Question
Shavua tov Rabbi
Is it normal to have a very big feeling of discomfort after accidentally looking at an idol or thinking of it?
Feelings like light headache , excess produce of saliva ,pressure in ears and thinking of that its a sign of having some sort of spiritual downfall?
Answer
It's documented that Rav Kook said that he felt physical discomfort and nausea upon passing idolatry. I personally have never felt it, but apparently it is a known, albeit rare, phenomena. It’s surely not a spiritual downfall, but actually even commendable, like a healthy person feels sick if he were to eat something unhealthy. The solution is not to suffer, but to live in Eretz Yisrael in a place where there is very little idolatry, and one usually goes months, sometimes even years, without seeing it.
