אות - כד

The level of those who help support a true tzaddik is very great and precious.

This can be understood by means of a parable: 31 This was said during the summer of 5569/1809, shortly before Rosh HaShanah ( Tzaddik #185; Parparaot LeChokhmah II, 5:5). Once there was a son who became separated from his father. The son greatly yearns for his father, and the father for his son. Eventually, the father decides to visit his son. At the same time, the son makes up his mind to visit his father. They begin to travel toward each other, and as they come closer, their yearning grows all the more.

They continue to travel toward each other until they are separated by just a few short miles. The father begins to feel such great longing for his son that he realizes he will not be able to endure it for the last few miles. The son also realizes that he can no longer hold back his emotions. If he continues for the last few miles, he will be so overcome by them that he will literally die. They both decide to cast aside their yearning and put it out of mind.

Just at that moment, a coach comes along and swiftly brings the son to his father. Imagine the tremendous joy that the driver brings both to the father and to the son who longed so much.

A tzaddik is like a son of God. There is still a barrier separating him from his Father. God has a great longing for the tzaddik, just as the tzaddik yearns to return and come close to God. For they continue to approach each other until they are separated only by a very short distance.

Their yearning becomes so great that they both realize they cannot endure it. They both decide to put their longing out of mind. God says, “Is this My only task? Do I not have many worlds?” The tzaddik also says, “Is this yearning my only duty? Do I not have many other necessary ways of serving God, such as with the talit , tefilin and other mitzvot ?” So they both agree to set aside their yearning.

Just at that moment, a Jew comes along driving a coach. He brings the tzaddik his livelihood, and thereby brings him close to God. For “a tzaddik eats to satisfy his soul” (Proverbs 13:25) . 32 The lesson in Likutey Moharan II, 5:3, which also discusses this concept, was given on Rosh HaShanah 5570/1809, shortly after the Rebbe told this parable. See also Likutey Halakhot , Yom Tov 2:2; ibid., Hechsher Keilim 2:2. This is the concept of, “He will satisfy your soul with splendor” (Isaiah 58:11) . Through the livelihood that the Jew brings him, the tzaddik eats and attains the lights of splendor. 33 In Hebrew, tzachtzachim , the lights above the first emanation of Atzilut . See Pardes Rimonim 11; Likutey Moharan I, 24:8. This splendor causes the barrier to vanish, allowing the tzaddik to approach God.

The person who supports a true tzaddik is thereby responsible for the immeasurable joy when the tzaddik is able to be close to God.