Four Names, Four Tzaddikim

The Noam Elimelech teaches that the Imahos knew twelve tribes would come from them, and that through the names of her first four sons Leah hinted at four levels of tzaddikim in Israel. Reuven, see, a son: the tzaddik who serves Hashem with love and gladdens Him, and is called His son. Shimon, Hashem has heard that I am hated: a tzaddik who rebukes people for the sake of Heaven will be envied and hated, and Hashem hears all his tefillos. Levi, joined: he reaches deveikus, cleaving to Hashem. Yehudah, thanks: he praises Hashem with songs and praises, and through this, Rebbe Elimelech says, Hashem's Name is made whole and the Shechinah is raised. Whoever has not yet learned to bow in thanks at Modim, he adds, is not yet fully repaired, even after passing through all seven well-known levels.