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Tzadikim Nistarim / Lamed Vav Tzadikim

The world only exists because there are righteous people in it doing mitzvos. In Judaism, a tzadik is a title given to people who are considered righteous. The word tzadik comes from the Hebrew word ?addiq, which means "righteous one". In the Bible, a tzadik is a man who is just, righteous, and takes joy in justice. Tzadikim are also believed to be intermediaries between men and God. Tzadikim may also refer to the spiritual leader of a modern Hasidic community.

Tzadikim may also refer to the Tzadikim Nistarim, or "hidden righteous ones". This concept is rooted in the mystical dimensions of Judaism and refers to 36 righteous people. The Yiddish term lamed-vavnik comes from the Hebrew words lamed, which means 30, and vav, which means 6. Together, these words make 36, the number of righteous individuals said to greet the Divine Presence.

It is said that at all times there are 36 special people in the world, and that were it not for them, all of them, if even one of them was missing, the world would come to an end. According to Jewish hagiography and tradition, in each generation there are 36 righteous people, some of them hidden, thanks to whom the world exists. These are the Tzadikim Nistarim, singular form is Tzadik Nistar, "hidden righteous ones") or Lamed Vav Tzadikim "36 righteous ones", often abbreviated to Lamed Vav(niks).

A possible Tzaddik who self-declares, does not yet have the proper understanding and relationship, to actually be one. It is up to a Tzaddik to specifically be recognized as such publicly or privately, by others -- Not by himself (nor, herself) -- But by those who through chance and circumstance, happen to meet him. And they really should not communicate this intuitive and most visceral recognition of theirs of his presence and role, directly to him. Let him keep wondering about it, and still summarily dismissing it for himself, in order to keep him on the Path of Righteousness.

The idea of righteous people whose existence spiritually enables the continued existence of a certain place is already found in the biblical story of the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah , in which Abraham asks to save Sodom if it has a certain number of righteous people. The two Hebrew letters for 36 are the lamed, which is 30, and the vav, which is six. Therefore, these 36 are referred to as the Lamed-Vav Tzadikim. This widely-held belief, this most unusual Jewish concept is based on a Talmudic statement to the effect that in every generation 36 righteous "greet the Shechinah," the Divine Presence (Sanhedrin 97b; Sukkah 45b).

The idea is particularly prominent in Hasidic Judaism. Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dinov, for example, wrote that "in every generation, there are great righteous people who could perform wondrous acts, but the generation is not deserving of that, so the stature of the righteous people is hidden and they are not known to the public; sometimes they are woodchoppers or water-drawers."

In Chassidism, the concept of 36 righteous people is also known as hidden tzaddikim . This concept is used in Hasidic stories as a recurring motif. When one of the characters in the story is seen as inferior and is revealed as a figure with a high spiritual rank and the person is revealed as one of the 36 righteous people. In Chassidim stories, the meaning of the term "16 tzaddikim" usually refers to hidden tzaddikim.

There were at least two Kabbalah books from the 18th century, the authors of which are said to be hidden tzaddiks: Rabbi Neta of Shinawa and Rabbi Isaac, who lived in the small village of Zoyawitz near Peshmishchel and made a living there by butchering. Their books were of course printed after they passed away. The generation about the rumors that circulated among the public as to the real authorr.

And who are these righteous ones? The legend maintains that they are each extremely modest and upright, often concealing their identity behind a mask of ignorance and poverty, and usually earning their livelihood by the sweat of their brow. The Lamed-Vav Tzaddikim are also called the Nistarim (concealed ones). In our folk tales, they emerge from their self-imposed concealment and, by the mystic powers, which they possess, they succeed in averting the threatened disasters of a people persecuted by the enemies that surround them. They return to their anonymity as soon as their task is accomplished, "concealing" themselves once again in a Jewish community wherein they are relatively unknown.

The lamed-vavniks, scattered as they are throughout the Diaspora, have no acquaintance with one another. On very rare occasions, one of them is "discovered" by accident, in which case the secret of their identity must not be disclosed. The lamed-vavniks do not themselves know that they are one of the 36. In fact, tradition has it that should a person claim to be one of the 36, that is proof positive that he is certainly not one. Since the 36 are each exemplars of anavah, humility, having such a virtue would preclude against one’s self-proclamation of being among the special righteous. The 36 are simply too humble to believe that they are one of the 36.

There are those who for personal or religious reasons maintain keep a constant watch against lust, greed, anger, attachment, and ego -- who in their daily life, consistently try to stay above the influence of self aggrandizement and amoral attachments. And there are those who believe in and practice daily living in peace, with love and kindness toward all, and in harmony with nature and neighbors.

In most religions such people are called saints or pious ones or and they are viewed as being holy -- recognized as unique and set apart. In the Catholic church such people are honored for their service to the community and for the miraculous deeds they performed or for the visions they experienced. In eastern religions, there are extraordinary teachers -- swamis, gurus, bahgwans -- who by their self-discipline and their instruction have a profound influence on their disciples.

Around the world, there are shamans and healers -- medicine men and women -- pastors, priests, thinkers, scholars, survivors, care-givers, rescuers, counselors, donors of time, builders of community, charitable money people, donors of body parts even ... selfless souls who plunge into swirling rivers, dart into burning buildings, pilot choppers and tugs under the worst of circumstances -- do awesome and fearless things.