Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 133

133 - And the Path of Tzadikim Like the Light of Dawn

“And the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn—going on and growing until midday is firmly established.” (Psalms 85:14)

The sun illuminates equally at dawn and at midday, yet its light initially is limited—not due to the sun’s weakness, but because the earth shields the light from reaching people. Similarly, tzadikim (righteous ones) emit light constantly, but the barrier of this world—the analogous “earth”—prevents many from receiving it.

The Gemara (Eruvin 21a) illustrates this: though the Torah is vast—like three thousand two hundred spans—the “small coin” of worldly existence placed near the eye obscures the vision of the mountain’s grandeur. Even though the mountain is thousands of times larger, the coin blocks sight. So too, when a soul enters this world and remains immersed in its vanities, it fails to perceive the magnificent light of Torah and tzadikim, despite that light being incomparably greater.

Therefore: “And the path of tzadikim is like the light of dawn…” The light is always there—only obstructed by the “earth” of this world. If one withdraws from worldly distractions—“removes the small coin from before the eyes”—and lifts their gaze upward, they merit to perceive that great light. As the Baal Shem Tov lamented: the world is filled with wondrous, awe-inspiring secrets, yet a small hand placed before the eyes prevents one from seeing those great lights.