Hidden Goodness

There is a legend about thirty-six righteous individuals who are so extraordinarily good and noble that the world is sustained by their deeds and by their deeds alone. They are called the Lamed Vavniks (the Hebrew letters lamed and vav add up to thirty-six). Crucial to this legend is the fact that their identities must always remain obscured. If but one of their names is revealed, another must take his (or her) place. Otherwise, the world might teeter and even collapse.

It is fascinating to contemplate that our well-being is placed in the hands of a few righteous individuals. Even more significant is the fact that their identities must remain concealed. Why is it so important that the Lamed Vavniks’ names remain hidden? Why is it so crucial that no one can know who they are?

It is because the world requires hidden sparks of goodness.

Doing good should not be predicated on recognition or reward but instead on the needs of others, on the requirements of the world at large. That is the message of the Lamed Vavniks. They do good for one reason and one reason alone. The world needs it. Their recognition is insignificant. Their reward remains in God’s hands. The Torah teaches: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God.” (Deuteronomy 29)

The Hasidic rebbe, Menahem Mendle of Kotzk opines: “The world thinks that a tzaddik nistar—a hidden righteous person—is a person who conceals his (or her) righteousness and his (or her) good deeds from others. The truth, however, is that a tzaddik nistar is one whose righteousness is hidden and concealed from him (or herself), and who has no idea whatsoever that he (or she) is righteous.”

How different the world might be if good was so ordinary that even the doer remained unaware of its goodness.

How extraordinary the world might become if recognition and reward were not part of our motivation or calculus but instead doing righteous deeds.