Some people think that Yiddishkeit is a straightjacket and a jail. Of course, having normal, healthy restrictions is the best M'halech, and: אֵּין לְּךָ בֶׁן חוֹרִ ין אֶׁלָא מִי שֶׁעוֹסֵּק בְּתוֹרָה אבות ו ג the “true” free man is the person who learns (and follows) the Torah. But getting carried away with doing everything just perfect can be the opposite of Ratzon Hashem who likes happy relaxed people. Novardokers were against Frumkeit, and I myself heard: בָ רַ בִ ים publicly how one of the old Novardokers remarked in public: טוֹב מְּ אֹּ ד, זֶׁ ה יֵּ צֶׁ ר הָ רַ ע “Very good”, this refers to the Yetzer Hara.
TRUE STORY
In 1492 the Jews of Spain were expelled by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, unless they accepted to convert. However, Don Yitzchok Abarbanel was offered to stay even if he kept his religion, since he was an invaluable asset to the country, with his financial expertise. He refused, but he offered a colossal amount of money to the king and queen if they allow the Jews to stay.
The story goes that they agreed, but at the last minute, Torquemeda, the wicked Galach (priest) vetoed the motion. Who was this guy? He was super "frum"; he never ate meat, and he slept only on hard wood. He was Oisgehalten (morally upstanding) and wouldn't be bribed. In the name of the "holy" Catholic Church and Yoshka Pondrik, he succeeded in causing indescribable pain to Klal Yisroel for over 1000 years, with his infamous inquisition.
Queen Isabella was also a super Frumie, who worried about Gehinom all the time. This is an extreme illustration of fake Frumkeit. L'havdil, if a Yid gets carried away in trying to do the right thing in Avodas Hashem, and he ends up being a "Frumie" who hurts himself and others, I'm sure Hashem understands his good intentions. But surely, being the "frum" type is not so simple, and Gedolei Yisroel criticized Frumkeit.
The Baalei Bitachon were happy, relaxed people, and didn't even come across so serious. Of course they were super-holy in their own way, but they used their Sechel. And in Novardok, making sure you are: דַרְּ כֵּי נוֹעַם “pleasant” was #1.
TRUE STORY
A famous Adam Gadol who was a Talmid of R' Ahron Kotler Zatzal was asked by the: מְּ נַ הֵּ ל principal for a girl school, if the girls may go to an amusement park. He was a known Kano'i and he said: "For sure not!". Three years later, he was asked the same question, and he said: “For sure, yes!" When he was asked what happened that made him change his mind, he replied that three years ago was a different world than now. People are always changing, and you have to always be in touch with a Rebbe who is a Gadol B'Torah to find out the latest.
Despite the general: יְּ רִ ידַ ת הַ דוֹרוֹת (decline of the generations) and the importance of not being involved in an Avoda that you are not: רָ אוּי worthy for (which can be caused by viewing yourself like you’re from a Dor that you have no Shaychus with), there are still instances where you can actually upgrade your level.
