Former Israeli chief rabbi Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar issued a sharp warning regarding the growing phenomenon of individuals presenting themselves as mekubalim and tzaddikim, gaining influence among unsuspecting members of the public despite lacking authenticity.

“We often refrain from condemnation, because today there is no truth – if I speak about someone, he presents himself as a persecuted saint. But when it reaches a situation in which G-d’s Name is desecrated, we respond forcefully,” Rav Amar explained.

Rav Amar cautioned that many are easily misled by external appearances and superficial impressions, stressing that not everything presented to the public reflects genuine greatness. “We must be careful, because people are not careful. There are all kinds of appearances – one comes across as knowledgeable, another as humble and lowly, one who hasn’t read two lines of Gemara. And even if he has read and remembers, is that what makes a great man? People are mistaken and mislead others, and they do not want to learn the truth.”

He concluded with a strong directive, urging complete distance from such figures and comparing their influence to something spiritually dangerous. “One is called ‘holy’ and another ‘kabbalist’; we must distance ourselves from all of them, not look at them and not come within four cubits, like idolatry – the further away you move, the better,” he concluded.