Q&A: ‘Feelings’ During Ramadan
‘Feelings’ During Ramadan
Question
The mashgiach, of blessed memory, used to cry out in his talks at the yeshiva that when there are “feelings,” it’s forbidden to ignore them, and that this is a signal from the higher soul, and that this is the essence of subjugation to God, etc.
I was young and I believed him.
I grew up, and I work with cousins, and during their Ramadan holiday they testified to me that they have an exalted spiritual feeling, and they know they are drawing closer to God because they feel such experiences, and the experience is the truth, etc.
And therefore they have no difficulty fasting and refraining from smoking, etc.
(I was surprised, because all year they’re “steam engines” and smoke all the time, and also eat very well; and during Ramadan I was with them the whole period, about 9 hours every day, and they didn’t smoke or eat.)
In my humble opinion, these are exactly the kinds of experiences the mashgiach, of blessed memory, meant when he spoke positively about paying attention to “feelings.”
My question:
Is there a difference between the feelings of Muslims and the “feelings” of a refined yeshiva student?
Does this mean that they too should listen to the higher soul, etc.?
Maybe they’re just bluffing me, and I shouldn’t try fasting for 30 days, because there are no “feelings” and nothing at all, and it’s just imagination or a bluff?
Answer
First, I don’t see any connection to “feelings.” Any Jew who smokes stops smoking on the Sabbath and doesn’t suffer from it. On Saturday night he’ll immediately go back to smoking. That’s not a question of “feelings” but of habit and social norms.
Second, I don’t see any importance in “feelings.” So ask the mashgiach who told you that. This is the kind of nonsense mashgichim talk when they themselves don’t understand what they’re talking about. And as is well known, the reason the mashgiach walks around the study hall during learning is so people should know what comes out of someone who doesn’t learn.