Q&A: Behold, He Connects…
Behold, He Connects…
Question
Among the Hasidim of certain Hasidic groups, before prayer they say: “I hereby bind myself and my prayer with the soul of some Rebbe,” whether deceased or alive. And only then do they begin to pray before God.
My question is whether this is not worship of God in association, Heaven forbid?
I was referred to the book Chayei HaNefesh, which is supposed to answer this.
I looked into it [much of it I didn’t understand], and I felt that it doesn’t really answer, but just goes around in circles, in my humble opinion.
What is the Rabbi’s view? Is this permitted? Is it connected to idolatry through association?
Answer
I assume that they, too, do not really understand exactly what this means. In my opinion there is no idolatry here. They are not worshipping the righteous person, but connecting to him in order to worship the Holy One, blessed be He. All sorts of discussions about idolatry in Hasidism are just pointless nitpicking (despite all the criticism I have of Hasidism). That is, of course, aside from certain parts of Chabad Hasidism, where there definitely are shades of idolatry (there are some who pray to the Rebbe and believe in his powers, and not merely “connect” or mentally focus on him).
Discussion on Answer
Good evening,
The Rabbi assumes that they do not understand what they are saying when they say “I hereby bind myself.”
I think there is some condescension toward them here. They do understand that they are connecting to the soul of the righteous person (by thinking about him, imagining him, etc.) so that he will help them before the Holy One, blessed be He,
Unfortunately, and with all due respect, it is apparent that the Rabbi is not well-versed in the mysteries of Hasidism.