The Rope of the Tzaddik

A parable: a king’s son was lost and strayed from his father. He could not be brought back until one of the ministers took off his royal clothing and put on a peasant’s simple clothes. Then he could befriend the king’s wayward son, who had also become a lowlife. So too, a person has ups and downs in life. Before he falls, he must attach himself to Hashem with rapture and dveikus, so that if he falls he can lift himself again, and at the same time lift the sparks of others who have fallen. Every generation has its leader, who puts on the lowly clothing of his generation and attaches himself to them. This takes place through sin, by which he gains some connection with them, and when he repents he can bring them all back with him to his earlier level. Just as one who descends into a pit first ties himself to a rope, the tzaddik first attaches himself to the Creator before descending to the level of his generation. This is why we say, “Yaakov chevel nachalaso,” Yaakov’s inheritance is a rope, from Devarim 32:9. Hold on to this rope, which is tied to the Holy One Himself. The Zohar (I:83a, 140b) gives a similar parable of a man who wished to descend into a deep pit but feared he could not climb out. He tied a knot in a rope outside the pit and said, “Now that I tied this knot, I can climb out.” In the same way, before Avrohom went down into Egypt, he first bound himself to his faith, so that he could come out again.