Tzadik

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who is considered righteous, virtuous, and exemplary in Jewish tradition
2. An individual recognized for their moral integrity and adherence to Jewish law, often serving as a spiritual leader
3. Someone acknowledged for their piety and ethical conduct, playing a significant role in community and faith practices

Etymology: Hebrew "tzaddik" (צַדִּיק) means "righteous one," from the root ts-d-q, meaning "to be just" or "to be right." In Jewish tradition the term has come to describe a person of exceptional piety whose moral life is held up as a model for the community. The idea runs deep in rabbinic thought. Talmudic and later sources developed the notion of the "thirty-six hidden tzaddikim," a legend that the world is sustained by a small number of unknown righteous people, and Hasidic Judaism in eastern Europe made the tzaddik a central religious leader, a spiritual guide whose prayers and counsel were sought by followers. In English, the spelling "tzadik" is a transliteration of the Hebrew, and the word is used in the Hebrew sense rather than as a general term for any good person. Its meaning in English stays tied to its religious setting.