Q&A: Calling Someone a Name
Calling Someone a Name
Question
A few years ago there was a sensational article on some Haredi website
about worshippers who came to a certain grave in Eastern Europe, where according to tradition some rebbe is buried, and they lit memorial candles there for the elevation of the soul, but were careless, and the place caught fire.
I checked what the special virtue of that righteous man was,
and it turned out that the famous virtue associated with that place is that anyone who prays there is guaranteed not to be harmed by fire.
Completely real and serious!!!
Something like a fire god for the ancient pagans.
So I was at the beginning of my heresy, and I felt like joking around, so I asked: if that rebbe couldn’t save himself from fire, how will he save his followers?
But one of the commenters there didn’t accept my argument, and even called me insulting names like heretic and the like—which factually was true.
Am I right in my argument / heresy?
Does he have to ask my forgiveness since he intended to insult me?
Also, what benefit do the dead get from lighting a candle?
Answer
I didn’t understand what your “heresy” is. But heretics don’t need answers to questions like these. I assume this is trolling, if you’re asking me whether there is anything to these supposedly special virtues.
If in his opinion you are a heretic, then he merely told you what he thinks. What exactly do you want him to apologize for?
In my opinion, it doesn’t help the dead.