True Rabbi or Fake Tzaddik?

Choosing a rabbi is not an easy subject. Only Hashem sees the heart, and sometimes it's hard for us to distinguish between one rabbi with a hat and another, though there may be a chasm between them. So how do you identify a true rabbi you can trust? And how do you avoid fake 'rabbis' of various kinds who excel in acting skills but little else? Here are six criteria to help you make yourself a true rabbi and save yourself from deceptions.

1. Does the rabbi fear sin and strictly observe the laws? When Shabtai Tzvi excited Jewish communities worldwide in the seventeenth century with the promise that he was the messiah sent to redeem them, many rabbis sent emissaries to get to know him up close. Among these rabbis was the genius author of the 'Turei Zahav', who sent his son-in-law to meet Shabtai Tzvi in his seat in the Ottoman Empire. When the son-in-law returned and reported that he found Shabtai Tzvi lying face up, the Taz immediately concluded: This man is not the messiah! The Gemara says that men should not lie face up, and the messiah does not violate any law, not even rabbinical decrees! This story contains an important message that can help us distinguish a true tzaddik from one who is not: a true tzaddik observes all the laws and the decrees established by the sages.

2. Does the rabbi claim he is the only true tzaddik, and all other rabbis are wrong and understand nothing? There are many paths in serving Hashem, but they do not require completely dismissing other paths. A rabbi who tries to convince you that only he is worthy of trust—avoid him.

3. Is the rabbi's court shrouded in secrecy? If everything about the rabbi and his people's conduct is shrouded in mystery, be suspicious. If you are constantly warned not to talk about what you experienced, saw, or heard, it's time to leave.

4. Does the rabbi bring you closer to Hashem? Does your relationship with the rabbi make you see the world more correctly and strengthen your closeness to Hashem, or has Hashem become almost forgotten in the rabbi's court due to admiration for the rabbi himself? If the latter is true—you're not in the right place.

5. Does the rabbi advertise himself as a miracle worker? Many stories circulate about miraculous rabbis, even today. But a true tzaddik will not choose a title of 'miracle worker' for himself. True rabbis dedicate time to the public, giving blessings and praying for those in need of salvation. Fake rabbis may persuade you they can summon any salvation you desire—usually in exchange for a suitable donation.

6. Is the rabbi a Torah scholar who devotes himself to Torah study? Once, such a question was unnecessary: it was obvious that 'rabbi' was synonymous with 'Torah scholar'. Sadly, today, there are people who insist on being addressed as 'Honorable Rabbi', but it's unclear how much time, if any, they dedicate to learning the Torah. In Jewish tradition, rabbis have always been Torah scholars who labored in the study of revealed Torah: not practical Kabbalah or Jewish numerology, and certainly not communicating with souls, but diligent and profound study of revealed Torah. In the hidden aspects, they mostly meditated... in concealment. So does the rabbi you know meet this definition?

Rabbi Zamir Cohen in a special interview on true Rabbis versus fake "Rabbis" and "Kabbalists":