The Zaddik's Function

“and from my Master I have heard, that Shevil is a channel and path#(1) of Shefa {the divine flow of abundance}, and this what {the Talmud#(2), says that} he {God} said “{the whole entire world is sustained} in {through} the channel of Channineh my son,” and the words of the wise a charm.”

Toldos, BPY, Pietrkov, 1884, 14a#(3)

There doesn’t seem to be anything new here, a simple reading of the mentioned Talmudic text tells us just as much:

“the whole world is sustained in their {the Zaddikim’s} merit, while they –even in their own merit- do not get sustained. As Rebbi Yehuda in the name of Rav said … each and every day an echo {Bas Kol#(4)} cries out of Mount Horeb and says: the whole world is sustained because {in the merit of- or, as the Besht just translated, “through the Channel”} of Chanina#(5) my son, while Chanina my son is satisfied with a Kav of carob from Friday evening to Friday evening”.

So, other than the cute re-interpretation of “B’Shevil,” which is not original of the Besht#(6), what is new here?

Perhaps, the Besht’s contribution is mentioned elsewhere in BPY: “that he {Reb Chanineh} created a channel and path to channel {the divine flow} to the whole world#(7)”. That it is not an automatic function of the Zaddik, but, rather, an opportunity and possibility for the Zaddik to become even more divine. The Zaddik would still need to consciously work on creating the channels, from himself to the people, for the divine flow reaching him#(8).

Or, perhaps, the Besht’s contribution is contained in a version brought in Avoydas Yisroel of the Maggid of Kozhnitz (likutim): “and he {Reb Chanineh} {is} like a path and channel that is not interested in its own benefit, but is satisfied with little”. This would, ultimately, mean that to the extent that we do not intend our own advancement, we actually are a channel to the divine flow#(8).

But how are we to understand this function of the Zaddik? How does it work?

Here is a possible explanation, in the great Beshtian spirit: There is an abundance of prosperity in the real world, that when the balance is right and the channels open, it materializes in our reality as well. As with everything else, according to the Besht, what is true cosmically is also true on a human level, general and individual.

If we were to think of human kind and its hierarchy as one body {which Kabbala already assures us that we are}, the Zaddik would be the head or the heart, a vital organ of life. While the ordinary person would probably be represented by a tiny molecule located in mankind’s leg. For our survival, we require a healthy balance and flow of blood which carry its nutrients. Being far from the life source, we depend not only on our own health and well being, but also on the health of all arteries etc. stretching across great distances. If the channels block up, it would be only a matter of time before that molecule disappears. But how would a tiny insignificant molecule ensure the well-being of the whole body? The good news is that molecules do not have to worry about it, its connection to the heart and mind is being maintained by higher-ups in the body hierarchy, the Zaddik.

It is remarkable, but not surprising, that in first generation Chassidism- there are no Zaddik commercials#(10), as it is literature written by the Zaddik for the Zaddik. Here the Zaddik serves his function of bringing divine abundance down to earth whether the masses are aware of it or not. Nor does the Zaddik require anything in return. The important issue is that the Zaddik knows and understands his own work.



Notes:
#(1) Al Derech “וּמְטַהֵר בַּשְּׁבִיל” Mishneh, Tehares, 5;1 where “shevil” is used to denote a path.
# (2) Beroches 17b,
# (3) Also mentioned in BPY, Vayechi, 160b; in the name of the Magid, Likutim Yekorim, Jerus. Ed., 118;
# (4) See Tosefos, Sanhedrin 11a, D”H Bas Kol
# (5) Ben Dosa, a mid-first century Tanneh. The question is: why would Rav, a late second century Amoyreh, talk about the Bas Kol naming Rav Chanineh as a current event? See, Reb Zudek HaKohen, Pri Zaddik, Chanukkeh 14, who claims that in every generation there is a “Reb Chanineh” {the criteria being, in a true Izbice fashion, one who fully understands that the universe owes him nothing and that all is by the grace of god alone- ‘Chanineh’ also translates as ‘grace’} who has the soul of Moses our Master.
# (6)Brought by Reb Chaim Vilozhiner, Ruach Chaim, 1:3 in the name of the ShaLoH {on my online version: Parshas V’yeyshev, Mikeytz, Vayigash, Torah Ohr, 7- I hope the address works}; Ben Yehoy’yoda, Taanis, 24a in the name of the Rishonim.
# (7) Toldos, ZP, Terumeh 94a; Toldos, Tzav, 85d.
# (8) See also, the Maggid, Likutim Yekorim, Jerusalem 1974, fol. 118 where Reb Chanineh, when stuck in a rain storm, since he is in real pain, cannot continue channeling the flow to the people. Reb Chanineh, therefore, for the people’s sake, prays and the rain ends.
# (9) Brought in its original form in BPY {14a} in the name of the Alshech HaKudesh and {160b} the Yad Yosef {?}: that the reason that the Zaddik is capable of channeling the flow is because “he is satisfied with a Kav of carobs.”
# (10) It is only in the third generation Chassidim and onward, post the Tanyeh’s creation of the perminant “Beinuni,” that “bitul” of the laymen to the Zaddik is required in order for the flow, stemming from the Zaddik’s work, to reach him. {the lack of sources is intentional, probably, out of respect of the good intention that inspired such thought-}. Although, the idea that the “people of form” {Anshei HaChomer} provide money to the Zaddik, while he {belonging to the “people of potential,” the Anshei HaZureh} provides them with wisdom- is mentioned in early Chassidic Litrature, see Toldos, Bereishis, Jerusalem 1973, 31b {sorry, I do not have access to the FP version, at the moment} and Ki Siesoh 3 {making use of our very own Talmudic text “the Torah-Scholars and Zaddikim should not say {i.e. think} that there is no need for the masses, as they are the supporters of torah {study} and many mitzves are done by them {or, through them…}, and surely the masses should not think that there is no need for the torah scholars or to feel greater than them since they {the Scholars} are sustained by them {the masses}; for it is not so, on the contrary, as ChaZaL say “the whole world is sustained through Chanineh my son vechulu”- if so, every one is only a half, and {only} through both together, the material and spiritual, {and this is true} on a general and individual level, one complete man emerges. And then the Evil Inclination becomes the Good Inclination {as they are now united in their cause to supply one another with much needed goods}.”