Yserbius; i have to admit that i should have been clearer; it’s obviously not in the same category as aliyah leregel, but it shouldn’t be mocked and compared to other religions’ activities. AAQ – i think it’s clear that if we give something an arabic moniker, even if the term is grammatically acceptable, muslim/arab culture has become associated with “the enemy” in our community, as well as being associated with extremism…. Think of all the castigation of people who want to be mesaken olam bemalchus shakai as “Taliban”. So when called a Hajj, it seems demeaning.
Re rav Ovadia; that’s true, and he’s not alone. However the particulars about who should and shouldn’t go are not what we’re discussing now, so i don’t see what’s relevant.
People getting inspired by the uman experience is a lot greater than history books vs learning.. If were making comparisons to things that have inherent value vs things that are heichi timtzos, i think a better comparison would be learning mussar vs learning gemara. The mussar is a heichi timtzah to have good middos and yiras shomayim, but isn’t a mitzvah in its own study.
Re chimilnicki; i agree that it’s a shame that they’re profiting from all the tourism, but if that’s the only way for these yidden to achieve what they gain from going to uman… It’s the same reason the gedolim allow living in eretz yisroel even though there is an element of giving a small chizuk to the state; it’s happening derech agav and isn’t your kavanah, and is not as important as what we gain spiritually from living there (if that’s where you belong)