Hora’ah – הוראה – Teaching
Not everyone will see the tzaddik as such. In fact, there will be objections to the tzaddik among those in his generation:
“… the people stand as a constant challenge and threat to the zaddik.”
“The Zaddik,” Samuel Dresner, p.137
“As it is written in the Tikkunim, in every generation the incarnation of Mashiach ben Yosef arrives. If there are righteous men in that generation who protect him, he does not die. If no one is found to protect him, he himself must die.”
Rabbi Chaim Vital, “Sefer Hachizionot 246
The zaddik understand the words of Amos which he spoke when he tried to explain to others why he became a prophet. “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord.”(Amos 7:14-16) The zaddik knows that, “it is not easy to bestow the outpouring of heaven on another.”
“The Zaddik,” Samuel Dresner, p.143
“They believed in G-d and Moses (Exodus 14:31). If they believed Moses, surely they must have believed in G-d? But this teaches you that whoever believes in the shepherd of Israel is the same as having faith in Him who spoke and the world came into being … In like manner … speaking against the shepherd of Israel is like speaking against Him who spoke and the world came into being.”
Chassidic Dimensions Volume 3, Jacob Immanuel Schochet, p.113
When considering this significance and centrality of the tzaddik, however, there appears to be a problem. From the days of the very first leader and shepherd of Israel, Moses, there has generally always been some opposition to the tzaddik – leader. He was not always properly recognized by all in his generation. Oftentimes he arouses enmity, jealously and opposition. This happens not in terms of plain people, who may not understand and realize what he signifies. Quite frequently the opposition comes also, and especially so, from scholars and leaders (Num.16:1-2 and Tanchuma) who, we assume, should know better. This raises an obvious question: if the tzaddik is so central, the channel between Heaven and earth through which flow all emanations affecting everyone, why should there be such opposition to him? The Chassidic masters explain that this is part of the Providential design and plan. Thus teaches the Baal Shem Tov:
“Sometimes we see that the tzaddik is reviled, in a quite contemptuous way. This, however, may be a token of kindness from G-d. For the ‘samach-mem’ sees how people do so, his jealously is deflected. Thus it is said, ‘[..those who speak maliciously against the tzaddik, with arrogance and contempt.] How abundant is Your goodness which You have hidden away for those that refer You -‘ (Ps.31:19-20); that is, ‘You have hidden and concealed’ Your tzaddikim so that the world at large does not recognize that they are great tzaddikim, and therefore malign them. This is the ‘abundance of Your goodness,’ because it deflects the jealously of the ‘samach-mem.'” – (R. Reuven Halevi Horowitz, Noach (cited in Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Korach, note 4; The conventional translation of our proof text “How abundant is Your goodness, which You have hidden away for those that revere You…in the sight of men” is thus changed to read: “How abundant is Your goodness, that You have hidden away with those that revere You.. in the sight of men.”)
(Note on the “samach-mem”: it is an abbreviation for the guardian-angel of Esau and Edom [Zohar 1:170a; ibid, III:246b; and Zohar chadash, Noach, 23b; Rashi on Sukah 29a] identified with the ‘Yetzer hara’ [Zohar II:42a] and haSatan, the chief-denouncer and indictor of Israel [Shemot Rabba 18:5; Devarim Rabba II:9])
Chassidic Dimensions Volune 3, Jacob Immanuel Schochet, pp. 116,117
In the spirit of Isaiah 53:7, he is, “Reviled, but does not revile back.” The tzaddik’s humility is reflected in his response:
“The true tzaddik however, will not respond to his opponents. His consciousness is of his cosmic mission and purpose and not of personal considerations or petty arguments. He is of those who are insulted but do not insult, hear themselves reviled but do not answer, act through love and rejoice in suffering.”
Chassidic Dimensions Volune 3, Jacob Immanuel Schochet, p.118
What applies to the tzaddik does even more so, to the Messiah:
“However, you’re mistaken if you think it is easy to find the truth. Rob Noson said of Mashiach, in whose time the Ultimate Truth will be revealed: Mashiach will have more difficulty convincing the chassidim of his identity, than the atheists … we all have so much ‘truth’ and ‘faith’ in our own way of life, that we might never accept the Mashiach if he were to tell us that the truth lay elsewhere.”
“Crossing the Narrow Bridge,” Chaim Kramer, p. 61
“Yosef recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him — This is one of the traits of Yosef not only in his own generation, but in every generation, i.e., that Mashiach ben Yosef recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. This is the work of Satan, who hides the characteristics of Mashiach ben Yosef so that the footsteps of the Mashiach are not recognized and are even belittled because of our many sins. Otherwise, our troubles would already have ended. Were Israel to recognize Yosef, that is, the footsteps of ben Yosef the Mashiach which is the ingathering of the exiles etc., then we would already have been redeemed with a complete redemption.”
Kol Hator, Chapter 2, Aspect #39
“As it is written in the Tikkunim, in every generation the incarnation of Mashiach ben Yosef arrives. If there are righteous men in that generation who protect him, he does not die. If no one is found to protect him, he himself must die.”
Rabbi Chaim Vital, “Sefer Hachizionot 246
NEW TESTAMENT
“And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Yeshua: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their region.”
Matthew 8:34
“And when the Pharisees saw, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Matthew 9:11
“Now when the Pharisees heard, they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
Matthew 12:24
“Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.”
Matthew 27:13,14
“Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
Luke 7:39
“But when they saw, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
Luke 19:7
“Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
John 8:48
“Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”
John 10:19,20
“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Yeshua answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself G-d.”
John 10:31-33