The Secret of the Tzaddik's Image and the Purifying Power of Embarrassments

Lesson No. 56 | Tuesday, Parashas Shmini, 20 Nissan, 5th day of Chol HaMoed Pesach 5756 (Continued in No. 57)

When a person learns the Torah of the tzaddik and reviews it, his image is engraved upon his soul and illuminates his intellect. In order to merit these pure intellects and to shine, a person must lovingly accept embarrassments and disputes, which serve as polishers that transform his soul from a simple stone into a brilliant diamond.

A person must know that from his words, worlds, airplanes, and spaceships are created. When a person speaks foolish words, the Sitra Achra (forces of impurity) grows stronger in the world and uses these words. In contrast, when a person draws close to a tzaddik who is entirely truth, whose every word—even his mundane chatter—is absolute truth, he receives the face of the tzaddik.

When a person learns the words of the tzaddik, the mind and soul of the tzaddik are embedded within the Torah teachings he reveals. "When a person hears true words from a true tzaddik, he receives a face of truth, and slowly takes on the form of the tzaddik." The tzaddik's traits, form, and image are immediately engraved within him, because these words emerged from his soul.

However, when forgetfulness overpowers a person and he forgets the words of Torah he learned, the face of the tzaddik also departs from him. Therefore, it is an absolute obligation to review the words of the tzaddik, to remember them, and to make summaries of them. It is forbidden to forget a single utterance. By holding the learning in his memory, the face of the tzaddik clothes itself over his own face.

Engraving the Image of the Sage

When a person reviews his learning one hundred and one times—corresponding to the gematria (numerical value) of the angel 'Michael'—he constantly draws the image of the sage before him. He must be holy and pure until the sage himself, whether it is Abaye, Rava, Rabbi Akiva, or Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, speaks from his mouth. Everything is found in the book: the mind, soul, and face of the tzaddik, and according to his image, he wrote his intellect into the letters.

It is easier to engrave the image of the tzaddik in a young lad, whose mind is like a blank piece of paper, than in an older person who is filled with preconceptions, methodologies, and criticisms. Therefore, a person must ask to return to the state of an innocent child. The author of the Zohar Chai of Komarno testified about himself that he merited the mind of a baby, and he merited such a great light that he literally saw the figures of the Tanna'im and Amora'im (Talmudic sages) standing before him as he studied their words.

Because he purified himself so much through his learning, the Zohar Chai reached a spiritual level where he could recognize any person at the end of the world. Once, they tested him for two continuous hours with various names, and he knew exactly who each person was and what they looked like. When they intentionally gave him a fake name, he immediately recognized that it was the name of a person who did not exist.

Hashem's Love for the Tzaddikim of the Generation

Out of an understanding of the greatness of the tzaddikim, Reb Nosson explicitly warns in the book Chayei Moharan that one must never, Heaven forbid, speak ill of any tzaddik among the tzaddikim of the generation. The tzaddikim who lead communities, build yeshivas, and distance Jews from bad friends, immodesty, and heretical books are exceedingly precious and holy in the eyes of Hashem, blessed be He.

Hashem loves them with a profound soul-love, and their actions cause tremendous delight and joy in Heaven. "Who would dare speak against them? It is as if he is speaking against Hashem Himself, against the beloved of Hashem. It is an obligation upon a person to connect himself to all the tzaddikim of the generation who impart Torah, fear of Heaven, and holiness."

The Purifying Power of Embarrassments

Rabbi Hershele Toiber taught that the main thing is a submissive heart toward every Jew and the utmost lowliness. A person must be willing to suffer embarrassments, insults, and curses his entire life, and simply remain silent. Wicked people also rose up against the Zohar Chai of Komarno and subjected him to terrible embarrassments the likes of which had never been heard, yet he testified: "I suffered and remained silent, and a true spiritual attainment was opened to me."

When a person is embarrassed, instead of running away or going to tell someone, he should open a Gemara or books of Halacha (Jewish law). Suddenly, all the complex methodologies will become clear to him. "A person received an embarrassment—his mind becomes pure and clear. You can learn for ten hours straight and everything is bright and lucid."

Our holy Rebbe, Rebbe Nachman says: How is it possible to hate those who dispute us? After all, they are doing us tremendous favors! Every word they speak against you separates the light and creates new combinations of Torah. Instead of making excuses and explaining, you need to rejoice. Five people spoke against you? Five Torah teachings passed to you. From those embarrassments, the Heavenly Jerusalem is built.

The Secret of the Diamond and Pure Prayer

Disputants are actually diamond polishers. "A person is like a simple stone extracted from the earth. To gain brilliance and radiance, he must undergo many polishings. Every disputant is another polisher on the way to becoming a brilliant diamond."

In the merit of the embarrassments, the heart becomes pure and one can approach the Shemoneh Esrei prayer in truth. Instead of running to doctors and searching for solutions, a person can stand during the blessing of 'Refa'einu' (Heal us) or 'Atah Chonen' (You graciously endow) and pour out his heart before Hashem. When the mind is pure, every blessing can take long minutes, and a person can stand in prayer for hours in tranquility, mentioning his family and children, and bringing about salvations.

In conclusion, the book Lev Ivri brings a tremendous segulah (spiritual remedy) for sweetening harsh judgments: Whoever sings all fifty-two stanzas of the hymn 'Eliyahu HaNavi' at the Melaveh Malkah festive meal on Motzaei Shabbos (Saturday night) is guaranteed that he will have no suffering that week. The Melaveh Malkah meal takes away all of a person's suffering and grants him protection for the entire week.

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