Discovering Rabbi Tzadok's Insights: Transforming Guilt into Redemption

Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin, a descendant of Shla, became an orphan at age 6 and was raised by his uncle, Rabbi Yosef HaKohen Rabinowitz, the author of 'Kapot Hazahav.' Known as the 'prodigy of Krinik,' Rabbi Tzadok began writing legal questions and answers at 12, and at 13, he delivered his first complex scholarly interpretation and wrote a book about Jewish sages' histories called 'Zikaron LaRishonim.' He passed away without children after a severe illness.

In memory of his passing, immerse yourself in these exceptional quotes from his book "Tzidkat HaTzadik":

1. Regretful for your misdeeds? This is how they're forgiven

An encouraging thought from Rabbi Tzadok: one's anguish over their sins brings atonement. He writes, "The soul's distress over past wrongs serves as the punishment of hell for that sin. Hence, as the Talmud states, if one feels shame over a sin, they are forgiven because they have already endured the torment."

2. Sins are also Hashem's will

"True repentance occurs when Hashem enlightens one's eyes to see misdeeds as merits, meaning they recognize and understand that their sins also occurred within Hashem's will."

3. Everything in the world is part of His will

Rabbi Tzadok goes further by comforting every Jew: "When reaching this profound enlightenment where all transgressions do not escape the divine knowledge, acknowledging that Hashem willed it so makes all as merits, achieving full atonement at Yom Kippur, as symbolized by the scapegoat."

4. What defines a person? The power of thought

Rabbi Tzadok was the first to state, "Where a person's thoughts are, that's where their essence lies at that moment." He added that "the core of a person is not their body but their soul—the thought, meditation, and desire—and where the mind dwells, there is the entire human form at that time."

5. Accepting the yoke of heaven—what does it mean?

"Although the primary obligation of accepting the yoke of heaven is during the recitation of the Shema, its obligation extends at all times, never departing for a single moment," writes Rabbi Tzadok.

6. What is essential in prayer?

"The essence of prayer is the desire and willingness to pray and supplicate," writes Rabbi Tzadok.

7. Every human trait has goodness:

Rabbi Tzadok states, "Every inherent trait in the soul of Israel is not entirely evil and should not be entirely reversed because no quality or power lacks good. It merely needs to be utilized according to Hashem's will."

8. Daily character work, with divine assistance as the key:

"All of human effort in breaking desires is merely 'grace' and 'beauty,' which is falsehood and vanity, not sustained forever since the inclination strengthens daily and may conquer tomorrow. The key is to seek Hashem's help, the reliable boon since your Redeemer lives."

9. Why are there wicked in the world?

"One shouldn't be amazed by the proliferation of the wicked in the world, for Hashem, the vineyard owner, understands its nature better and provides for it at every moment," writes Rabbi Tzadok.

10. Lacking desire for divine service—what to do?

Rabbi Tzadok's advice: "If someone feels devoid of any enthusiasm for divine service, the counsel is to 'cast your burden on Hashem,' and through humility in recognizing one's shortcomings, evoke heavenly mercy."

11. Believe that your soul is from the source of life and delights Hashem

A famous dictum of Rabbi Tzadok states, "Just as one must believe in Hashem, so afterward must they believe in themselves... that Hashem engages with them and that they are not insignificant. Their soul is from the source of life, and Hashem delights in their fulfillment of His will."

12. A surprising remedy for sins

"To fix nighttime emissions (and also intentional actions called as such)," writes Rabbi Tzadok, "Have complete faith that nothing is incidental in the world and all occurrences are divinely guided. This understanding is truly central, with all 613 commandments serving as advice to reach this awareness that everything is from Hashem. Sins are called 'if you walk with Me by chance' since they lead away from order. By believing in divine intent, one sweetens judgements and rectifies all transgressions."

13. Sacrificing oneself mentally to death—salvation from death:

"When one fully consents in their heart to consider if it is Hashem's will for them to die and accepts this with true willingness, they are saved from the decree of death," writes Rabbi Tzadok.

14. Accepting the yoke of Torah includes abandoning worldly pleasures:

"When one accepts the yoke of Torah and enters divine service, they must wholeheartedly commit to forsaking all worldly pleasures contradictory to Hashem's will, not clinging to this and letting go of that, as both will amount to nothing."

15. Afraid? It might just be atonement trials:

"A person's fears stem from their sins, as noted in the Talmud and in 'fear in Zion'... these fears are indeed the trials of hell, which sweeten judgments, as mentioned... just as salt sweetens meat, similarly, trials sweeten sins."

16. What should one do when struck by fear?

"Whenever overwhelmed by fear," writes Rabbi Tzadok, "immediately pray for rescue, for this fear has been divinely sent to awaken one from the heavens." This is what the sages meant by "always precede prayer to calamity," signifying that Hashem initiates awareness through fear.

17. Feeling regretful or afraid? Pray and receive goodness:

"When Hashem wishes to bestow good upon someone and only asks that they pray for it, He arranges for them to experience discomfort or fear related to this," writes Rabbi Tzadok.

18. What is Shabbat? The essence of the week

Rabbi Tzadok explains: "On Shabbat, one can transform the entire week's actions to good."

19. Be careful not to cause distress to any creature:

"One must avoid causing distress to any being, even for the sake of a mitzvah," writes Rabbi Tzadok.

20. Have a strong desire for a particular thing? This is the vessel for Hashem's blessing, under one condition:

"Each person has a unique craving, and what they desire most strongly is the prepared vessel to receive Hashem's blessing," writes Rabbi Tzadok, noting one condition: "If they return to Hashem with all their heart, recognizing that this passion is planted within by His will."

21. The root of all sins: Pride, and the remedy: Humility:

"The entirety of one's illusions and thoughts are cemented in the three roots of envy, lust, and honor—the root of all negative traits. The ultimate root is pride, with its correction found in humility, which rectifies all confused thoughts, ensuring one desires only what Hashem wills," explains Rabbi Tzadok about true humility.

23. Is your heart broken? Trust that Hashem will respond

"Someone who is lacking and seeks completion cannot be left unanswered by Hashem, as it is written: 'Hashem is close to the brokenhearted,'" writes Rabbi Tzadok.

24. Troubled by foreign thoughts? Accept this advice:

Rabbi Tzadok asserts, "The remedy for distracting thoughts and pondering lies in the mitzvot of tzitzit and tefillin."