Jewish traditions in Catholicism

[mercytruth]

I have read Rabbi Gedaliah Aharon Kenig’s discourse on the subject of clinging to a true Tzaddik. I am persuaded that the Rabbi has made a very persuasive case (with the help of G-d) for the merits of being attached to a true Tzaddik. One, who among other things, can pray to the one true G-d on behalf of his disciples.

(Yud Ches/18 contains the scripture texts).

Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Micah

 

[mercytruth]

There is something very profound in what Rabbi Kenig writes in Yud/10 and Yud/Alef11.

For myself, he explains true worship. The Rabbi unwittingly explains our worship of the one true God, our Father through our relationship with the Messiah, the true Tzaddik, and with Ruach Ha Kodesh.

G-d’s peace

micah

 

[meltzerboy]

I will concede that ritual purity is describing the purity of the High Priest during Yom Kippur. I was referring to the fact that despite Judaism’s prohibition against intermediaries (it is idolatry, and I think we both know why) Tzaddikim are allowed to intercede.

Daniel was a Tzaddik. Moses was a Tzaddik. Abraham was a Tzaddik. The unknown Teacher of Righteousness was a Tzaddik. The 36 hidden Tzaddikim are holding up the world from destruction.

chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/562222/jewish/Is-it-okay-to-ask-a-deceased-tzaddik-to-pray-on-my-behalf.htm

G-d’s peace

Micah

I am not from a Hasidic Jewish background but rather from a traditional Orthodox Jewish one, even though I have been for most of my life a Reform Jew. Rabbi Moshe Shik explains the intercession involved with a Tzaddik (holy, pious Jewish sage) in the following way, and it is not limited to such a person but applies as well to the Jewish prayer to deceased relatives to intercede on one’s behalf for the purpose of aid and comfort. Since the Tzaddik is exceptionally “close” to G-d through his good deeds and pure thoughts, he can better feel the pain of those who suffer. Thus when one prays to or asks counsel of a Tzaddik, the latter can then pray to G-d not only for your soul but for his own as well, since he feels your pain as if it were his own. This applies even more to the prayer to a deceased Tzaddik or a deceased relative, who can better feel and understand the suffering of the living than the living themselves can.

 

[mercytruth]

I am not from a Hasidic Jewish background but rather from a traditional Orthodox Jewish one, even though I have been for most of my life a Reform Jew. Rabbi Moshe Shik explains the intercession involved with a Tzaddik (holy, pious Jewish sage) in the following way, and it is not limited to such a person but applies as well to the Jewish prayer to deceased relatives to intercede on one’s behalf for the purpose of aid and comfort. Since the Tzaddik is exceptionally “close” to G-d through his good deeds and pure thoughts, he can better feel the pain of those who suffer. Thus when one prays to or asks counsel of a Tzaddik, the latter can then pray to G-d not only for your soul but for his own as well, since he feels your pain as if it were his own. This applies even more to the prayer to a deceased Tzaddik or a deceased relative, who can better feel and understand the suffering of the living than the living themselves can.

Yes, this is a partial explanation of the role of a Tzaddik, as noted elsewhere.

Chassidic Rabbi Kenig elaborates a bit further on the role of Tzaddikkim. More importantly, he states that clinging to a Tzaddik is not strictly an Chassidic concept. Moses and Samuel were Tzaddikkim who prayed to the one true G-d on behalf of the people of Israel.

G-d’s peace

Micah

 

[mercytruth]

I am not from a Hasidic Jewish background but rather from a traditional Orthodox Jewish one, even though I have been for most of my life a Reform Jew. Rabbi Moshe Shik explains the intercession involved with a Tzaddik (holy, pious Jewish sage) in the following way, and it is not limited to such a person but applies as well to the Jewish prayer to deceased relatives to intercede on one’s behalf for the purpose of aid and comfort. Since the Tzaddik is exceptionally “close” to G-d through his good deeds and pure thoughts, he can better feel the pain of those who suffer. Thus when one prays to or asks counsel of a Tzaddik, the latter can then pray to G-d not only for your soul but for his own as well, since he feels your pain as if it were his own. This applies even more to the prayer to a deceased Tzaddik or a deceased relative, who can better feel and understand the suffering of the living than the living themselves can.

The Hassidic concept of clinging to the Tzaddik is remarkable in that it reflects the viewpoint of one of the earliest writings of the church fathers of Christianity. St. Clement of the 1st century writes this:

Chapter 46. Let Us Cleave to the Righteous: Your Strife is Pernicious.
Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow; since it is written, Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall [themselves] be made holy. And again, in another place, [the Scripture] says, With a harmless man you shall prove yourself harmless, and with an elect man you shall be elect, and with a perverse man you shall show yourself perverse. Let us cleave, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not [all] one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Ephesians 4:4-6 Why do we divide and tear in pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that we are members one of another? Romans 12:5 Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, Woe to that man [by whom offenses come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones. Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continues.

newadvent.org/fathers/1010.htm

The unusual part of this citation from Clement is the fact that it is one of the rare occurrences in the writings of the early church fathers where we have no known document that contains this quotation.

G-d’s peace

Micah