The value in accepting advice from the wise men of the generation is that it mitigates judgments. For when a person needs advice because he does not know how to proceed, it is an aspect of constriction. His intellect is constricted and he does not know what to do. This is an aspect of judgment, as is known.
However, by virtue of the wise man giving him advice, [the wise man] amplifies [the issue] for him and enlightens him with his wisdom. This is the aspect of chasadim (benevolences), for chesed (lovingkindness) is the light of wisdom. As it is written in the Holy Zohar (I, 94a): “El (the Almighty) is the light of Chokhmah (Wisdom).” And it is written (Psalms 52:3), “The lovingkindness of El lasts throughout the day.”
It is also written (Proverbs 11:14), “In the RoV (multitude) of advisors there is salvation.” The tzaddik is called “RaV (many),” as our Sages teach: Moshe, because his merit was so great, was like many (Taanit 9a).
Also, if he accepts the advice of the tzaddik, even if afterwards things did not work out well from his advice, he then knows that this was only from God. However, had he not accepted the advice of the tzaddik, quite possibly he would have suffered misfortune without a decree from Above. Rather, he would have brought it on himself, as it is written (Proverbs 19:3), “A man’s foolishness perverts his way, and his heart rages against God.” But, if he accepted the tzaddik’s advice, he knows that it is only because of a ruling from Above.
מַעֲלַת הַמְקַבֵּל עֵצָה מֵחַכְמֵי הַדּוֹר, כִּי הוּא הַמְתָּקַת הַדִּינִים. כִּי כְּשֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְעֵצָה, וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ אֵיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת, הִיא בְּחִינַת צִמְצוּם, כִּי נִתְצַמְצֵם שִׂכְלוֹ וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ אֵיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת, וְהוּא בְּחִינַת דִּינִים כַּיָּדוּעַ.
The value in accepting advice from the wise men of the generation is that it mitigates judgments. For when a person needs advice because he does not know how to proceed, it is an aspect of constriction. His intellect is constricted and he does not know what to do. This is an aspect of judgment, as is known.
וְעַל־יְדֵי שֶׁהֶחָכָם נוֹתֵן לוֹ עֵצָה, הוּא מַרְחִיב לוֹ, וּמֵאִיר בּוֹ חָכְמָתוֹ. וְזֶה בְּחִינַת חֲסָדִים, כִּי חֶסֶד הוּא נְהִירוּ דְּחָכְמְתָא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ (לך לך דף צד.): אֵל נְהִירוּ דְּחָכְמְתָא; וּכְתִיב (תהילים נ״ב:ג׳): חֶסֶד אֵל כָּל הַיּוֹם:
However, by virtue of the wise man giving him advice, [the wise man] amplifies [the issue] for him and enlightens him with his wisdom. This is the aspect of chasadim (benevolences), for chesed (lovingkindness) is the light of wisdom. As it is written in the Holy Zohar (I, 94a): “El (the Almighty) is the light of Chokhmah (Wisdom).” And it is written (Psalms 52:3), “The lovingkindness of El lasts throughout the day.”
גַּם כְּתִיב (משלי י״א:י״ד): תְּשׁוּעָה בְּרֹב יוֹעֵץ, וְהַצַּדִּיק נִקְרָא רַב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (תענית ט): מֹשֶׁה אַיְּדֵי דִּנְפִישׁ זְכוּתֵהּ כְּרַבִּים דָּמֵי.
It is also written (Proverbs 11:14), “In the RoV (multitude) of advisors there is salvation.” The tzaddik is called “RaV (many),” as our Sages teach: Moshe, because his merit was so great, was like many (Taanit 9a).
גַּם אִם מְקַבֵּל עֲצַת הַצַּדִּיק, אַף שֶׁאַחַר־כָּךְ לֹא עָלְתָה לוֹ יָפֶה מֵעֲצָתוֹ, אֲזַי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהָיָה רַק מֵהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ. אַךְ אִם לֹא הָיָה מְקַבֵּל עֲצַת הַצַּדִּיק, הָיָה אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁתַּגִּיעַ לוֹ רָעָה בְּלִי גְּזַר־דִּין שֶׁל מַעְלָה, רַק שֶׁהוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ מָשַׁךְ עַל עַצְמוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (משלי י״ט:ג׳): אִוֶּלֶת אָדָם תְּסַלֵּף דַּרְכּוֹ, וְעַל ה' יִזְעַף לִבּוֹ; אַךְ אִם קִבֵּל עֲצַת הַצַּדִּיק, יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא רַק עַל פִּי מִשְׁפָּט שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה:
Also, if he accepts the advice of the tzaddik, even if afterwards things did not work out well from his advice, he then knows that this was only from God. However, had he not accepted the advice of the tzaddik, quite possibly he would have suffered misfortune without a decree from Above. Rather, he would have brought it on himself, as it is written (Proverbs 19:3), “A man’s foolishness perverts his way, and his heart rages against God.” But, if he accepted the tzaddik’s advice, he knows that it is only because of a ruling from Above.