Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 123

123 – To Bind Oneself to the Tzadik of the Generation

The foundation upon which everything depends is to bind oneself to the tzadik of the generation and accept his words in all matters—small and great—without deviation, neither to the right nor the left. As our rabbis taught (Sifri, Parashah Shoftim): even if he tells you “to the right” or “to the left,” you are to reject all other wisdom and abandon your own reasoning, relying solely on what you receive from the generation’s tzadik and rav.

While there remains any independent intellect within a person, true perfection is not attained, nor is one truly bound to the tzadik.

When Israel stood at Sinai, they possessed great wisdom—for they had been idolaters whose errors stemmed from profound inquiry—but they cast aside their wisdom in order to receive the Torah. Without relinquishing that wisdom, they could have denied even the greatest revelations and miracles Moses wrought before them. Even today, heretics deny through folly and false wisdom. Yet the holy Children of Israel saw the truth, abandoned wisdom, believed in God and in Moses His servant—and through this they received the Torah: “A foolish people and not wise” (Deuteronomy 32:6)—a people who received the Torah precisely by being “not wise,” by surrendering all wisdom.

This concept—the “foolish-hearted paths”—is the generality of Torah and the ultimate wisdom. The Talmud (Bereishit Rabbah 17) calls it “the withering of the upper wisdom.” [And now the profound translation of “foolish” in this context is clear—and wondrous is this humble idiom: to translate “foolish” in the reception of Torah. Now how sweet these words of the Targum taste.] See Shir HaShirim Rabbati and Psalms 119 on “In innocence Israel received the Torah.”]

The essence of the service is to be complete, upright, God‑fearing, turning from evil—without any wisdom. King Solomon, though described as wiser than all men (Kings I 5:11), said: “For I am more brutish than any man, and have not understanding of a man” (Proverbs 30:2). Asaph said: “And I was brutish, and did not know; I was as a beast before You” (Psalms 73:22). As it is written: “There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).

Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 123 - The main thing is to connect to the tzadik of the generation - Rabbi Nachman

Torah 123: To Bind Oneself to the Tzadik of the Generation

The primary and foundational principle, upon which everything depends, is to bind oneself to the tzadik of the generation and to accept his words in all that he says, whether it is a small matter or a great matter, and not to deviate, Heaven forbid, from his words to the right or to the left, as our Sages, of blessed memory, said (Sifri, Parashat Shoftim): Even if he tells you that right is left, and so forth. And to cast aside all wisdom and to remove one’s own intellect as if he has no understanding at all except for what he receives from the tzadik and the teacher of the generation. And as long as any trace of his own intellect remains, he is not in perfection and is not fully bound to the tzadik.

And Israel, at the time of receiving the Torah, had great wisdom, for then they were idol-worshippers in their days, whose error was based on great wisdom and deep inquiries, as is known. And had Israel not cast aside their wisdom, they would not have received the Torah, for they could have denied everything, Heaven forbid. And all that Moshe Rabbeinu did with them, and even all the awesome signs and wonders that he performed before their eyes, would not have availed them, for even now there are heretics who deny through the foolishness and error of their wisdom. But Israel, the holy nation, saw the truth, and they cast aside their wisdom and believed in Hashem and in Moshe, His servant. And through this, they received the Torah.

(Deuteronomy 32): A foolish nation and not wise – a nation that received the Torah and did not become wise, for the essence of receiving the Torah was through “and not wise,” namely, through their casting aside all wisdom, as mentioned above. And this is foolish [naval], the acronym of heart of pathways [lev netivot], which is the generality of the Torah, and it is the true wisdom, before which all other wisdoms are nullified. And this is foolish, which is the aspect of the Torah, called the wilted leaves of the supernal wisdom (Bereishit Rabbah, Parashah 17) [And come and see that now this translation is explained and settled, which is a great wonder, and the whole world is amazed at it, what is the connection of the word “foolish” to the translation regarding the receiving of the Torah? But now, how sweet to the palate are these words of the translation!] (And see Shulchan HaTahor, Psalms 119: ‘In simplicity, Israel received the Torah,’ etc., see there).

And this is the primary service: to be whole and upright, fearing G-d and turning from evil, without any wisdom. And King Solomon, peace be upon him, after it is written about him (I Kings 5): And he was wiser than any man, said (Proverbs 30): For I am more brutish than any man, and I have not the understanding of a man. And similarly, Asaph said (Psalms 73): And I am brutish and know not; I was as a beast before You. (Proverbs 21): There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Hashem.