torah, Reeh 6, ¶28Tzaddik as a level is the bond of giver and receiver. There are two tzaddikim: Yosef, the upper tzaddik, binds giver to receiver and draws the flow down; Binyamin, the lower tzaddik, binds receiver to giver and raises it up.
כי צדיק הוא בחי׳ התקשרות משפיע ומקבל אלא שיוסף הוא צדיק עליון שמקשר המשפיע למקבל וממשיך השפע מלמעלה למטה
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini 1, ¶1There are two kinds of tzaddikim. Hidden tzaddikim, like Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in the cave, serve in spirit, uniting the worlds with Or Ein Sof, and are called Leviathan and fish of the sea. Revealed tzaddikim serve through physical mitzvos and the joy of the festivals, called the wild ox; the world needs both.
הענין כי יש ב׳ מיני צדיקים. הא׳ אותן שהם בסתר שעבודתם ברוחניות
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 3, ¶15Citing Tanya ch. 10: the level of tzaddik is “love in delights,” delighting in G‑d with a wondrous delight. Souls that spread from Yosef are souls of tzaddikim; a beinoni may at times have such joy and delight, but not in full.
ומבואר בסש״ב פ״י דבחי׳ צדיק זהו מ״ש מה יפית ומה נעמת אהבה בתענוגים
Stated differently
Whether a tzaddik is one who must keep conquering his inclination, or one in whom there is no evil at all
שצריך תמיד לכבוש את הלב בשכלו מאחר שהלב מושרש מאד בעניני עוה״זFollowing Sha’arei Kedushah, one who must always conquer his heart with his intellect, fighting his war, is called tzaddik; one in whom it is rooted in the heart too is called chassid. The paragraph adds that Tanya calls the latter tzaddik and the former beinoni.
וכך הצדיק כובש את היצה״רThe lamb (keves) alludes to the tzaddik, from “conquer” (kivshuha): the tzaddik conquers the evil inclination, and is also himself subdued before G‑d.
אך זהו דוקא בצדיקים שאין רע בנר״נ שלהם כללThe chief intent of the mitzvos, adding light in Atzilus, holds only for tzaddikim, in whose nefesh, ruach and neshamah there is no evil at all; for beinonim the chief intent is to refine their own soul.
Whether all Israel are called tzaddikim because their souls are from Yosef or Binyamin, the upper and lower tzaddik; or the souls from Binyamin are beinonim, and “Your people are all tzaddikim” means only decent people who are not wicked
ויש נשמות שהם מבחי׳ יוסף. ויש מבחי׳ בנימין. ולכן נאמר ועמך כולם צדיקיםYosef is the upper tzaddik and Binyamin the lower; some souls are from Yosef and some from Binyamin, and therefore it says “Your people are all tzaddikim.”
והנה הניצוצים המתפשטים מבחי׳ בנימין הם נשמות הבינוניםThe sparks that spread from Binyamin are the souls of the beinonim, as Tanya explains the beinoni; those from Yosef are the souls of the tzaddikim.
ואינו שם התואר דהיינו מדרגת צדיק אמיתי שנתבאר במ״א. אלא ר״ל מדרגת אדם כשר שאינו רשעIn “Light is sown for the tzaddik,” since “Your people are all tzaddikim,” the word is not the title of a true tzaddik explained elsewhere, but a decent person who is not, G‑d forbid, wicked.
Whether the tzaddik’s service, set against the baal teshuvah’s, is drawing down from above, or rising from below level by level in order
והמדרגה הזאת הוא בחי׳ צדיקים שנק׳ אחים כאח לי כו׳ כנ״ל שכל עבודתם מלמעלה למטה להמשיךTzaddikim, called “brothers,” serve wholly from above downward, drawing G‑dliness below through the mitzvos; the second level, the baal teshuvah, has the greater arousal.
כי קומי לך היינו כסדר המדרגות ממטה למעלה והיא מדרגת הצדיקים ההולכים לפני ה׳ ממדרגה למדרגה“Arise, go” (kumi lach) is an ascent from below upward in the order of the levels, the level of tzaddikim who go before G‑d from level to level; the ascent of teshuvah, crying out in distress, comes with greater force and not in the order of the levels.
Main sources
Torah Ohr, Beshalach 4, ¶19Torah Ohr, Terumah 2, ¶2Likkutei Torah, Reeh 6, ¶28Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 35, ¶2Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 35, ¶3Likkutei Torah, Shemini 1, ¶1Likkutei Torah, Masei 3, ¶15Likkutei Torah, Shelach 10, ¶5
Where it appears
In 376 paragraphs of 202 maamarim.
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 5 ¶2 ¶7 ¶20 ¶34
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 9 ¶2 ¶3 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 6 ¶1 ¶3 ¶4 ¶5 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 4 ¶1 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 6 ¶8 ¶10 ¶12 ¶21 ¶24 ¶39
- Likkutei Torah, Behar 2 ¶3 ¶16 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Behar 3 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 9 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 1 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 2 ¶17 ¶18 ¶24 ¶27 ¶42
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 1 ¶31 ¶39 ¶45
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 4 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 2 ¶3 ¶4 ¶5 ¶6 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 1 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 3 ¶21 ¶22 ¶24 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 5 ¶1 ¶2 ¶5 ¶7 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 6 ¶5 ¶22 ¶27 ¶28 ¶29 ¶39 ¶40
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 7 ¶23 ¶25 ¶37 ¶56 ¶57
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 7 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 4 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 16 ¶16
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 20 ¶24 ¶31
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 22 ¶31
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 35 ¶2 ¶3 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 40 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini 1 ¶1 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 1 ¶1 ¶5 ¶8 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 4 ¶4 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, V’Zos HaBerachah 4 ¶5 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 5 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 6 ¶28
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 7 ¶1 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 8 ¶5 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Yom Kippur 2 ¶7
- Torah Ohr, Beshalach 1 ¶10
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 12 ¶8 ¶10 ¶13 ¶18 ¶25 ¶29
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 4 ¶2 ¶3 ¶37 ¶38 ¶41
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 8 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Vayakhel 2 ¶1 ¶2
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 9 ¶9 ¶15 ¶18
- Likkutei Torah, Devarim 1 ¶2 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 4 ¶1 ¶2 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 1 ¶2 ¶5
- Torah Ohr, Beshalach 8 ¶26 ¶27 ¶29 ¶30
- Likkutei Torah, Acharei 4 ¶16
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 13 ¶18
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 16 ¶10 ¶11 ¶12 ¶15 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 3 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 3 ¶5 ¶15 ¶19 ¶36 ¶41
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 3 ¶14 ¶15 ¶17 ¶18 ¶25 ¶26
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 4 ¶31 ¶32 ¶35
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 5 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 3 ¶13 ¶22 ¶23 ¶27
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 8 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 12 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 9 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 14 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 17 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 1 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 5 ¶10 ¶18 ¶21 ¶24 ¶28
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 14 ¶2 ¶3 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 15 ¶5 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 17 ¶6 ¶17 ¶20 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 21 ¶2 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 42 ¶10 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Chayei Sarah 3 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 11 ¶18
- Torah Ohr, Vayeira 2 ¶9 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Vayishlach 2 ¶3
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 4 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 5 ¶23 ¶24
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 15 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 1 ¶9 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 7 ¶7 ¶13 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 6 ¶5 ¶20 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 16 ¶12 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 24 ¶1 ¶4 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 25 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 36 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 41 ¶6 ¶24 ¶29 ¶30
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 3 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 4 ¶5 ¶34
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 6 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 4 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 7 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 2 ¶36
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 3 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 2 ¶4 ¶6 ¶21 ¶28
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Savo 3 ¶1 ¶5 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Nitzavim 7 ¶25
- Likkutei Torah, V’Zos HaBerachah 3 ¶30
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 1 ¶9 ¶15
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 4 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 2 ¶26
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 8 ¶17 ¶22
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 1 ¶3 ¶7 ¶11 ¶14 ¶16
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 2 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 5 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 20 ¶22
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 3 ¶23
- Likkutei Torah, Behar 1 ¶4 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 3 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Devarim 2 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 3 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 5 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 6 ¶14 ¶16
- Likkutei Torah, Pekudei 2 ¶5 ¶20 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 10 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 3 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 2 ¶2 ¶8 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 28 ¶1 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 30 ¶2 ¶4 ¶7 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 10 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 5 ¶43 ¶55
- Torah Ohr, Lech Lecha 1 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 13 ¶1
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 9 ¶6 ¶14
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 12 ¶8 ¶34
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 5 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Noach 4 ¶17
- Torah Ohr, Vayeitzei 3 ¶1
- Torah Ohr, Vayigash 1 ¶9 ¶11 ¶15
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 7 ¶27
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 2 ¶29
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 14 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 4 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 31 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Sukkos 3 ¶3 ¶4 ¶5 ¶6 ¶8 ¶15
- Torah Ohr, Noach 1 ¶5
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 2 ¶8 ¶9 ¶18
- Torah Ohr, Vayigash 2 ¶1 ¶4 ¶5 ¶7 ¶8
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 10 ¶3 ¶8 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 2 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Pekudei 1 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 8 ¶2 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 2 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Toldos 2 ¶2 ¶3 ¶9 ¶19
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 1 ¶2 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 7 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 8 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 4 ¶26
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 9 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 2 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 13 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Sukkos 4 ¶1 ¶13
- Torah Ohr, Beshalach 4 ¶19 ¶20 ¶26
- Torah Ohr, Ki Sisa 2 ¶11
- Torah Ohr, Vayeitzei 4 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 3 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 3 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 12 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 18 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 8 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 4 ¶3
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 3 ¶25
- Torah Ohr, Beshalach 7 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 8 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Savo 1 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Korach 1 ¶28 ¶29
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 10 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 3 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 7 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 18 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 4 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 10 ¶14 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini 2 ¶3 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 3 ¶1 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Toldos 3 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 1 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 4 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 4 ¶16
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 7 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 8 ¶10
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 6 ¶14 ¶15
- Torah Ohr, Terumah 2 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 12 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Tetzaveh 1 ¶5 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 5 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Acharei 2 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 8 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 5 ¶1
- Torah Ohr, Chayei Sarah 1 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Chayei Sarah 4 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 6 ¶8
- Torah Ohr, Lech Lecha 2 ¶3
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 7 ¶3 ¶4 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 2 ¶19
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 10 ¶15
- Torah Ohr, Vayechi 3 ¶2 ¶23
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 8 ¶26
- Torah Ohr, Noach 3 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 4 ¶10
- Torah Ohr, Vayigash 3 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 12 ¶7
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 26 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 6 ¶10
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 2 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Acharei 1 ¶26
- Likkutei Torah, Beshalach 1 ¶29
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 1 ¶2
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 1 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 13 ¶24
Written with AI from the paragraphs of Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah, each entry checked by a second AI reader and every Hebrew quote checked by code; not yet reviewed by a person. Our English: CC BY-NC 4.0.