י"ג חשון – אגרת הקודש פרק כ"ז

The Zohar states: דצדיקא דאתפטר, אשתכח בכלהו עלמין יתיר מבחיוהי—that a tzaddik who has passed away is found in all the worlds even more than during his lifetime. The Alter Rebbe explains that this is not only true in the higher spiritual realms, but also applies in this world of action, the world of היום לעשותם—"today, to do them." Even here, the tzaddik is present in a greater way after his passing.

How is this possible? The answer is that the actions of the tzaddik, his mitzvos and good deeds, continue to grow and expand even after his physical life. The phrase המעשה גדול והולך—the action keeps on growing—means that the impact of what the tzaddik accomplished in his lifetime does not stop; it continues to produce results, and those results themselves give rise to further growth, like גידולי גידולין—offspring of offspring.

This is compared to planting a seed: when you plant a seed, it grows into a plant, which produces more seeds, and those seeds are planted again, producing even more growth. In the same way, the tzaddik's influence in this world continues to multiply. His teachings, his inspiration, and his holiness are not limited to his own actions, but are carried forward by those who follow in his ways, creating a chain reaction of positive influence.

This is the meaning of מן אור זרוע לצדיק בשדה אשר ברכו ה'—from the light that was sown for the tzaddik in the field that G‑d has blessed. The tzaddik's light shines forth, illuminating the world and reaching even the most distant places, as the verse says, המאיר לארץ וחוצות—"which shines to the land and the outside."

Furthermore, we too, all of us here today, are living by his ways. The phrase וגם אנחנו אלה פה היום כולנו חיים בדרכיו, דרך הקדש יקרא לה—"also we, those here today, all live in his ways, which are called the holy way"—means that by following the path of the tzaddik, we are continuing his mission and drawing from his spiritual energy. His presence and influence are alive within us, and through our actions, his light continues to grow in the world.

All of the above describes the tzaddik's influence in spiritual matters, in the service of G‑d—בעבודת ה' במילי דשמיא. But what about worldly matters? Here too, the Zohar states explicitly: דצדיקייא מגינין על עלמא, ובמיתתהון יתיר מבחייהון—the tzaddikim protect the world, and after their passing, they protect it even more than during their lifetime.

The Zohar continues: ואלמלא צלותא דצדיקייא בההוא עלמא, לא אתקיים עלמא רגעא חדא—were it not for the prayers of the tzaddikim in that world, the world would not endure for even a single moment. This means that the tzaddikim continue to intercede and protect the world from above, and their merit and prayers are what sustain the world even after they have left the physical realm.

What does this mean for us personally? The passage concludes: וכל הקרוב קרוב אל משכן ה' בחייו, קודם לברכה—anyone who was close, close to the sanctuary of G‑d during the tzaddik's lifetime, comes first for blessing. In other words, those who were connected to the tzaddik in his lifetime, who drew close to his teachings and his presence, are the first to receive his blessings even after his passing.

This teaches us that the bond with the tzaddik does not end with his physical life. On the contrary, his protection and blessings are even greater now, and those who were close to him continue to benefit from his merit and spiritual influence.