The Tzaddik Yesod Olam (Foundation of the World) | Parshat Beshalach from the

"And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him"(Exodus 13:19) - The Concept of the Tzaddik

Moshe Rabbeinu knew the secret that without Yosef, without the Tzaddik, there is no Geulah (Redemption). He knew that the main part of the Redemption would be through Yosef. "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him" — Yosef is the foundation! Yosef is specifically called Yosef HaTzaddik!

When Moshe went up to take the People of Israel out of Egypt, he took Yosef's bones. Moshe knew there is no Geulah without Yosef! Even though he is now the Tzaddik of the generation, even though Moshe knew he would soon bring down the Torah, he knew he must connect himself to the previous Tzaddik! Even though Moshe Rabbeinu was the Tzaddik of the generation, was Holy of Holies, went to bring down Torah from Heaven, and performed the Ten Plagues, he knew that without Yosef, redemption would be impossible. He knew that all the miracles that would occur would be through the merit of Yosef's bones! Moshe could not split the sea without Yosef! Even the greatest Tzaddik like Moshe Rabbeinu must connect to the Tzaddik who preceded him. "The Point of the Tzaddik":

A person thinks he doesn't need the Tzaddik, for why does he need the Tzaddik? There is tahini, there are eggplants—what need is there for the Tzaddik! There are beets, there are potatoes, blessed is Hashem, until one hundred and twenty years, until the Resurrection of the Dead! A person doesn't know that everything he has is in the merit of the Tzaddik; it is all the Tzaddik influencing [the flow of bounty]! He thinks it comes by itself! He doesn't know there is a Tzaddik who influences, that the Tzaddik is alive and enduring, praying for us, present with us. He doesn't know there is a Tzaddik who prays and influences everything here in the world, and if the Tzaddik were not in the world, there would be nothing here! There wouldn't even be grass to eat!

And only Moshe knew this secret!

"And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him." At the hour when Israel wanted to take the spoils [of Egypt], Moshe went to search for the Tzaddik! For the bones of Yosef. He knew that all wealth comes in the merit of Yosef. He took Yosef's bones to draw down kindness to the world; he knew that Yosef specifically draws down satiety in the world; he is the one who sustains during the years of famine.

"To Believe in the Tzaddik"

If a person believes in the Tzaddik, he can merit all the wealth in the world, because all salvations, all abundance, and everything we eat and drink comes to the world only in the merit of the Tzaddikim.

"From the edge of the earth we have heard songs, glory to the Righteous One [Tzaddik]" (Isaiah 24:16). What is the meaning of this verse? What is the meaning of these words? What does it mean, "From the edge of the earth we have heard songs, glory to the Tzaddik"? The Zohar says in Parshat Vayeilech (284b): The whole earth sings and chants to the Tzaddik! The earth sings quite literally! From all ends of the earth, song bursts forth! The whole earth sings to the Tzaddik, praising the Tzaddik: "Songs we have heard, glory to the Tzaddik." The whole earth chants to the Tzaddik who upholds all the worlds. The whole earth sings to that Tzaddik who is on the level of Moshe.

"To Follow the Tzaddik"

At the hour when the People of Israel entered the Land, they heard song from all ends of the earth. From every corner, every edge, every mound, every stone, they heard singing. From the mountains and the hills, from everywhere they heard song. The whole earth chants and sings, and everyone chants "Glory to the Tzaddik," the "Praise of Moshe." Everyone chants to the Tzaddik called Moshe! Everyone chants to the Tzaddikim who are the aspect of Moshe, whom no thought or idea can grasp, whom all worlds await their revelation. Everyone chants the "Praise of Moshe"—everything is in the merit of Moshe! Everything is in the merit of the Tzaddik! Everything is in the merit of the Tzaddik! The whole earth sings and chants to the Tzaddik quite literally.

The first thing a Jew needs to know is upon what the world stands and in whose merit the world is nourished. The world stands upon "The Tzaddik is the foundation of the world" (Proverbs 10:25). One must search for who these Tzaddikim are who truly sustain the world! One must go through the whole world to search for who is the Tzaddik in whose merit the world is truly nourished. This is the first thing one needs to learn; this is the foundation for fulfilling the entire Torah. For people are accustomed to saying, "After all, there are many Tzaddikim, surely they are all Tzaddikim!" But there are Tzaddikim who are the "unique ones of the generations." There are Tzaddikim who influence the water, the Manna, the Clouds of Glory, they are the ones who protect the People of Israel from all evil. They are the ones protecting us! And no one else! And this is the first foundation, which is the foundation of all foundations: that a person should not be arrogant thinking he does everything, but rather know that there are Tzaddikim who are specifically the ones! They are the ones acting!

Upon them the world exists, and in their merit the world is nourished, and this is the foundation and fulfillment of the entire Torah.