Why we need tsaddikim.

Comments

[josh waxman]

At the same time, this seems to indicate why tzaddikim are theologically dangerous. Yes, in the video, the fellow was reminded by the presence of the saintly individual what he should be doing.

But at the same time, that picture of a basar vadam was hanging in his room, and he felt like the tzaddik was actually there, in some sense, able to see him and judge him. But in Tehillim, we read: פֶּה-לָהֶם, וְלֹא יְדַבֵּרוּ; עֵינַיִם לָהֶם, וְלֹא יִרְאוּ.

They have eyes, but they do not see. Yet this video is called "Ayin Roeh." Yes, there is a concept of ayin roeh in Judaism, but it is specifically that Hashem is watching. Thus, we have in Pirkei Avos:

הסתכל בשלושה דברים ואין אתה בא לידי עבירה דע מה למעלה ממך עין רואה ואוזן שומעת וכל מעשיך בספר נכתבין.

This refers to the watchful eye of God, not the watchful eye of Baba Sali.

Kol Tuv,
Josh

[avakesh]

You are right from a particular perspective. A philosopher sees the world as being run by fairly distand Supreme Being through the mediation of natural law. But this is not how mystics see it. To a Kabbalist, one is surrounded and imbedded outside and within by myriads of spiritual levels and beings, including, yes, tsaddikim. I speak of it in this older post:
http://www.avakesh.com/2007/10/in-praise-of-su.html

[Shmuel]

Josh, let me remind you of the Gemara in Sotah 35b, where Yosef Hatzadik was on the verge of sinning with Potifar's wife but restrained himself because his father's image appeared to him in the window etc.

[josh waxman]

not that I am conceding ground on this point, but even according to you, I would guess that you would not say that the spiritual being, the tzaddik, somehow manifests in his *picture,* such that it is a form of pesel, and that the eyes of the picture are actually looking at the person. Am I correct in this?

Kol Tuv,
Josh

[josh waxman]

Shmuel:
yes, I was thinking of that gemara even as I posted. I think this is distinct from this, but perhaps I will elaborate later...

Kol Tuv,
Josh

[josh waxman]

My explanation of why I would distinguish between the two, here.

http://parsha.blogspot.com/2008/08/is-believing-dead-tzaddik-is-watching.html

Kol Tuv,
Josh

[avakesh]

My comments on Josh's suggestion are at the same url.