#### *Yesod (2) - Tsaddik* *Translation based on Markel and Markel* (1) Now, throughout the Torah this quality is called **The Righteous One-_Tzaddik_-_צדיק_**_._ Moreover, because it is called the Foundation-_Yesod_-_יסוד_ and carries all entities that are below it, it is called, (*Proverbs 10:25*) *the righteous one is the foundation of the world*. The reason it is called Righteous-_Tzaddik_-_צדיק_ is because it influences all goodness and blessings into Adona”y-_אדנ"י_, as it states, _Psalms 37:21_ “the righteous one is generous and gives.” (2) I must now awaken you to a great and glorious matter. Know that there are three names, _Tzaddik_, _Tzedek_ and *Tzedakah*. *El Chai* is called *Tzaddik* and *Adonay* is called *Tzedek*. When the Righteous One-_Tzaddik-צדיק_ influences His blessing into Righteousness-_Tzedek-צדק_, that influence and emanation is called Charity-_Tzedakah-צדקה_ and these three names become unified as one. The Righteous One-_Tzaddik-צדיק_ gives, Righteousness-_Tzedek-צדק_ receives and Charity-_Tzedakah-צדקה_ is the matter of the gift, adhesion, and connection. Accordingly, the verse states, _Proverbs 10:7_ “The memory of the Righteous-_Tzaddik-צדיק_ is for blessing.” (3) It now is appropriate to enlighten you to a very great principle. Know that when the Righteous One-_Tzaddik-צדיק_ influences His blessing and goodness upon Righteousness-_Tzedek-צדק_, the Righteousness-_Tzedek_ is then called the Land of Life-_Eretz HaChayim-ארץ החיים_, which then provides goodness to all creatures. However, if the conduits of the Righteous One are stopped up, goodness does not come to the quality of Righteousness-_Tzedek-צדק_ and it then becomes filled with those cisterns that are called death. It then causes death and brings about all sorts of plagues and destruction in the world. However, when the Righteous One-_Tzaddik-צדיק_ unites with the Righteousness-_Tzedek-צדק_ and gives it of His blessings, then through that unification, which is called Charity-_Tzedakah-צדקה_, He brings life instead of death to the quality of Righteousness-_Tzedek-צדק._ This is the matter of the verse, _*Proverbs 10:2_ “Charity-_Tzedakah-צדקה_ rescues from death.” (4) Come and see the great effect of Charity-_Tzedakah-צדקה._ For when a person does an act of Charity-_Tzedakah-צדקה_, he draws the quality of the *Tzaddik* into *Tsedek*, bringing life to the world and rescuing them from death. Now, if he rescues the world from death, certainly this also applies to himself too. Moreover, do not think that this only applies to strange forms of death. It rather applies to death itself. On the other hand, when the Righteous One-_Tzaddik_-_צדיק_ departs from Righteousness-_Tzedek-צדק_ and the quality of Righteousness-_Tzedek-צדק_ remains empty, it then rises to kill and destroy, to rip out and uproot, bringing many kinds of death upon the creatures. Of these are natural death, death by plague, strange forms of death and every other kind of death. To end on a positive note from above: *Know that when the Righteous One-Tzaddik-צדיק influences His blessing and goodness upon Righteousness-Tzedek-צדק, the Righteousness-Tzedek is then called the Land of Life...*