Lamed Vav Tsaddikim

The "36 righteous individuals" who are to be found in each generation according to the Babylonian Talmud, upon whom the Shekhinah (Divine Presence) rests, and whose very existence in the world prevents its destruction (Sanh. 97a-b; Suk. 45b). Later legend describes them as usually humble, unassuming Jews who earn their living by the sweat of their brow. They are unaware of each other's existence and live in anonymity, disavowing their special status lest it be accidentally discovered. At times of great peril, particularly of anti-Semitic violence. they emerge to rescue their fellow Jews from danger, after which they immediately return to their former obscure lives, usually in a place where they are not known. While the number 36 has special significance in Gematria (numerology), various traditions cite different figures; one states that the presence of a single righteous person ensures the world's continued existence (Yoma 38b). Many legends were woven around the "36 righteous men." In Yiddish, the Lamed Vav tsaddikim are referred to as lamedvavnikim. A considerable body of kabbalistic (16th-17th cent.) and Ḥasidic (18th cent.) lore relates to their merit. In one set of legends, the Messiah himself is said to be one of them. It has been suggested, particularly by Gershom Scholem, the Kabbalah scholar, that these legendary figures, as well as the number 36, are related or parallel to certain non-Jewish sources.

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