There is something in the way Bernie Madoff operated that has the clear cultural markings of a Chasidic court.
- Family business: Bernie run his operation from the off-limits inner sanctum on the 17th floor in the Lipstick Building with his brother Peter. His sons were in charge of the brokerage on the 16th floor (18th floor being the reception area, naturally). Considering the monetary value of the operation it’s astonishing that the family not meritocracy was the chief qualifier, exactly in the tradition of the Chassidic Courts.
- Miracles: Just like the Rebbes, the business was creating the impression of a recluse miracle worker, restricting access and deliberately nurturing exclusivity with the specific purpose of targeting rich Jews in order to separate them from their money.
- Just like with Chasidic Rebbes, Bernie cultivated feeder funds lead by individuals who’s only qualification in life was their conduit proximity to the reclusive miracle worker.
- OCD: Part and parcel of any Rebbe is unintentional or deliberate extreme OCD (often confused with the Jewish religion) AKA “holiness”. There is evidence of Bernie’s (and his brother Peter’s) OCD in regards to colors and geometry.