All the tzaddikim in each generation are holy and have God with them. Why then do we see that while some tzaddikim are very good-natured and well-liked by everyone, there is a true tzaddik who by temperament and nature is not amiable with people, and who sometimes even displays <much> anger and irritability?
Now, it is known that the tzaddikim derive all their righteousness from the light of the Torah. She is <his> guide, and he gets his righteousness from her. When a tzaddik has attained great illumination from the Torah’s light, and his <good> deeds are <exactly> on a par <with> his perception of Torah, then his righteousness and Torah are in amicable accord <with each other>. He therefore gets along with people.
But when a tzaddik’s perception of the Torah’s wisdom greatly surpasses his deeds, the Torah <boils> inside him—<that is, the great>, holy fire of the Torah <burns inside him>. Thus, it is impossible for him to get along with others and be involved with people, similar to the aforementioned tzaddik.
This is as our Sages, of blessed memory, taught: When a young rabbinical student becomes heated, it is the Torah that is causing him to become heated (Taanit 4a). This is because his Torah has increased greatly, as explained above.
הִנֵּה הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲשֶׁר בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, כֻּלָּם קְדוֹשִׁים וּבְתוֹכָם ה', וּמַדּוּעַ אָנוּ רוֹאִין בְּחוּשׁ הָרְאוּת, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם צַדִּיקִים אֲשֶׁר מִזְגָּם וְטִבְעָם טוֹבָה מְאֹד, וְטוֹבִים הֵמָּה לַכֹּל. וְיֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר הוּא צַדִּיק אֱמֶת, וְאֵין מִזְגּוֹ וְטִבְעוֹ נוֹחָה עִם הֲמוֹן עַם, וְלִפְעָמִים נִרְאֶה מִמֶּנּוּ כַּעַס וּקְפִידָה.
All the tzaddikim in each generation are holy and have God with them. Why then do we see that while some tzaddikim are very good-natured and well-liked by everyone, there is a true tzaddik who by temperament and nature is not amiable with people, and who sometimes even displays <much> anger and irritability?
הִנֵּה יָדוּעַ, שֶׁכָּל צִדְקַת הַצַּדִּיקִים הוּא לוֹקֵחַ מֵאוֹר הַתּוֹרָה, כִּי הִיא הַמּוֹרֵה דֶּרֶךְ, וּמִמֶּנָּה לֻקְּחָה צִדְקָתוֹ. וְהִנֵּה הַצַּדִּיק אֲשֶׁר הִשִּׂיג מָאוֹר גָּדוֹל מִמְּאוֹר הַתּוֹרָה, וּמַעֲשָׂיו גַּם כֵּן בְּשָׁוְיָם לְפִי הַשָּׂגָתוֹ בַּתּוֹרָה, אֲזַי צִדְקָתוֹ וְתוֹרָתוֹ שְׁנֵיהֶם מִתְיַשְּׁבִים בְּשׁוּבָה וָנַחַת, לְפִיכָךְ דַּעְתּוֹ נוֹחָה עִם הַבְּרִיּוֹת.
Now, it is known that the tzaddikim derive all their righteousness from the light of the Torah. She is <his> guide, and he gets his righteousness from her. When a tzaddik has attained great illumination from the Torah’s light, and his <good> deeds are <exactly> on a par <with> his perception of Torah, then his righteousness and Torah are in amicable accord <with each other>. He therefore gets along with people.
וְהַצַּדִּיק אֲשֶׁר אוֹר חָכְמַת הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁהִשִּׂיג גָּדְלָה מְאֹד מִמַּעֲשָׁיו, אֲזַי הַתּוֹרָה מַרְתַּחַת בּוֹ הָאֵשׁ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁל הַתּוֹרָה, וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתְּהֵא דַּעְתּוֹ נוֹחָה עִם הַבְּרִיּוֹת, וּמְעוֹרֶבֶת עִם הֲמוֹן עַם, כְּמוֹ הַצַּדִּיק הַנַּ"ל.
But when a tzaddik’s perception of the Torah’s wisdom greatly surpasses his deeds, the Torah <boils> inside him—<that is, the great>, holy fire of the Torah <burns inside him>. Thus, it is impossible for him to get along with others and be involved with people, similar to the aforementioned tzaddik.
וְזֶה שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (תענית ד): הַאי צוֹרְבָא מֵרַבָּנָן דְּרָתַח, אוֹרַיְתָא דְּקָא מְרַתְחָא בֵּהּ, לְפִי שֶׁגָּדְלָה תּוֹרָתוֹ מְאֹד כַּנַּ"ל:
This is as our Sages, of blessed memory, taught: When a young rabbinical student becomes heated, it is the Torah that is causing him to become heated (Taanit 4a). This is because his Torah has increased greatly, as explained above.