I saw with Rav Shick the idea of being attached to a tzadik and pantheism. He must have felt both of these ideas were the most important things to hold onto. I can see the importance of holding onto some basic trait, but neither of those two things seem to be worthwhile goals, or to lead to any kind of human perfection or even improvement.
The Gemara itself seems to exclude any kind of idea of attachment to a tzadik as being a good thing, as it says in Sanhedrin circa 63b, "What is the difference between him and us?"
That is:-- the teaching of the Sages: If one says, "Serve me," he gets the death penalty for being one that tries to seduce another to do idol worship. (מסית ומדיח). That is to all opinions. Then there is a question if one answers that person and says, "Yes." Does he also get the death penalty? Some say "Yes." And others says "No" because all he meant was to make fun of the person asking for worship. After all מאי שנא איהו מינן דידן? ("What is the difference between him and us?").
[All the movements stemming from the Baal Shem Tov got heavily into pantheism, and have tried to sell it as the legitimate viewpoint of the Torah. (I do not think the Baal Shem Tov himself was responsible for this, but it came out of misunderstanding his intention in some of his statements.)
With Rav Shick the worship of a human being slipped into Vagina worship and with all religious leaders of this generation. [I mean worship of women which is the basic orientation of all religious leaders.]
My impression is the main thing to hold onto is the Law of Moses. And I can agree that there are particular things which can help to concentrate on. But attachment to a tzadik is at least one thing that seems to profit no one. The only results I have seen from that kind of approach are the destruction of good character. And the same goes for pantheism.
The Gemara itself seems to exclude any kind of idea of attachment to a tzadik as being a good thing, as it says in Sanhedrin circa 63b, "What is the difference between him and us?"
That is:-- the teaching of the Sages: If one says, "Serve me," he gets the death penalty for being one that tries to seduce another to do idol worship. (מסית ומדיח). That is to all opinions. Then there is a question if one answers that person and says, "Yes." Does he also get the death penalty? Some say "Yes." And others says "No" because all he meant was to make fun of the person asking for worship. After all מאי שנא איהו מינן דידן? ("What is the difference between him and us?").
[All the movements stemming from the Baal Shem Tov got heavily into pantheism, and have tried to sell it as the legitimate viewpoint of the Torah. (I do not think the Baal Shem Tov himself was responsible for this, but it came out of misunderstanding his intention in some of his statements.)
With Rav Shick the worship of a human being slipped into Vagina worship and with all religious leaders of this generation. [I mean worship of women which is the basic orientation of all religious leaders.]
My impression is the main thing to hold onto is the Law of Moses. And I can agree that there are particular things which can help to concentrate on. But attachment to a tzadik is at least one thing that seems to profit no one. The only results I have seen from that kind of approach are the destruction of good character. And the same goes for pantheism.
