Originally published in the Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 14 (1972), pp. 180-4. RIGHTEOUSNESS, the fulfillment of all legal and moral obligations. In rabbinic literature the term zedakah means “charity,” “almsgiving,” “practical benevolence,” but does not refer to righteousness in general for which there is no special term. However, the name zaddik, “righteous man” (pl. zaddikim), is found throughout…