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May 22, 2013

John Thorne: They launched the 'Arab Spring' but now yearn for the good old days of a strongman

John Rosemond: 'Disciplinary math' adds up to parental successl

Warren Richey: Are prayers before public meetings OK? Supreme Court to decide
Rick Montgomery: Use of ADHD drugs as study aid raises concern on campuses

Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.: 6 convincing reasons you should keep carbs in your diet

Eoin O'Carroll: Scientists examine nothing, find something

The Kosher Gourmet by Carole Kotkin: This soup is made from one of the great pleasures of spring: A wonderful pairing of rosy color and earthy tang

May 20, 2013

Richard A. Serrano: Is Meir Kahane's assassin now a changed man?

Hannan Adely: Town raises Palestinian flag at City Hall

Melissa Healy: Genetic copies of living people from embryos no longer science fiction
Morgan Housel: When smart investors do stupid things

Sharon Saloman, M.S., R.D.: Hunger games: Eat more, weigh less, without starving

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Jews Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame; Anton Yelchin co-stars in New "Trek" film; Kutcher (but not Kunis) visits Israel; Jewish TV Star Praises Jewish Rap Star

The Kosher Gourmet by Cathy Pollak: WARNING: This WALNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE FROSTING, perfect for afternoon coffee, is addicting

May 13, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Why the giving of the document that would permanently change the world could only be done in desolation

David G. Savage: Church-state, literally? Supreme Court weighing public school graduation in a church

Emily Alpert: Recession dragged down birth rates for less-educated women
Morgan Housel: The deep downside of home ownership

Peter Teffer: Will Dutch police soon be stalking cybercriminals on your computer?

Heidi McIndoo, M.S., R.D.: Meatless 'meat' can have its own set of problems

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate! This must-try appetizer is delicate yet has depth of flavor: Corn-Leek Cakes with Caviar, Smoked Salmon and Creme Fraiche

May 10, 2013

Rabbi Berel Wein: Be all that you should be

Caroline B. Glick: The dirty little secret about Israel's Arabs

Mona Charen: Hawking's Moral Calculus: The man and the movement he embraces
Morgan Housel: The biggest retirement myth ever told

Sandi Doughton: Eyes may provide new insight into brain problems

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : The Great Gatsby's Jewish Ties; Jews in the "Time 100 list" List; People's Most Beautiful Women

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: A sweet-hot meal: Pear salsa spices up salmon

May 8, 2013

Peter Ford: Why China is welcoming both Israel's Netanyahu and Palestinians' Abbas

Warren Richey: Obama administration quietly backs out of appeal over new contraceptive mandate

Fred Weir: At Kerry-Putin meeting, US-Russia relations thaw --- a tad
Amanda Paulson: Study reveals sad truths about community colleges

Harvard Health Letters: Evidence weak that zinc, echinacea are beneficial

The Kosher Gourmet by Leela Cyd Ross : Almost too pretty to eat, this colorful salad with Sicilian inspiration will tickle the taste buds and delight your visual sensibility

May 6, 2013

Edmund Sanders and Patrick J. McDonnell: Think Israel's objective in Syria is to weaken Assad or embolden the rebels? Think again

Brian Bennett: Israeli airstrikes may show weakness in Syrian defense

Michael Ollove: Millions of ex-felons, parolees and those on probation are about to be entitled to tax-payer paid health coverage
Karen Kaplan: Most men can skip PSA test for prostate cancer, urologists say

Kimberly Lankford: How to track down a lost life insurance policy

Dream of Mars exploration achievable, experts say

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan M. Selasky: EGGPLANT WRAPS are an easy, sumptuous and scrumptious meal

May 3, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Human Courage and the Unavoidable, Disturbing Text

Steven Emerson: Attorney General Fights CAIR in Court, Lauds it in Public

Mediterranean diet helps beat dementia: study
Harvard Health Letters: When to be screened for a hearing problem

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Iron Man's Jewish Connections; Marc Maron's New TV Show; Martin Landau Grows Up with Israel; Shalom, Allan Arbus

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: A sweet surprise for Mother's Day dessert

May 1, 2013

Jonathan Rosenblum: An Improbable Journey to Orthodoxy

Jonathan Tobin: Blame Obama, Not Israel for Syria Push

Kids, kittens the Same? With employee perks at struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo! it's hard to tell
Halena M. Gazelka, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: What you need to know about implanted pain relief devices

Sandy Kleffman: Artificial kidney offers hope to patients tethered to a dialysis machine

Jessica Shugart: When it comes to math, MRIs may be better than IQs

The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: The celebrated chef on how high-maintenance ASPARAGUS RISOTTO need not be

April 29, 2013

Roy Gutman: Poland's new Jewish museum celebrates life, doesn't revisit Holocaust

Mark Clayton: Terrorism in America: Is US missing a chance to learn from failed plots?

Kim Murphy: Boston Bomber's 'Svengali' Revealed
Morgan Housel: He's rich, smart and old: Listen to him

Thomas Salinas, D.D.S.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: The safety of amalgam fillings

Harvard Health Letters: Tomatoes and stroke protection

Pete Spotts: Tiny satellites + cellphones = cheaper 'eyes in the sky' for NASA

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Swing into spring with lemon cream pie

April 26, 2013

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The world is a mirror

Caroline B. Glick: Time to confront Obama

Clifford D. May: Defense in the Age of Jihadist Terrorism
Kimberly Lankford: New strategies ease pain of paying for long-term care insurance

Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Too much ibuprofen?

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: How to feel your best -- with plenty of energy, a healthy weight and optimal mental and physical function -- without driving yourself batty

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jewish Major Leaguers, 2013; New Movies and Comedy Show; Shalom, 'Lumpy' (Leave it to Beaver)

The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : A bright and cheerful salad to herald the warmer months ahead

April 24, 2013

Steven Emerson: Boston Bomber Exposes Islamist Secret

Morgan Housel Admit it: No one has any idea what's going on
Harvard Health Letters: Can you get headaches from headache medication?

Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D.: How to easily get more Omega-3s in your diet

Melissa Healy: Pot in a pill: All the pain relief without the smoke

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan Russo: Chipotle Chili Butternut Squash Soup is bold, zesty, hot

April 22, 2013

Ken Dilanian: Counterterrorism's future is unclear

US man departing country arrested on terror charges
Barbara Williams: An unorthodox but growing treatment in a 9-year-old's battle against cancer

P.J. Skerrett, M.D.: How to recognize a good whole grain product

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Teen actor Jonah Bobo in New Flick: Hunky James Wolk on Mad Men; Erich Segal's Daughter Writes Prize-Winning Jewish Novel


Jewish World Review June 19, 2008 / 16 Sivan 5768

The saints who don't come marchin' in

By Rabbi Elazar Meisels


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The role of the "hidden righteous"


http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Dear Rabbi,

I've heard that there is a Jewish tradition that there are no less than 36 righteous people upon whose merit the entire world exists. Is this really so, and is there some special significance to this?

— Jed T .

Thank you for your question. This tradition is actually found in the Talmud [Tractate Sukkah 45b], which writes, "Abaye said: The world must contain not less than thirty-six righteous men in each generation who merit [the sight of] the Shechinah's countenance, for it is written, 'Praised are those who yearn lo [for him]' the numerical value of 'lo' (lamed-vav in Hebrew) is thirty-six." The Talmud goes on to explain that these thirty-six individuals merit to perceive the Divine Presence with exquisite clarity, which is known in Hebrew as "Aspaklaria Meirah," a lofty level of Divine perception accessible to only the most spiritual and righteous of men.


The commentary Etz Yosef [Sanhedrin 93b] understands this idea to be referring to heavenly advocates. He explains that every single day the world is judged on its merits by the Heavenly Sanhedrin [High Court], which is comprised of 71 presiding judges. Thirty-five of the judges examine our collective sin and decide against our existence. The remaining thirty-six argue in our favor and since they are the majority, Hashem accepts their opinion and the world is spared Divine wrath.


Most commentators however, understand this to be referring to tzaddikim [the truly righteous] who reside on this earth, and in whose personal merit the world continues to endure. Essentially, what this means is that there exists in this world an overpowering force of negativity generated by man's sins that seeks to deny the Divine's existence in both word and deed. Barring the positive forces generated by the exceptional righteousness of these thirty-six individuals, the world would be overwhelmed by the negativity and lose its right to exist.


Practically speaking, I am not aware of any significant ramifications that this tradition has on our daily life other than to spur us to attain this lofty level whose sum is greater than its parts. To the best of my knowledge, these individuals do not advertise their status, nor is it relevant to us who they are. I would assume that someone who claimed to be a member of this exclusive club, would actually be providing proof positive that he is clearly not, as humility is a defining characteristic of tzaddikim. It is because of the ambiguity surrounding their identity that they are often referred to as, "Thirty-six hidden tzaddikim."


It is interesting to observe that the number thirty-six finds expression in other areas as well.


For example, in the Torah's account of the first of the six days of creation, it writes of how the Divine curtailed the intense light that He created on the first day of Creation with the words, "Let there be light." However, tradition teaches us that He did not immediately reduce the illumination. Rather, He allowed it to shine for thirty-six hours and only then diminished it's luminescence. The well-known commentator Rashi notes that the Divine did not remove it permanently. Instead, He placed it in safekeeping for only the truly righteous to access. This should not be mistakenly understood to mean that the Divine underwent a change of heart, G-d forbid.


Rather, the world needed this illumination. However, this level of illumination was so powerful that it could not be left for just anyone to access. Instead, the expectation was that through their single-minded devotion to Hashem, each of the thirty-six tzaddikim would access one unit of the thirty-six levels and reflect that to the world at large.


There was a time in our history when even common Jews demonstrated such a high level of devotion to the Divine that they merited a glimpse of this Divine light. That was during the story of Chanukah and for that reason the total number of Chanukah candles that are kindled through the eight days of Chanukah is thirty-six.


Additionally it is interesting to note that the Mishnah in Tractate Krissus enumerates all the sins for which one is visited with the most severe of all divine consequences: Karess, which means, "spiritual excision." Although difficult to describe, the result of this is that the offenders' soul is severed from the Jewish people. In total, there are thirty-six sins for which this consequence is prescribed. The commentaries point out that correspondingly, there are thirty-six tzaddikim whose righteousness offsets the disastrous effects of these sins and without which we would be totally severed from our Source.

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Rabbi Elazar Meisels is founder of the Lidrosh Institute for Jewish Education. He serves as the Rabbi of The Michigan State University Hillel and Educational Director of The Partners In Torah Telepartners Division.


© 2008, Partners in Torah