אור זרוע לצדיק ולישרי לב שמחה – Ohr zarua la’tzaddik u’le’yishrei lev simchah. Light is sown for the righteous, and for the upright of heart, gladness.
A yashar, straight person, is straightforward, honest and steady in his way. He neither engages in nor supports external actions, beliefs or attitudes. He opts for the middle road, attempting to get along with everyone, seeking a balance in life, looking for ways to moderate between the extremists. He makes choices that reflect a preference for harmony and equilibrium, rather than volatility and excess. As such, he is reliable as well as reasonable, making him the kind of person who achieves the trust of his community.
Some tzaddikim, righteous Jews, who, despite their unusual piety and virtue, will, at times, take an extreme position which is difficult for the average Jew to accept and follow. This does not mean that the yashar is not as devout as the tzaddik. Publicly, the yashar follows the straight path of moderation. He does not make demands on others. In private, however, he acts differently – being as righteous as the tzaddik, without setting an example that might be too extreme for others to follow. The yashar leads. The tzaddik is reclusive, serving Hashem in privacy.
