A young man in his 20s who presented an American passport to officials at Tel Aviv’s Montefiore Hotel spent shabbos behind bars after he was not able to raise the funds for bail.

The story began on Wednesday, 8 Cheshvan 5773 when the young man checked into the hotel. He went to the book a room but his credit card was rejected. He gave the clerk another number, explaining it was his dad’s, and that card was accepted.

Later in the day he phoned and made reservations for a table for ten of his friends, wishing to celebrate his birthday with him. Celebrate they did, to the tune of 15,000 NIS. When the young man checked out the following day, his father’s card did not accept the significant charge. When asked to pay in cash, he signaled he has no intention of paying, prompting hotel management to phone police.

The man was eventually arrested and after he was unable to raise bail, he spent shabbos behind bars.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)