No, not really. But I can’t get over the fact there were and probably still are such stooopid people dressed up as Torah scholars (including those residing in Bnei Brak!) taking seriously a supposed promise from the Chazon Ish, not to name names.
After a missile actually hit, some rabbis then published a letter not to take the “Promise” seriously. Huh?! Were they perchance unaware such idiots existed prior? If not, why did they wait?!
Did people really loiter under the naked sky during a known strike?
Doesn’t anybody know how to learn?!
How could anybody make such a promise for after his death?! Especially as Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky quotes the Chazon Ish regarding “Ikvesa Demishicha”.
[I should restrain myself at this point.]
Sadly, not all our readers can read Hebrew yet (if you can believe that). So, here is a partial translation of my old Hebrew article on this topic from 2 years ago, with some AI help:
The Chazon Ish, of blessed memory, intended (if he indeed said it) that his great merit protects the location of his presence, no more.
He always spoke of himself in terms such as “Here” or “Bnei Brak”. For example: “And such is the custom in the new settlement”, C.I. Shevi’is chap. 20, before the section titled “Laws of Shevi’is on Fields of Non-Jews”; Dinim Vehanhagos ch. 18 siman 11 regarding shoe-polishing on Chol Hamo’ed; likewise, what is related as a “custom” to refrain from labor on Erev Pesach even before midday — and many more examples. Even the disciples of the Chazon Ish use similar language in several places.
And furthermore, what relevance does this have after the Chazon Ish’s passing?! And in another city altogether?!
And to quote this after the passing of the other person who expanded upon this non-existent “promise”?!
(I am not well-versed in the history, but I have heard there is room to challenge this claim as a contradiction to facts. I have not researched all this online.)
One can only imagine how the Rambam would have reacted upon hearing such a thing…