In a tragic event, former senior Israel Police head of the elite 433 Unit, Israel’s FBI, has taken his own life R”L. Ephraim Bracha, whose name was implicated in the fraud case involving Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, took his own life on motzei Shabbos Parshas Balak. It is reported his wife realized that he got up in the middle of the night and drove away in his vehicle. He was later found with a self-inflicted bullet hole in his heart.
Officials in the department report of late, the former senior official appeared despondent, even during the retirement party for Chief Yochanan Danino.
Last week Channel 10 News reports investigators have uncovered information that Bracha passed classified information to Pinto along with a report that he maintained improper connections with Port of Ashdod officials and passed information to them regarding an ongoing investigation against them.
The police statement to the media read “Effie Bracha, married and the father of four, 55-years-old at his death, filled a number of positions since entering the force in 1983. His last post was head of the 433 Lahav Unit. The department bows its head to the family in sorrow”.
Haaretz quoted Bracha saying in an April 15th report, If I gave a shekel, I will put my head under the guillotine and take my own life”. Pinto responds ‘Do it”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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15 Responses
Chilul Hashem of the highest order.
Rabbi Pinto’s greed pushed this guy over the edge.
To commentator #1: Your comment is either motze shem rah , or lashon harah.
The exact opposite. Bracha’s criminal behaviour pushed his colleagues to realise who he was and they were closing in on him. Rav Pinto Shlita is guilty of nothing here. Messing with a mekubal is never a clever thing.
wHAT a CHILLUL hASHEM FOR A SO CALLED rabbi TO CAUSE THIS
Wasnt this Rabbi ALSO involved with Solomon Obstfeld who was killed (and some in the media THOUGHT it was suicide)? Scary!
They would never accuse someone if he was totally innocent . The fact that “Rabbi” pinto is involved in such an act shows he is not 100% percent clean. Whatever it is only God can judge and determine who’s right or wrong .. However I’m seeing this very often these days that many rabbonim are involved in something fishy.. May all the fake rabbies get exposed and endure shame for their sins ..
Azoy- your commment bring back memories…. solomon obsfeld real nice guy had some real estate dispute with R Pinto… and was also found dead “fell off a deck or something like that” something isnt right here.
anewuser,
They would never accuse someone if he was totally innocent
they did it to Moshe Rabbbeinu. and i don’t think we’re better than the dor hamidbar
(i’m not advocating for r pinto, just pointing it out)
If too many people associated with someone are THOUGHT to “commit suicide” you sorta get VERY suspicious, no? Any murder can be made to LOOK like suicide, when done with experience!
amazing how selective YWN is when it comes to enabling commenters to speak lashon horah about rabbanim. This ephraim bracha was being trapped with things he did. Rabbi Pinto is a man that has made many people return to yiddishkeit. not everyone thats guilty in modern law is guilty in torah law. he took a plea deal. Noone has the right to bash a talmid chochom and noone has the right to take his own life; there’s no reason to have rachmanus on bracha. Rabbi Pinto is not the only person he’s turned against in his life.
Anewuser open your eyes I know people who have been totally innocent and also been cleared by unanimous jury decisions
I don’t know any details of this case but your comments are a sign of ignorance
just saying
The twisted and biased way this is reported\(and in previous articles) is disgusting. The main cause of this whole incident, which there is no mention of, is the CONVICTION of Rabbi Pinto for trying to bribe Bracha and others.Not proven that anyone else took any money, but proven by his own admission that he was guilty of bribery.Is this how a Rabbi should behave? So…
we have a police commander with years of devotion to fighting crime, vs. a RABBI who has admitted to bribery… A RABBI. Who would any rationale person believe? It is truly sickening how this article is reporting false and unproven claims against Mr. Brach, a’h, while trying to make Rabbi Pinto look like the inocent here. Whoever does this are probably the same people who defend Rabbis who have molested children. Disgraceful.
Oh… and to #3 ,’avreimi’…. R. Pinto is guilty of NOTHING here!!!??? He has been CONVICTED and has ADMITTED to bribery! Thats a Rabbi?? Get real.
Why does yeshiva world need to keep us updated with an article that will no doubt bring loshin hora. I have no clue who is right or wrong but by posting articles it takes away chasivus from him and many rabbo in and it’s like yeshiva world just doesn’t care. Disgusting filth.
>>They would never accuse someone if he was totally innocent .
Seriously?? Really? That’s the statement you’ve chosen to represent your thoughts, in cyberspace forever?
Of what was Moshe Rabbainu innocent, yet, accused? Just asking.