Gadol Worship

The Chazon Ish, Rav Yeshayahu Karelitz, ZTL

I read your post on Berland.  While the article itself speaks about him, which could probably be summarized into כל הגדול מחבירו יצרו גדול הימנו, and that he fell prey to this, it did not address another issue that is relevant to all of Klal Yisroel. 

The frum communities have fallen prey to a dynamic that has been absorbed from the secular world.  It is called “Hero Worship”.  Yes, we have grown to ascribe great things to personalities who have achieved public stature.  

The truth is infrequently relevant, and traits that are unknown to the individual become attributed to him (usually men).

This occurs way too often with chassidishe rebbes, and is also rampant in the litvishe velt, where Roshei Yeshivos are similarly deified.

It is a serious breach when someone uses his status as a Rov, Rebbe, Rosh Yeshiva, or other (religious title)  to claim expertise in many areas where there is zero experience.  It is too common to hear some people with these titles offer advice and guidance in medical issues, chinuch questions, personal problems, family discord, shalom bayis, etc.

I get frightened when I see the families who have been irreparably damaged by this, and many in the mental health field are dedicating their time to service and repair the damage done by these non-experts who cling to the cloak of leadership.

Even presidents have advisors. Your take on Berland is quite rational.  I am wondering about the followers.  It seems that these personages become celebrities, can do no wrong, have achieved major levels of spirituality, and can carry others on their coattails to the heights of g-dliness.   

Is the public so stupid?  Are people so blind that they can gaze directly into a totally trashed sense of morality, but yet seek to prop it up with the fervor and passion that should be reserved for only HKB”H Himself?

While reading the periodic newscasts about the escapades of Berland while he circled the globe, I understood him.  What criminal doesn’t even consider flight?  But the followers always eluded me.  They made no sense.  The fellow admitted he could not maintain the chastity of a simple frum Jew, yet he occupied a position as a spiritual leader. 

The dissonance of this is one of the loudest sounds in this entire saga.  But the outside world does this, too.  The celebrities are followed for their preferences of products they might never use, for their political opinions, and given respect that should belong to those who are true specimens of morality and spirituality, not them.