Zechus (זכות) — Merit

Core definition

Zechus — merit — is both a spiritual currency and a metaphysical substance. In its simplest sense it is what a person earns and what can stand for him; in the corpus it unfolds in two great forms: zechus avos (the merit of the forefathers) and zechus as chesed — "chesed is called zechus" (Tikkunei Zohar, via the Pardes): "life and sustenance are not dependent on merit (zechusa) but on mazal" — "zechusa is chesed" [31642/maamar_009 :: §36–38]. And "zechus" is "the language of purity" (לשון טוהר) [31628/maamar_015 :: §221].

How the Rebbeim develop it

One of the five of redemption. The Yerushalmi (Taanis 1:1) and Midrash (Devarim 3:14), in Rabbi Elazar's name, teach that as the first geulah came through five things — tzarah, teshuvah, zechus avos, rachamim, and the ketz (each anchored in a verse of Devarim 4) — so the final geulah comes only through these five [15799/maamar_031 :: §138–147; 58834/maamar_031 :: §120–125]. "Though the essence is teshuvah, one must have the matter of zechus avos" — and besides zechus avos, one must have rachamim [15799/maamar_031 :: §138–143]. "And He will not forget the covenant of your fathers" — "that is through zechus avos" [15799/maamar_031 :: §85]. In the acharis hayamim, the zechus avos and the heavenly rachamim will awaken, so that Israel understand the troubles' intent and do teshuvah [58834/maamar_031 :: §143–144].

Zechus avos as root. Below, each one's avodah is according to his root and source's manner above — "this is zechus avos's matter": the Avos — Chessed, Gevurah, Tiferes of Atzilus — and "zechus avos" is a sign for the children in the seven levels of Havayah's servants [31628/maamar_015 :: §220–232]. The Avos', Moshe's, and Aharon's zechus benefits and influences all the neshamas of Yisrael — each according to his level — which is the inner meaning of Aharon's raising of the lamps [31628/maamar_015 :: §222–223]. The parable: as a small spark rises to be included in a great torch, "for he himself is of the torch's essence" — so the neshamah, a Divine spark of the Ein Sof's essence, is drawn to its source through the Avos' zechus [31628/maamar_015 :: summary].

Zechus as chesed. "It is known that zechus is what is drawn according to the law and judgment of wisdom (chochmah)" — in contrast to Yackov's "chafetz chesed," the chesed of Arich Anpin, which is above reason [31642/maamar_009 :: §39, overview]. Ze'ir Anpin's chesed is measured — it is "zechus," per chochmah's judgment; Yackov's chesed (feeding even wayfarers, "Yishmael yichyeh lefanecha") is desire for chesed itself [31642/maamar_009 :: overview].

"Zechuso yagen aleinu." The tzaddikim are great "to arouse great rachamim from the source of all rachamim, to bestow much good to the house of Israel" — hence "zechuso yagen aleinu" (his merit shall protect us), at the hilula and in hiskashrus with Moshe's bechinah, to merit the righteous Redeemer and the building of the Beis HaMikdash [31628/maamar_015 :: §1255–1265].

Key distinctions

Related concepts

Sources