Tzadi
Watercolor

Part of the private collection of Mr. and Mrs. S. Amber

“Tzadi” or “Tzaddik” is the eighteenth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.   The final “Tzadi” with its upright shape represents the righteousness of God and devout human beings.   The term ‘tzaddik’’ is applied to those who conduct themselves with integrity, truth and justice.   One who lives in accordance with the Torah’s dictum:   ‘Justice, justice shall you pursue’ ( Deuteronomy 16: 20).

The final Tzadi is the final letter in the word earth, which is one of the four elements with which the world was created:   earth, air, water and fire.   It’s also the final letter of the word ‘ets’ (tree), the symbol for Torah, also called the ‘tree of life’.