Reb Tzadok HaKohein of Lublin zy”a

Yahrtzeit this Shabbos, Aug 22

LIVED 
1823–1900

126th yahrtzeit 
9 Elul
BURIED 
Lublin, Poland

Reb Tzadok was one of the most legendary Chassidic leaders of the last generations. He left behind dozens of amazing seforim that have transformed many people’s lives, bringing them the light of pnimiyus in a very engaging way while weaving together Nigleh and Chassidus. Some of the more famous ones include Tzidkas HaTzadik, Pri Tzadik, and Resisei Laylah. Although he did not leave behind any biological children, he has, until this day, thousands of spiritual descendants!

Reb Tzadok’s wife passed away when he was already a Rebbe, and he later remarried. Before the chuppah, he turned to his father-in-law and said, “The Kotzker Rebbe once told the Chiddushei HaRim that Chazal say if a man marries a woman thinking that he is a tzadik, the marriage is valid even if he is not, because perhaps he had a thought of teshuvah at that moment. But if a woman marries a man thinking that he is a Rebbe, and he really is not, then perhaps they are not considered married! My soon to be wife thinks I’m a Rebbe. So what should I do?”

The Chiddushei HaRim answered that the kallah only thought he was a Rebbe because that was what the world believed, and people would continue to think so anyway, so there was no problem.

Reb Tzadok replied, “That answer is fine for the great Kotzker, who truly was a Rebbe and was recognized as one. But what about me? I am really not a Rebbe, and no one considers me a Rebbe either! So please tell the kallah that I am not a Rebbe!”

So great was Reb Tzadok’s humility! 

Reb Tzadok would only eat meals if they were part of a seudas mitzvah. To make this possible, he would complete a siyum every day so that he would always have a seudas mitzvah. When his Rebbe, the Izhbitzer, heard about this, he told him that he must eat supper every day, even if he did not have a siyum. From then on, Reb Tzadok always ate supper, saying that it was a seudas mitzvah, since it is a mitzvah to listen to tzadikim.

I WANNA BE LIKE …

Reb Tzadok

Let’s all try to emulate some of Reb Tzadok’s great qualities by toiling in Torah with a deep sense of anivus and shiflus. Let’s also try to learn from Reb Tzadok’s amazing teachings about how every Yid is truly great, even if we do not always see it on the surface.