When Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein summoned Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto’s attorney on Wednesday 12 Adar I 5774, he was confident they were close to signing a deal to make his client a state witness to move ahead with the case against Menashe Arbiv. However, the news that he received came as a surprise as Weinstein explained to Eli Zohar that he plans to file a serious criminal indictment against his client, Rabbi Pinto, and he was not interested in discussing a state witness deal or the case against former senior police commander Arbiv. Weinstein explained that the indictment would be filed in the coming days, a multi-count indictment that includes charges of bribing a senior police officer to the tune of 200,000 NIS, witness intimidation, money laundering and other charges. Weinstein explained that since Pinto waved his right to a hearing before being charged, there is no reason to delay the indictment any longer. The bribery charge refers to the alleged bribe offered to Israel Police Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha in exchange for information pertaining to the investigation against Rabbi Pinto. For the former police commander of the elite 433 Unit, Menashe Arbiv, the news of the indictment against Pinto was received with jubilation as it signaled the decision was made not to flip the rabbi to be a state witness against him while granting the rabbi immunity in return. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Police on Tuesday 11 Adar I 5774 informed Rabbi Avraham Yisrael, a close associate of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, that he is going to be indicted, the daily Haaretz reports. Yisrael established the Chazon Yeshaya non-profit in 1998 and is very close to Rabbi Pinto. The indictment against him will include charges of fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, obstruction of justice and falsifying corporate records. Rabbi Yisrael will be granted a pre-indictment hearing, a final opportunity to persuade police of his innocence. If police are not persuaded the indictment will follow. The report states that in 2011 alone, Chazon Yeshaya turned over 40 million NIS as fundraising takes place in Israel and abroad. The report adds some of the charitable funds collected were used to purchase valuable properties worth tens of millions of NIS. The state-appointed liquidator in 2011 learned that of all the funds collected by Chazon Yeshaya; only about 3.6 million NIS went to tzedaka while 33.5 million NIS did not, despite claims to the contrary in the organization’s official papers. Police feel that much of the tzedaka money went to Pinto’s bank accounts, which led to the rabbi allegedly bribing Police Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha for information on the investigation. The latter told his superiors and set Rabbi Pinto up as if he was accepting bribe money. Then next on the rabbi’s list was former head of the Israel Police 433 investigations unit, Menashe Arbiv, who has since resigned amid a possible criminal indictment against him. Pinto has offered authorities information pertaining to alleged bribes involving Arbiv as he continues negotiating for an immunity agreement. Police have learned that the rabbi’s reported soup kitchens and other charitable enterprises were a scam, covering up for major money laundering of tzedaka monies into private accounts. Rabbi Pinto continues to maintain his innocence, as does Menashe Arbiv. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Just 48 hours after the commander of Israel’s FBI, Menashe Arbiv announced he is stepping down from the police force after 36 years of public service; Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has serious decisions to make. The prosecutor assigned to the case, Eli Schwartz, told his boss he wishes to step down from the case in apparent disgust over a decision to cut a deal with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, to make him into the star state witness. It remains to be seen if the state prosecutor and attorney general will permit Schwartz to resign from the case as he is regarded a senior prosecutor with a wealth of experience prosecuting corruption cases. Arbiv feels that as one who has given his entire life since age 18 to the nation, he should be the one working with the prosecution, for he is innocent. He cannot understand why the attorney general is interested in working with Pinto to establish that he, Arbiv, is guilty of law-breaking. Arbiv is quoted in the daily Yediot Achronot saying “I am only sorry about one thing. It was a motzei Shabbos three years ago. I was having a personal crisis and a friend told me about Rabbi Pinto, advising that I consult with him. I am sorry that I went and that I ever met with the man. I never broke the law, never violated protocol and I was never insubordinate” laments Arbiv, who is seeking to understand how Israel’s judicial system seems to have turned its back on him, the former commander of the elite Israel Police 433 Investigation Unit. Yediot continues, quoting Arbiv stating that from his perspective, he expects to see serious criminal indictments filed against Rabbi Pinto, pointing out the draft indictments are already prepared. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Israel Radio reported at noon on Monday that the prosecutor involved in the case involving Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto and senior Israel Police commanders has been instructed to hold off with an indictment against Rabbi Pinto as the state is trying to cut a deal with him to become a state witness. Pinto will give testimony against senior police commanders, including the head of the 433 unit, Menashe Arbiv. The report adds the prosecutor has quit the case as a result. It appears the prosecutor assigned to the case, Eli Schwartz, is adamantly opposed to cutting a deal with Rabbi Pinto, preferring to file an indictment against him too for his alleged criminal activities. The Israel Radio report adds that Schwartz is a seasoned prosecutor with a wealth of experience in prosecuting fraud cases. In the coming days, meetings on the Pinto case will be taking place including senior officials in the state prosecution, and Schwartz, and a final determination is yet to be announced. In a press conference held on Sunday 9 Adar I 5774, the head of Israel Police’s elite 433 Investigations Unit Menashe Arbiv announced he is resigning from the police force. Arbiv is suspected of accepting bribes. Arbiv told the press “I can’t take it anymore. The judicial system is tar and feathering me.” He accused Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein of working to close a deal with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, granting him some form of immunity in exchange for testimony against him [Arbiv]. Arbiv’s lawyer first indicated that his client was taking a leave of absence pending the outcome of the case but it appears the senior officer has decided to leave the department. The case that is building is based on testimony and evidence gathered during recent weeks, and apparently Weinstein prefers to cut a deal with the rabbi and go after Arbiv, who is suspected of accepting considerable sums in the form of bribes. If Weinstein does opt for this route he will most likely at some point have to explain his actions to the Supreme Court, for Arbiv’s attorneys are not about to permit the senior commander to become the victim when they feel the situation should be reversed, and the major indictment should be filed against Rabbi Pinto. People close to Rabbi Pinto explain Arbiv’s resignation is a tactical move intended on trying to persuade authorities and the public that he is clean and that Weinstein should be after the rabbi. They add that in reality, Weinstein has decided to finally address corruption among senior Israel Police officials, and that is what is taking place. Attorney Roniel Fischer, who represents Israel Police Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha says “the decision by Arbiv to quit was unnecessary and cause for sorrow but whatever the case may be, it has no connection to his client in any way. Bracha filed a complaint against Rabbi Pinto and the state will decide if it wishes to follow up against Rabbi Pinto after draft indictments have already been prepared.” Officials in the Ministry of Justice decline to comment on the case. It is difficult to know just where the Pinto case will lead as it spans borders to the US, where there has been FBI involvement as well as the involvement of US Rep Michael Grimm. (YWN – Israel Desk,

For Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto the past years have been difficult ones as he is being investigated by Israel Police and the FBI. The rav, who was acted as advisor for some of Israel’s leading security commanders and state officials became a suspect in a number of investigations addressing suspicions of tax evasion, money laundering, bribery and related white collar crimes. Maariv correspondent Shalom Yerushalmi writes the rav has endured much anguish during recent years as a result, adding Rabi Pinto is quoted telling talmidim he did not give bribes to anyone. “I never gave anyone a bribe” the rav is quoted saying, adding “This is a very serious aveira in the Torah. Even if you give a bribe under circumstances that appears justified it is a Biblical prohibition. It is the same as eating pork”. The rav adds “If I have bribed anyone I am willing to remove my fedora and from now on, I am not a rav.” The case began in October 2012 with the arrest of the rav and his rebitzen, Rivkah Devorah. They were accused of bribing Police Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha, and the latter turned to his superiors, wore a wire and gathered evidence against Rabbi Pinto. Bracha explained Rabbi Pinto was seeking information on the investigation against his Chazon Yeshaya organization. Pinto demanded that the investigation be taken from the hands of police and given to another agency, for he maintained he cannot be judged fairly due to the involvement of Bracha, a senior officer. Pinto maintained the FBI knew in advance of the suitcase with money given to Bracha, and that led to uncovering corruption among other Israel Police commanders. After the Jerusalem Magistrate Court on Tu B’Shevat 5774 lifted the gag order on the case, it has been learned that the commander of the elite Yahalom 433 Unit Menashe Arbiv is among the senior commanders who was bribed. Arbiv has taken a leave pending the outcome of the growing investigation. Israel Police cooperated with the FBI as the case against the rav widened. Pinto faces obstruction of justice charges from the FBI. The FBI investigated Rabbi Pinto the victim of extortion. Yerushalmi revealed that Pinto informed American authorities of a meeting in the beginning of 2012 with Justice Minister Prof. Yaakov Ne’eman, who guided him in dealing with one of the main players in the extortion case, a member of Congress, Michael Grimm (R-NY), who was also a former FBI agent. Grimm was under FBI investigation for illegal campaign donations, some allegedly stemming from Pinto and his people. The rabbi made a deal with the FBI, and his phone was tapped. The FBI is reportedly angry with Israel Police, accusing it of compromising its investigation against Grimm by exposing Pinto as was done. A former cabinet minister was involved too according to reports, and that former minister instructed Pinto to back off his testimony against Grimm. This may lead to an additional story and point to more corruption in Israel. One follower of the rav, Sharon Ovadia, told Walla News that he and others are pleased the gag order was lifted and the truth will finally be told. He laments the pain caused the rav and how his name has been linked to illegal activities, and he and those who know Rabbi Pinto know

With the canceling of the gag order prohibiting the release of details in the case against Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, the rav’s attorneys on Tu B’Shevat 5774 released information that has brought the case back into the headline news. A number of media agencies turned to the Jerusalem Magistrate Court requesting the removal of the media blackout order. The court granted the request due to the “sever scandal” that has involved Israel Police, and the public’s right to know. According to the latest allegations, the commander of the Israel Police Lahav 433 Unit, viewed by many as Israel’s FBI, accepted bribe money from Rabbi Pinto. Israel Radio reported Thursday morning that Commander Menashe Arbiv met on Wednesday night with Police Chief Yochanan Danino, and it was decided the senior commander will take a leave of absence pending the outcome of the investigation. It is now known that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan received evidence in recent weeks pointing to Arbiv’s involvement in the case, possibly a recipient of bribes from the rabbi’s people. There is also a media buzz pointing to additional senior officers in the police department who may have received bribes or favors from the rabbi in one form or another. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Allegations of law breaking against Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto are being made by the FBI and Israel Police. The rabbi insists that he is innocent and that his good name was besmirched following his arrest that resulted from a clandestine investigation against him and his rebitzen for white collar crimes including bribery, money laundering and tax evasion. The involvement of senior Israel Police officer Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha has led to an internal affairs investigation in Israel. Rav Pinto allegedly offered Bracha a large bribe for information that would assist him in ongoing investigations against him. While Bracha reported the bribe offer to superiors, and wore a wire towards documenting Rabbi Pinto incriminating himself, there are now fears that the senior officer and others may have broken the law too. What has brought the case back into the media spotlight despite a gag order on the case is that about a week ago media reports spoke of a bribery case. Rav Pinto is no longer under house arrest and returns to Israel this week, reportedly offering significant information on the case that may lead to senior officers in the police department. Pinto is known to be close to many senior officials in Israel Police and other security agencies. He is viewed as an extremely prominent resident of Ashdod. Fears of a major bribery case have prompted Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to signal an expected announced of police recommendations of a serious indictment against the rabbi has been placed on hold pending the new developments. The Knesset Interior Committee convened on Tuesday morning 14 Shevat 5774 and Chairwoman Miri Regev stated a confidential subcommittee will address the investigation, citing just how serious it has become, pointing at possible high-level Israel Police corruption. Israel Police released a message stating the force is compromised of 30,000 policemen and officers dedicated and determined to perform their jobs in a professional fashion, cautioning against one viewing the entire force in a bad light due to rumors of a various nature. Police have also reminded the media that a gag order remains in place regarding details of the investigation. Have you checked out YWN Radio yet? ClickHERE to listen! (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

About a year following his arrest, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto has commented on those events, telling his followers that he name was dragged through the mud and at the end, all will see that he is innocent. Pinto’s arrest was connected to an alleged bribe in the amount of 200,000 NIS, which was given to a senior police official who he hoped would assist him in an ongoing FBI investigation against him. Persons close to the rav explain today that the 200,000 NIS was indeed given to Israel Police Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha, but not as a bribe but rather to assist his family with medical problems. According to a Ladaat report, Rav Pinto was among passengers who left Eretz Yisrael on Tuesday night for Bulgaria to be mispallel at the tziyun of the Pele Yoetz. The report adds that he did not return on the flight home however. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The mainstream Israeli media and the chareidi media are one when it comes to the ongoing police investigation against Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto and his wife, alleged to have bribed a senior police official to protect his interests, alleged to be engaged in money laundering and other illegal activities. Officials point out that the police official involved, the intended recipient of the alleged bribe, Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha, was not a plant, but he is a long-time follower of the rav, a shomer shabbos Yid, one who has turned to Rabbi Pinto for advice and counsel many times over the years. Being that he maintained a close relationship with the rav, the rav allegedly turned to him to intervene on his behalf, to provide him with information pertaining to the ongoing investigation. Bracha reacted by turning to his superiors. The rav and Rebitzen Devorah were arrested and questioned last week, and the rabbi was questioned again on Sunday 28 Tishrei 5773. Sadly, the rebbitzen on Sunday was hospitalized after collapsing; with police stating that she had ingested a large quantity of pills, apparently due to the stress surrounding the investigation. Officials report that police are moving forward with the case and the evidence against the rav is “solid” and an indictment is expected in the not too distant future. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Rebitzen Devorah Pinto was transported to a local hospital on Sunday afternoon 28 Tishrei 5773 after losing consciousness in her Ashdod home. According to reports from the southern city, the rebitzen’s condition is listed as “light and stable” and no diagnosis or explanation is being provided for her sudden collapse and hospitalization. Her husband, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto was arrested last week along with her, and the two have been questioned by police. The rabbi, who was also investigated by the FBI, is allegedly tied to a 200,000 NIS bribe to a senior police officer in Israel as well as money laundering in Israel. The two were under house arrest this past shabbos following their release after questioning by police last week. The rabbi was called for questioning again today, 28 Tishrei. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Israel Police last week arrested Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto as they move ahead with an investigating alleging surrounding bribery and money laundering charges. Pinto has also been the target of FBI investigators in recent months, also surrounding alleged white collar crimes. According to senior Israel Police officer Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha, Pinto recently offered him a 200,000 NIS bribe and Bracha reported this to his superiors. Police report the alleged bribe was offered by the rabbi who wished to obtain information surrounding an investigation by police focusing on Pinto’s Chazon Yoshiyahu non-profit organization. A sting operation was set into place. An agreement was reached between the two by which the rav’s wife would bring the money to the officer’s wife. Police monitored the transaction and the exchange of money was videoed by the surveillance team. Rav Pinto’s attorney told the media his client has been cooperating with police and is confident that he will be cleared of all charges. Pinto and his rebitzen, Rivka, were under house arrest over shabbos. Police on Sunday morning, 28 Tishrei 5773 summoned the rav for questioning once again. Rav Pinto, who has a large and growing following, has undoubtedly made enemies as he continues to boast increasing assets. According to Forbes Magazine, his estimated wealth is 75 million NIS, which includes his seaside village in Ashdod valued at 10 million NIS, as well as a Manhattan home. Supporters of the rav insist that jealousy is behind much of the unjustified opposition and investigation against their rav. Israel Police officials confirm that they are also probing their own ranks, admitting the news of a number of senior officers being so well placed in the inner Pinto circle as troubling. They explain that seeing officers at some of the Rav Pinto events is cause for concern, adding this is true regarding officers being too close to other rabbonim and politicians too, including “The Rentgan” (Rav Yaakov Effergan). (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

An influential rabbi whose followers sparked an FBI probe by claiming that they had funneled illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm is now himself under investigation in Israel. Yoshiyahu Pinto, a mystical rabbi known for his ties to business and political leaders in Israel and the U.S., was questioned by Israeli police on Thursday about allegations that he tried to bribe a high-ranking police officer for access to a sensitive case file, a police spokesman said. Pinto’s wife was also questioned, according to Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. Pinto rose to prominence in New York earlier this year, when aides and members of his congregation claimed they had been pressured into making illegal campaign gifts to Grimm, a Staten Island Republican. During Grimm’s 2010 race, Pinto followers contributed at least $250,000 to $300,000 to the campaign, much of it coming during the early months of his candidacy when he was a relative unknown. The FBI has been investigating for several months. This summer, agents arrested the former Pinto aide who had served as Grimm’s primary liaison to donors in the congregation. The Israeli businessman, Ofer Biton, was charged with immigration fraud. No charges related to campaign fundraising have been filed in connection with that investigation, and Grimm has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers didn’t respond to a request for comment Friday about Pinto’s legal troubles in Israel. Biton has also denied any wrongdoing. Israeli media reported Friday that a court magistrate had restricted Pinto’s travel and confined him to his home while the investigation is ongoing. Pinto’s lawyer in New York, Arthur Aidala, said the bribery allegations were “shameless” and false. “Once again, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto has been the victim of an attempted scheme to defame and slander his reputation and diminish the monumental impact of his charitable work,” Aidala said. “Unlike in the American criminal justice system, in Israel an individual can be detained for a prolonged period of time without formal charges; this is in no way proof of wrongdoing. Rabbi Pinto has and will continue to fully cooperate with authorities until this baseless investigation is concluded.” Grimm hasn’t received substantial support from Pinto’s followers this year during his ongoing re-election campaign against Democrat Mark Murphy. AP

The FBI is considering whether to open an investigation into allegations that followers of a New York City rabbi made illegal campaign contributions to U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm, according to a law enforcement official. Followers of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, an influential figure in Israel with a headquarters in Manhattan, raised hundreds of thousands for Grimm when he first ran for office in 2010, according to campaign records. Some donors have since said that they broke rules to donate more cash to the Republican’s campaign than allowed by law. Pinto hasn’t commented publicly, but former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat who had been close to the rabbi, said in interviews with several media outlets Friday and Saturday that Pinto approached him in the fall of 2010 to complain that Grimm had extorted him for the money. Weiner, who resigned last year amid a scandal, told the political newspaper Roll Call that he didn’t know if the allegations were true, but reported them to the FBI anyway. He declined to discuss in detail why the rabbi felt he had been threatened. “I can confirm the Rabbi did bring allegations to me and I can confirm that I turned them over to the FBI immediately,” Weiner told Roll Call. Weiner didn’t immediately respond to an interview request from the AP. A law enforcement official confirmed Saturday that Weiner had contacted the bureau about Pinto’s allegations in 2010. The official also confirmed that the FBI is gathering information and considering whether or not to open a formal investigation into fundraising for Grimm by Pinto’s followers and associates. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is incomplete. Grimm’s representatives didn’t immediately respond to phone calls and emails from The Associated Press on Saturday, but he released statements to several newspapers calling the allegations completely false. “These allegations are so profoundly absurd that they serve as proof of the coordinated, Democratic smear campaign designed to recruit a stronger opponent to challenge me,” Grimm said. He also accused Weiner of making up the story about going to the FBI. Grimm told the Advance, a newspaper on Staten Island, that if Weiner really did hear such an explosive charge in the fall of 2010, he surely would have gone public to keep the congressional seat in the borough, then held by a Democrat, from falling into Republican hands. “No rational person would believe these politically motivated fantasies,” he said. It isn’t clear whether Weiner’s report to the FBI in 2010 resulted in any action. Grimm is a former FBI agent who spent a decade working for the bureau before leaving to pursue private business interests. READ MORE: USA TODAY

An Orthodox rabbi and mystic-to-the-stars, who traces his lineage to King David, has claimed he is the victim of a huge embezzlement and extortion scheme by two former cohorts suspected of looting millions from his charity, sources said. Charismatic Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, 39, whose devotees reportedly include real-estate big shots, members of Congress and even NBA star LeBron James, had been under fire in the Jewish press for his lavish lifestyle even as millions of dollars in donations went missing. But sources said Tuesday that two former insiders hatched a scheme to embezzle money from Pinto’s nonprofit and extort even more by spilling their guts to the press about embarrassing details of the jet-setting rabbi’s spending habits and personal life. No one has been arrested. But sources said the FBI and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn were scrutinizing Israeli businessman Ofer Biton, 38, and Manhattan PR hotshot Ronn Torossian, 37, for nearly a year. Both men have denied any wrongdoing. Source: NewsCore READ MORE: NY POST

Just 3 weeks ago, the AP ran an article about Rabbi Pinto. Now the Jewish Chronicle takes a turn: At first glance, it appears a typical gathering – friends and family enjoying an evening together. Men and women face each other across a long table laden with dried fruit, nuts and sweet delicacies, slowly sipping soft drinks. But as the conversation develops it becomes clear that the group is focusing intensely on one man: Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, a guru to the stars whose advice is sought by businessmen and Israeli ministers on subjects ranging from the stock market to politics. Today, his guest is a billionaire US businessman who came to Ashdod with his entourage to pay his respects. The pair hold hands tightly, as though a spiritual charge passes between them. The rabbi, swaying back and forth, says that meeting the businessman has been one of the most important events in his life. In Israel, the list of those seeking Rabbi Pinto’s advice reads like a high-society gossip column: Multi-millionaires Lev Leviev and Nochi Danker, opposition leader Tzipi Livni and former Industry Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer, who the rabbi supposedly brought out of a coma earlier this year. It is even rumoured that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consults him. “He manages to connect so many people,” says Israeli journalist Shalom Yerushalmi, who also calls the rabbi for advice. “Whether someone is rich or poor, religious or secular, the rabbi manages to bring them together. That is his contribution to Israeli society.” Rabbi Pinto’s wife, Rivka, who frequently travels with him when he visits followers around the globe, explains it slightly differently: “He makes everyone feel worthy,” she says. “Everyone is touched by his charisma.” At 38, Rabbi Pinto is the descendant of two revered Moroccan Jewish dynasties. His father, Haim Pinto, is chief Sephardic rabbi of Ashdod and belongs to a long line of rabbis and saints. His mother is the granddaughter of the Baba Sali, a Sephardic mystic who was said to have magical powers. He is also the nephew of the renowned Rabbi Elazar Abuhatzira, whose murder this month was predicted by Rabbi Pinto, according to one of his assistants. “Rabbi Pinto is very, very wise but there is also something metaphysical about him,” says Ashdod Mayor Yechiel Lasry, who regularly consults the rabbi on personal and professional matters. A source very close to the rabbi claims that while Rabbi Pinto was born to be a saint, it is his shrewd business sense coupled with his loyalty and courageousness that have made him so admired. “He is not afraid to recognise modernity,” the source says. “He was the one who advised Interior Minister Eli Yishai not to deport the children of foreign workers and he spoke out against rabbis who called for Israelis not to rent flats to Arabs. The rabbi realises that Israel’s actions affect Jewish communities all over the world.” Despite his respected status, the rabbi is not without controversy. This week Israeli papers ran a story alleging that the rabbi and his wife had been involved in illegal real estate dealings. A source close to the rabbi responded: “There has been a legal dispute between rebbitzon Rivka and her father for more than a year. The rabbi believes that justice will eventually prevail and those

Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto held a closed meeting with 80 Jewish American businessmen in Bulgaria and asked them to invest $5 billion in the Israeli economy, including $2 billion in the coming year. The businessmen who met with Pinto included entrepreneur Jay Schottenstein and one of the owners of the Victoria’s Secret women’s wear retailer. “In such days of economic opportunities, we must remember that we, the sons of the Jewish people, must preserve the country, built it and ensure that its economic flourishes,” the rabbi told the businessmen. “It’s unfortunate that there are so many wealthy Jews in the world who don’t even consider the Israeli economy as an option.” One of the people the rabbi expected to see, but who failed to show up, was NBA star LeBron James, who met with Pinto about three weeks ago. The basketball players’ business manager, Maverick Carter, arrived instead. The meeting was held in the Bulgarian city of Silistra, where renowned Jewish scholar Rabbi Eliezer Papo is buried. Rabbi Pinto visits the grave once a year in an event known as “the Uman of the Sephardim.” The festive event was attended by more than 1,000 people from Israel, including dozens of senior businessmen. (Source: Ynet)

An IDF soldier happened across a talmid of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto Shlita and the latter asked the soldier if he had put on tefilin that same day. He explained he had not and that he is willing. The incident occurred last week in Ashkelon. After putting them on the soldier was asked if he would continue putting them on. He replied he would but does not have a pair and cannot afford to buy them. The talmid of the rav relayed the story and Rav Pinto reportedly instructed his gabboim to buy a mehudar pair and get it to the soldier. The rav’s instructions were carried out and the meeting was arranged in the Ashkelon train station as the soldier made the trip from Hadera. The soldier was given the tefilin along with the explanation that they were purchased in compliance with Rabbi Pinto’s strict instructions, making certain they are mehudar. The soldier was asked to be mispallel for Rav Pinto as well. The soldier, with tears in his eyes, promised to put them on daily and continue being mispallel for Rabbi Pinto who battles a serious illness while serving a one-year jail term. The rav’s gabbaim request that the tzibur continue being mispallel for Yoshiyahu Yosef ben Zohari bsoch shar cholei Yisrael. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

[VIDEOS AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Two thousand mispallalim visited Kever Yosef in Shechem (Nablus) on Sunday night to take part in the lighting of the Menorah for the eighth night of Chanukah. Among those in attendance was was Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, who was accompanied by hundreds of his followers. Lighting the menorah was the IDF Yehuda and Shomron Division Commander Brigadier-General Lior Karmeli. Also present was Rabbi Yisrael Abarjil, Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, Shomron Brigade Commander Colonel Shai Kelfer, Menashe Brigade Commander Zhezi Nechemia, Shomron Hagmar Officer Lt.-Colonel Miki Zivoni and a number of other lower ranking officers. The Samaria Regional Council arranged the ceremony in conjunction with the IDF and security officials, as part of an ongoing effort to ensure the Tomb remains in Israeli hands. PHOTOS AND VIDEO VIA MIDABRIM TIKSHORET (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

President Rivlin addressed a memorial service for Israel Police Dep. Commissioner Ephraim Bracha, who recently took his own life apparently in connection to his alleged illegal actions connected to Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto. President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday evening 19 Menachem Av addressed the memorial ceremony for the late Deputy Commissioner Ephraim Bracha held at the national police academy in Beit Shemesh. Participating in the ceremony were members of the Bracha family, alongside Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Acting Police Commissioner Bentzi Sau, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, and State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan. In his address, the President spoke of the lessons to be learned following the tragic death of Dep. Commissioner Bracha. He said, “The lesson is simply that in every situation, on the other side there is a person. On the most basic and emotional human level, in which we understand that we are all human, and that under the uniform of a deputy commissioner is a human being. That under a judge’s or prosecutor’s robes, under a prisoner’s uniform or the suit of a defendant – there is a human being. As there is behind the sign being held by a protester, and even beneath the suit and tie of a politician.” The President added, “In the moment before you send that cutting article, share that vitriolic post, before carrying out an on-line lynch – consider for a moment, on the other side is a human being. So too, in the moment before you disperse an angry protest, before going out to make an arrest, before the use of force and authority – let us remember that on the other side there is a human being. So too, in the moment before you call a policeman a ‘Nazi’, or decrying an official as a ‘racist’, or before threatening a parking inspector, before cursing a teacher, a moment before blood is shed – let us remember that on the other side there is a human being. It is my hope that the tragic death of the late Dep. Commissioner, Ephraim Bracha, will serve as a stark warning for us, lest we forget the humanity within us.” (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The investigation continues into the suicide of the former head of the Israel Police 433 investigations unit, known as Israel’s FBI, Brigadier-General Ephraim Bracha, who was linked to illegal activities involving Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto. Police on Sunday 25 Tammuz announce they are still trying to find the former commander’s cellular telephone. They have tried tacking it using technological means, albeit without success, and there is now growing concern that the phone which likely contains classified information and numbers has disappeared. When Bracha did not answer his phone, his wife turned to a close friend and senior department officer, Avi Neumann, who used police resources to finally locate Bracha, who was found dead in his vehicle not far from his home. The investigation continues. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Israel Police Major-General Kobi Cohen announced his resignation from the department after admitting immoral behavior. Cohen’s admission and subsequent resignation makes him the fifth Israel Police major-general to resign or be forced to resign, all due to their unacceptable actions including involvement in bribery or immoral behavior. In 2013, Jerusalem Police Chief Niso Shacham was dismissed after he was charged by a female subordinate for his unacceptable actions. In 2014, Jerusalem Police Chief Yossi Pariente resigned in disgrace due to allegations surrounding his immoral behavior. In 2014, the commander of the elite Lahav 433 unit resigned amid allegations pertaining to the Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto bribery case and in 2014, Tel Aviv Police Chief Bruno Stein resigned after being photographed in a bribery involved affair. Cohen is the commander of the Shai (Shomron-Yehuda) district and despite the significance of that post, a replacement will not be appointed ahead of elections in March. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Supreme Court Justices Miriam Naor, Uri Shoham and Elyakim Rubinstein expressed harsh criticism on Sunday 16 Kislev regarding senior Israel Police officials who are too comfortable hanging around “the courts of admorim”, making a direct reference to the ongoing case involving senior Israel Police officials and Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto. The justices called such behavior by high-ranking police officials “outrageous and unfitting” for persons of their positions. The court was addressing a petition filed by the Movement for Quality in Government (MQG) and Ometz Organization, challenging the agreement by which Rabbi Pinto is a state witness against former Israel Police commander Menashe Arbiv. Prior to this case Arbiv headed the 433 Lahav Investigations Unit, Israel’s equivalent of the FBI. After becoming entangled with Rav Pinto he was compelled to resign and the prosecution has since cut a deal with Pinto by which the rabbi will serve a year in prison and give testimony to incriminate Arbiv, who faces numerous charges including accepting bribes. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

MK (Labor) Binyamin Ben-Eliezer announced on Shabbos that due to the police investigation against him, he has decided the proper thing for him to do is to drop out of the presidential election. Ben-Eliezer is being questioned by police ‘under warning’, which signals police have gathered significant evidence that a criminal indictment is likely. Ben-Eliezer is suspected of accepting millions of shekels illegally and then failing to report the income to tax authorities. Eyes are directed at the former career military officer’s penthouse in Yaffo, the 190 square meter home with a 100 square meter balcony that he purchased from the Almog Company under the control of the Vice President of the Contractors Association, Yitzchak Amsellem. The penthouse in question was purchased in December 2011 from Amsellem. Ben-Eliezer paid 9 million shekels for the home. It is alleged that Ben-Eliezer received $400,000 from Avraham Nanikashvili, the equivalent of 1.35 million shekels, which paid for a part of the home. The third-story penthouse on Margua Street near the shore is described as an electronic smart home, one of 19 apartments in two buildings constructed by Amsellem in recent years. Nanikashvili was also questioned by police on erev Shabbos 8 Sivan. He is also a suspect in the ongoing investigation involving corruption among senior Port of Ashdod officials. During that investigation, customs officials revealed that Ben-Eliezer received money. Nanikashvili then admitted giving money to Ben-Eliezer, insisting it was a loan and not a gift. Police have also learned that Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto is close to Nanikashvili and the case against Ben-Eliezer and/or the investigation into the Port of Ashdod may show a connection to the rav, who is also under investigation amid allegations of bribing senior police commanders. Yediot Achronot points out that after Ben-Eliezer was released from a hospital following a struggle for his life, Nanikashvili was among the sponsors of a lavish party on Ben-Eliezer’s behalf held in a Hilton Hotel. Among the notables in attendance was Rav Pinto. The veteran MK announced in the past that he submitted reports to both the Knesset speaker and state comptroller regarding the source of funds for the purchase and he denies any wrongdoing in the case. Ben-Eliezer explains that his decision to drop out of the presidential race is not be viewed as an admission of guilt, explaining it was simply the correct thing to do, nothing more. Almost all of the apartments were sold by Almog for 52 million shekels. The apartments in the buildings in which Ben-Eliezer’s penthouse is located are among the most expensive in Israel. An apartment on the ground flood, 160 square meters with a 50 square meter garden sold for 3.7 million shekels. A regular three bedroom sells for 3.3 million shekels. What Alleged Crime was Committed? The receipt of a loan from a business tycoon friend is not in itself a violation of the law. However, he did not report the income to tax authorities. Another theory is that he accepted the money and gave services in return in line with his abilities as a public official. That would make the loan a bribe. Some posit the MK may have used his political clout to advance other building projects in Israel. It is known that Ben-Eliezer maintains good relations with Nanikashvili for many years and

· Arabs who pelted police on Har Habayis with rocks earlier are holed up in al-Aqsa Mosque. · Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto continues his testimony with police and will be taking a polygraph exam. · Two Syrian nationals were admitted to Ziff Hospital in Tzfas during the night. They are in very serious and moderate condition. · Former IDF Chief Rabbi Mordechai Piron z”l was niftar at the age of 93. The levaya is at 14:30 in Har Menuchos. · Security forces destroyed illegal structures in the Binyamin Regional Council of Shomron, in the Zayit Ra’anan community. · Seven dunams (1.75 acres) of nature reserves in S. Yerushalayim near Ramat Rachel went up in flames this morning. Investigators report the fire was the result of arson. · 12:00: Train service in the Zichron Yaakov area halted due to a fire. · A 37-year-old Hadera man is in custody after police found his rental car business was renting stolen and impounded vehicles. · A 25-year-old Yokneam male was indicted in a price tag attack in which he allegedly slashed the tires of an Arab owned vehicle in a hate crime. · Many Jerusalem streets will close at 15:00 to accommodate Jerusalem Day marchers. · MK Tzachi Hanegbi, a close ally of PM Netanyahu, is now the deputy foreign minister. Ze’ev Elkin, who held the post, accepted a rotation arrangement with Yariv Levin to head the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Supporters of Rabbi Eliezer Berland have decided to invest in hiring the best legal services available towards determining if and how the rav can return to Israel, the daily Maariv reports. The rav has hired the legal services of attorneys Roi Blecher and Moshe Mazor from the Office of Goldfarb & Zelegman in the hope of paving his way back to Israel. In the onset of his legal concerns, the rabbi was represented by prominent attorney Yaakov Weinrott. The two attorneys selected are also the defense team for Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto Shlita and they have been working with State Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein during recent months towards persuading him to file a less harsh indictment against Rabbi Pinto. The report adds that hundreds of chassidim who were planning to join the rav for Shabbos Parshas Zachor in Zimbabwe have cancelled their plans and some families planning to relocate from Israel to be with the rav are holding off. Persons close to the rav explain “we have changed direction” and instead of chassidim moving to the rav, the rav is now working on setting the legal stage towards permitting his return home. Rabbi Berland fled Israel about 18 months ago to avoid arrest amid accusations of law-breaking. He spent a period of time in Morocco and is now in Zimbabwe. He has to be in countries that do not maintain extradition agreements with Israel. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

YWN-ISRAEL about two months ago reported on the special status enjoyed by a number of admorim and prominent rabbonim at Ben-Gurion International Airport. This arrangement with the Customs Authority permits VIP rabbonim to pass in and out of the country with minimal waiting and lines. The Movement for Quality in Government (MQG) has turned to Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz asking to see the guidelines governing this protocol, wishing to learn how the determination is made permitting certain rabbis to be checked by passport control and customs from their vehicles. Attorney Nadel Haik explains to Minister Katz that the special treatment for the selected rabbis is a significant blow to equality and it is doubtful if he has the authority to permit such an arrangement from many perspectives, including maintaining the trust of the general public. Haik adds in his letter that anyone who views this situation cannot help but posit or suspect the behavior of customs officials in the airport whom have opted to grant special privileges to the admorim. “This gray picture is distasteful and represents a blatant violation of the public’s trust. In light of the ongoing betrayal of the public’s trust, we ask that you respond as soon as possible, in an urgent fashion in light of the circumstances.” The list of rabbonim and admorim who benefit from this VIP arrangement includes HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, the Gerre Rebbe Shlita, Rav Amnon Yitzchak and the sons of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L. After the rabbinic VIP arrangement at the airport was publicized, Customs Authority released the following statement; “In an effort to provide appropriate accommodations to travelers in various population groups including ministers, official guests, unaccompanied minors, professional athletes, rabbonim and artists, and without prejudice regarding their requirements under the law in Ben-Gurion International Airport, the agreement was approved by the attorney general and other state officials including customs, the minister of the interior and Israel Police. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)