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The Mitzvah of Cleaving to Tzaddikim

Regarding the mitzvah of “Ledavkah Bo” (to cleave to the Shechinah—Divine Presence), Chazal tell us that if a person is in close contact with a talmid chacham (a Torah scholar), “K’ilu nidbak b’Shechinah” (it is as if they are cleaving to the Shechinah). In Chassidishe sefarim it says that Hashem is compared to the father, Klal Yisrael (the Jewish nation) to the body of the child, and the tzaddik hador (the most righteous person of the generation) is likened to the head/brain. Just as the organs of the body receive their life-force from the brain, similarly Klal Yisroel is connected to Hashem through the tzaddik hador; the tzaddik hador (the brain) in turn gets his “nourishment” from Hashem (the father).

The mitzvah of connecting to a talmid chacham (a Torah scholar) includes supporting him financially, helping him with his business ventures, marrying one’s daughter to a talmid chacham, and, “Hevei misaveik be’afar ragleihem,” (sit in the dust of their feet, i.e. spend time in their presence). In accordance with the passuk (verse) of “Vehayu einechah ro’os es morechah” (your eyes shall behold your teacher), sefarim extol the spiritual power of looking at the picture or visualizing the image of a talmid chacham, especially a tzaddik, such as one’s Rebbe. Visualizing the image of a talmid chacham can enhance one’s sechel (intellectual abilities), inspire their Torah learning, help them resist their yetzer harah (evil inclination) and weaken it, and enhance their avodas Hashem (service of Hashem). #333