אות - קעה

Before his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the Rebbe said: “I do not understand how tzaddikim make a pidyon and intercede on behalf of another. 284 It was customary to ask a tzaddik to pray for one in need and to give the tzaddik a small amount of money as a pidyon (redemption). The reason for this is discussed in Likutey Moharah I, 180. See also Tzaddik #181, #539.

There are twenty-four Heavenly courts. 285 Zohar III, 136b, 293a; Etz Chaim , Sha'ar Lidat HaMochin 2; Likutey Moharan I, 215; Likutey Halakhot , Birkat HaShachar 5:25 ff .

When a person presents the redemption, the tzaddik must know in which court the person is being judged. If he does not know this, he may intercede and bring the redemption to one court while the person is actually being judged in another. He must therefore know precisely in which court the man is being judged, and what particular intercession and redemption are required by that particular court.

I know all twenty-four courts. I can appeal a case from one court to another, through all twenty-four courts. If I do not agree with the judgment of one court, I can ask that it be judged in another court.

Going from one court to another is certainly beneficial. No matter what the final outcome, the sentence is still delayed. Because of this delay, the sentence can be reduced because of some merit on the part of the defendant. Even if this does not help, I can still appeal directly to the King (see Tzaddik #242) .

This takes great wisdom and effort, and no one else in this generation can do it. No other man has ever known how to do this correctly. It is a major skill to frame each petition in the precise number of words and to give proper respect to the King. For it is certainly impossible to send too many cases directly to the King ….”

The Rebbe also said, “I do not understand how they claim to make a redemption. This is impossible unless one knows exactly how the Kohen Gadol dealt with the Banished Goat.” 286 Leviticus 16:21-22. See The Aleph-Bet Book , Sweetening Judgment A94; cf. Proverbs 18:18.