Q&A: Meron
Meron
Question
An interesting article I found regarding your column on the subject:
https://iyun.org.il/sedersheni/the-haredi-idolatry/
Answer
Interesting. There are two different arguments there, and in my opinion he mixes them together: 1. Anthropomorphizing / concretizing the divine is forbidden (the religious experience should focus on something non-conceptual and non-tangible). 2. The enthusiasm does not come from a connection to God, but from a feeling of belonging to the tribe.
As for the first, I completely agree. But the second is a problematic claim. First, I do not see how he proves that the experience has nothing to do with the Holy One, blessed be He, and holiness, but rather with tribal belonging (the fact that they divide themselves by Hasidic groups proves nothing). Second, even if that is true, an experience of belonging is not invalid (even if it does not speak to me personally). It also helps create a connection to the Torah and to God. The Holy One, blessed be He, Israel, and the Torah are one.