Thursday, December 31, 2015

The Pitfalls Of Hiskashrus To Tzadikim

Yesterday I posted a passage from the Rav ztz”l but missed a critical point. In talking about the importance of connecting to Tzadikim, he writes:



.. "התקשרות עם הצדיקים", יסוד זה שהחסידות טפלה בו הרבה ….

This means that the Chasidic approach to התקשרות עם הצדיקים is problematic. The Rav doesn't explain where the problem/s lie but in a lengthy footnote in the sefer אורות התחיה המבואר [from page 301 and on] it is discussed at length. There are 3 basic criticisms: 

  • 1] Some people's entire Avodas Hashem revolve around the Tzadik. The concept is blown out of proportion. 
  • 2] If a person is overly connected to a specific Tzadik he is likely to adopt his faults in a much more extreme fashion than these faults appear in the Tzadik himself.

  • 3] Some “Rebbes” are not worthy of their title and lofty position and that turns people off. See there at length.


The answer [that we are adding] is to follow and connect to a Tzadik within reason, to try to incorporate and assimilate his many positive qualities into your own personalitiy while trying to avoid the minor inadequacies and to choose a Rebbe who is truly worthy and has more that just the right yichus.