A request filed with President Reuven Rivlin to pardon Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto has been declined. The rabbi is serving a one-year prison term as per the plea bargain agreement signed with the prosecution. The President announced he is acting in line with the recommendation of the Ministry of Justice, not to grant the pardon. The request was filed two months after Rabbi Pinto entered prison, citing his medical condition and need for chemotherapy. The Israel Prison Authority has stated it is capable of meeting Rabbi Pinto’s medical needs however, the rabbi’s chassidim insist his condition continues to deteriorate due to his imprisonment. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

A prison parole board will be rendering a decision regarding Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, who is currently serving a one-year prison term as per the plea bargain agreement signed with the state. On Thursday, 29 Tammuz, the Israel Prison Authority is expected to announce its decision in another high profile case, the request to wipe away a third from a seven-year prison term being served by former President Moshe Katsav. The parole board is also expected to announce its decision pertaining to Rabbi Pinto as well, on Thursday. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto Shlita, who is serving a one-year prison term in the Nitzan Prison in Ramle has decided to halt chemotherapy treatments due to his weakened condition. It is reported the rabbi is transported by the prison service to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. Attorney Avi Chimi, who represents the rabbi explains as a result of the treatments the rabbi has lost eight kilograms (17.5 lbs.) and he is now extremely weak. Chimi explains these treatments are difficult enough for anyone having to go through them but for someone who no longer has his family around him, it is that much more difficult. Chimi explains due to the rav’s medical condition, the difficulty of the treatments and the difficult conditions to which he is subjected to, he has decided to halt the treatments. Israel Prison Authority officials state the rabbi receives treatments at times. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The Shuvu Yisrael kehilla is being mispallel for the recovery of their admor, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, whose medical condition is being described as “serious and complicated”. Rabbi Pinto recently underwent serious surgeries and medical procedures for his illness. He remains hospitalized in a NYC hospital. The rav’s condition reportedly deteriorated last month and then there was a measure of stability following surgery. Prior to the last surgery Rabbi Pinto sent a letter to his followers, giving them chizuk. Kehilla officials are calling on the tzibur to continue being mispallel for Rabbi Pinto, Yoshiyahu Yosef ben Zari bsoch kol cholei am yisrael. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto has returned to Israel and he is expected to give testimony to police investigators this morning, Tuesday, 27 Iyar 5774. Rav Pinto is a suspect in a major bribery fraud case involving senior police commanders. The investigation against them is being spearheaded by Israel Police’s 433 Unit, Israel’s equivalent of the FBI. According to the information being released, Pinto has struck a deal with the state prosecutor and he will be testifying as a state witness. Rav Pinto has been working to cut a deal by which he would incriminate the former commander of the 433 Unit, Menashe Arbiv, and in exchange for his information receive immunity. The prosecution however is seeking a one-year prison term for Pinto despite his willingness to cooperate. Commando Arbiv was compelled to resign his senior post amid harsh allegations of accepting large sums in bribes from Rav Pinto. Arbiv insists that it is Rav Pinto who accepted the money and the rabbi is now seeking to cut a deal to save his skin. The sum allegedly accepted by one of the defendants is 200,000 shekels. There is a considerable amount of criticism surrounding the state’s willingness to deal with Rav Pinto as many feel the senior police commander who has dedicated his life to public service should have been given the first opportunity to become a state witness and not the rabbi. Rav Pinto sent a message to his talmidim and followers that in a moment the truth and justice will become apparent to all regarding the criminal allegations against him. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Following the announcement linking Israel Police Yahav 433 Commander Menashe Arbiv to the bribery money laundering investigation against Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, Public Security Minister Yitzchak Aharonovich released the following statement on Tu B’Shevat 5774. Aharonovich stated that he will not permit the allegations made by attorneys for Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto cloud the facts in the case, calling on Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to move ahead with a “serious criminal indictment” against Rav Pinto. Aharonovich was critical of Pinto’s attorneys for releasing information about the possible involvement of Police Commander Arbiv in the case. He feels the legal team is seeking to divert attention away from the primary suspect, Rabbi Pinto, calling on the attorney general to move ahead with an indictment immediately. The Pinto case has rocked Israel Police for its points to involvement of a number of senior officers. Investigations are reportedly ongoing with the knowledge that a number of senior police commanders, public officials, politicians and notables frequented the rav’s home as they wished to receive his advice and brachos. Some of the people on this list include Police Brigadier-General Ephraim Baruch, Arbiv, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and former Justice Minister Prof. Yaakov Ne’eman. The Justice Ministry has released a statement that an investigation was conducted against Bracha, and he was cleared of wrongdoing. Bracha told his superiors that Pinto offered him a large bribe in exchange for information pertaining to the investigations against him, including an FBI probe in the USA. Bracha wore a wire and documented subsequent conversations with Rabbi Pinto. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

(Click on image to enlarge) According to the TMZ website, NBA player LeBron James paid Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto six figures to sit in on a merchandising meeting on a yacht somewhere off the coast of New York. Rabbi Pinto is styled as something as business guru-slash-spiritual leader to the rich and famous. According to TMZ, he is known a around New York as the “Rabbi to the Business Stars.” Rabbi Pinto — a 37 year-old-man who speaks only Hebrew — has met with all sorts of business moguls in the past … and is considered by some to be a “spiritual guide” who consults on business matters. TMZ reports that LeBron paid in the neighborhood of 6-figures to get Rabbi Pinto to sit in on today’s meeting … in which LeBron heard presentations from several “big time” retail execs.  It’s been a big summer for the Jews — with Amar’e Stoudemire meeting with rabbis in Israel … and Shaq learning Hebrew. (Sources: TMZ / Miami New Times)

Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto was released from Nitzan Prison on Wednesday morning 27 Teves. There was no crowd, just a driver and a gabbai were on hand. The rav completed serving ten months in prison term that was a part of the plea bargain agreement he accepted in his bribery trial. It is reported that while in prison he wrote 15 seforim in addition to a number of kuntrasim. Rabbi Pinto had a difficult time as he was also undergoing chemotherapy while serving his sentence. It was reported that he was heading directly to Kever Rashbi from prison where he will be participating in a hachnasas Sefer Torah. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Media Resource Group)

Israel’s High Court of Justice on Thursday 2 Cheshvan rejected a petition filed on behalf of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, who is seeking early release from prison due to his medical condition. The rabbi continues to undergo chemotherapy treatments as prisoner. In its decision Thursday, the High Court declined to overrule the district court, which rejected the petition for early release. A parole board agreed to release the rabbi but that was placed on hold to permit the state to file an appeal with a district court. The district court overturned the parole board and the rabbi was hoping the High Court of Justice would overturn the district court but this did not occur. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The District Court last week denied the parole of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, accepting the appeal from the state. The prison parole board decided to release Rabbi Pinto after serving seven months of his one-year term due to his declining health. He is undergoing chemotherapy while serving his term. The state opposed the early release due to the severity of his crime and the fact that his one-year term is the result of a plea bargain agreement that the rabbi signed. The appeal was filed with the district court and the rabbi’s release from prison was delayed until the district court issued its verdict. The district court accepted the appeal, overturning the parole board, ordering the rabbi to serve the remainder of his sentence. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The hearing in a district court regarding the early release from prison for Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto was held on Monday morning as scheduled. As reported, a parole board voted to release the rabbi on Sunday, 22 Elul after serving seven months of a one-year term due to his deteriorating illness. The rabbi is receiving chemotherapy while serving his term. The state appealed and this led to the district court hearing, seeking to reverse the decision and compel the rabbi to complete serving his sentence, as per the plea bargain agreement he signed with the prosecution. The court heard the facts in the case and promised to announced the verdict on Thursday, 26 Elul. For the time being, the rabbi’s release was placed on hold and he remains in prison. The closed-door appeal hearing began at 10:00AM on 23 Elul, with Justice Avraham Tal presiding. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The state is appealing last week’s parole board decision to release Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto from prison early due to his illness as he continues receiving chemotherapy for his cancer. The rabbi was serving a one-year sentence as a result of a plea bargain agreement and asked to be released after seven-months due to his declining health. He was expected to be released on Sunday, 22 Elul. The state however was given until Sunday to appeal and it decided to exercise this right in the hope of blocking the rabbi’s early release. The appeal requests delaying his release until the decision on the appeal is rendered. The state maintains that despite his health, the parole board did not give sufficient weight to the facts in the case, the severity of the crimes of which he was convicted, bribing a senior Israel Police official. The state adds the parole board simply ignored classified information it received and ruled to release the rabbi nevertheless. The decision was made to honor the request to delay the rav’s release and a hearing on the appeal is scheduled for Monday, 23 Elul, at 10:00AM in the district court. That hearing will be heard by court President Justice Avraham Tal. It is pointed out that if the rabbi emerges successful in the appeal, it is possible or likely the state will appeal again to the High Court of Justice, further delaying the rav release ahead of Rosh Hashanah. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

An Israel Prison Authority parole board on Monday 16 Elul has decided to grant a request for early release for Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto based on his difficult medical condition. The rabbi will be released from prison on Sunday, 22 Elul after completing seven months of his one-year prison term. The rabbi asked to be released on good behavior, which entails forgiving a third of his term, a standard practice in the prison system. It was first indicated he would not be released since he signed a plea bargain agreement to serve one year. However, due to his battle with cancer and regular chemotherapy treatments, the decision was made to grant his request. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The state is opposed to an early release request from Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, who is serving a one-year prison term in line with the plea agreement he signed with the prosecution. Rabbi Pinto has filed a request for early release with parole board officials seeking to have one-third removed from his sentence for good behavior, as is the standard practice in the prison system. The parole board heard the rabbi’s request on Tuesday 10 Elul, and the board is yet to announce its decision. The state has expressed objections to his early release based on the fact the rav signed a plea agreement by which he is required to serve one-year imprisonment. The rav has been diagnosed with cancer and receives chemotherapy every other week in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. He is transported back and forth by the Prison Authority from Ayalon Prison in Ramle. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, who entered prison about four months ago, has been targeted by criminals in a nearby cell who have been threatening the rav to extort money from his chassidim. According to the Channel 10 News report, the matter began with requests for large sums of money to keep an eye out and make certain no harm comes to Rabbi Pinto in prison. Not wishing to gamble with the rav’s well-being, especially due to his weakened condition, chassidim made certain the sum was paid. However, a short time later a third person become involved and began his own threats against the rabbi, seeking money for guaranteeing his safety. During Pesach things took a turn for the worse as the mother of one of the imprisoned inmates arrived at the rav’s home on seder night, asking to join in. It was explained to her that she could not due to Israel Prison Authority restrictions surrounding his leave for Yomtov. When the rav returned to prison following leave the criminals made note of how their mother was treated, warning Rabbi Pinto his family would pay the price. At this point police became involved. The brothers in the nearby cell who made the original threats, who are affiliated with organized crime, were shipped out of Nitzan Prison where Rabbi Pinto is housed. Each was sent to a different prison, distanced from one another. The case against them is being prepared for the district prosecutor’s office. Shortly before entering prison Rabbi Pinto told chassidim “HKBH does what he wishes, not just that it is good for us but we must thank Him, even when it is not pleasant for us – we must thank Him”. After exhausting appeals, Rabbi Pinto entered prison to serve a one-year sentence, the result of a plea bargain agreement. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The Lod Magistrate Court on Monday 10 Nissan approved to permit Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto to participate in his brothers’ chasunah on erev Pesach. As such, he will most likely be permitted to remain out of prison on Shabbos, which permits him to remain out of prison for seder. The chasunah will take place on Friday at 17:00. In order to avoid Chilul Shabbos, he is permitted to remain out of prison until after Shabbos. Israel Prison Authority officials believed the timing of the chasunah is not coincidental, but rather designed to permit the rabbi to be out of jail for seder night. Rabbi Pinto is serving a one-year prison term as per a plea agreement he signed with the prosecution. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Chassidim of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, who is serving a prison sentence, report his medical condition continues to deteriorate. Some time ago the rabbi announced he was not going to continue his chemotherapy treatments due to the difficulties in being transported to and from the prison and hospital for those treatments. Chassidim this week held a ‘tikun’ over a two-day period for his well-being. They call on the tzibur to continue being mispallel for the rav. The rav’s gabbaim request that the tzibur continue being mispallel for Yoshiyahu Yosef ben Zohari bsoch shaar cholei yisrael. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Chassidim of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto Shlita davened shachris on Monday morning 4 Adar-II outside Nitzan Prison where Rabbi Pinto is serving his sentence. Supporters of the rav decried what they call the “cruel conditions”, aware the rav, who is battling cancer, has deteriorated significantly since imprisoned. Rav Pinto announced last month he is not going to continue chemotherapy any longer due to the hardships associated with the travel to and from prison for the treatments. Followers of the rav call on the tzibur around the world to be mispallel for Yoshiyahu Yosef ben Zohari bsoch sha’ar cholei yisrael. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Kehillas Shuva Yisrael is planning a world tefilla ‘Tikun HaNefesh’ on behalf of the head of the kehilla, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto Shlita, whose physical condition continues to deteriorate. YWN-ISRAEL recently reported that Rabbi Pinto is not going for regular chemotherapy at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital for the trip in the prison van from Ramle and return trip have made the ordeal more than his fragile body is capable of enduring at present. The worldwide tefilla effort is scheduled for Tuesday, 21 Adar-I, at 6:00PM Israel time. The times for the international tefilla in other countries/cities around the world as given by Shuva Yisrael. New York: noon Los Angeles: 9AM Paris: 6PM Canada: noon Miami: noon London: 5PM Panama: noon (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Israel’s High Court of Justice rejected a request from attorneys for Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, who is seeking another hearing in the hope of keeping the rabbi out of prison. The rabbi had already appealed to the High Court and a panel of three justices turned down his appeal, ruling he will have to serve his prison sentence in line with the plea bargain agreement he signed. Pinto’s lawyers filed again on Monday, 29 Shevat, seeking another hearing in the High Court with an expanded panel of justices but the court is not interested in granting the request despite the petition’s mention of the rabbi’s difficult medical condition. The rabbi’s legal team was basing its request on the recent High Court ruling in which the court decided former Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky would not have to serve his jail term in the Holyland real estate case despite the fact the other defendants will be serving jail time. The court took Lupoliansky’s medical condition into consideration. Two of the justices in the Lupoliansky appear also heard the Pinto appeal, Justices Isaac Amit and Tzvi Zilbertal. In the case of Lupoliansky, his 18-month sentence was reduced to 6-months of community service. Justice Salim Jubran, who heard the Lupoliansky appeal, wrote that it was clear to all regarding the severity of defendant’s illness in addition to the realization the jail term would contribute to the shortening of his life. The court in the Pinto appeal feels the same cannot be said for the rabbi’s medical condition, which is the subject of controversy as a district court ruled imprisoning him would not shorten his life or result in complicating his medical condition for the care he requires is available in prison. Jubran also rejected the argument presented by Rabbi Pinto, determining a new law permits taking into account facts that were not contained in the indictment for the purpose of sentencing. Hence the court ruled the rabbi has exhausted his legal option and will have to serve his jail term as per the agreement he signed, one-year imprisonment. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

About a month before he has to enter prison to serve a one-year jail term, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto on erev Shabbos Parshas Bo collapsed in his Ashdod home. Gabboim of the rav summoned his personal physician. YWN-ISRAEL reported that the rav recently told his followers that he body is weakening, asking them to be mispallel for him as he prepares to enter prison. He explained how he has to undergo chemotherapy to fight off cancer which has been found in his prostate and lymph nodes. The rav is being imprisoned as part of a plea bargain agreement that he signed. He petitioned the Supreme Court to wave the jail sentence but the appeal was rejected. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Speaking at a yahrzeit event on Wednesday night the eve of 4 Shevat, the yahrzeit the Baba Sali ZT”L, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto surprised many when he announced he is growing weaker, calling on the tzibur to be mispallel for him. With the Supreme Court recently rejecting his appeal, the rav will soon be entering prison to serve a one-year term as was agreed to in his plea bargain agreement. “My health is poor” said the rav, adding “The body is going and I grow weaker by the day and I will have to undergo difficult chemotherapy to fight off the cancer in my prostate and lymph nodes”. He called on the tzibur “Please daven to HKBH the healer so that I will merit seeing the small children grow in Torah and Yiras Shomayim”. Rabbi Pinto was addressing dozens of talmidim and followers in Beit Knesset Tiferet Yochai. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday morning 24 Teves announced it is rejecting the appeal filed by Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, who in April 2015 pleaded guilty in a plea-bargain agreement in his fraud case. Part of the plea bargain compels Rabbi Pinto to serve a year in prison. The rabbi was hopeful the High Court would take his deteriorating health into consideration but with the appeal being rejected, he will have to enter prison and serve a one-year term. Justices Yitzchak Amit, Tzvi Zilbertal and Mani Mazuz decided to send the rav to prison to serve his term as per the agreement he signed with the prosecutor and accepted by the court. Many felt an air of optimism following the recent High Court ruling in the petition of former Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupoliansky, whose prison term was wiped by the court, which took his ailing health into consideration, of course along with other circumstances of that case. In the case of Rabbi Lupoliansky, his prison term was reduced to an 18-month community service sentence. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Hundreds of followers of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto were outside of Israel’s High Court of Justice in a showing of support as the rav appealed his sentencing by a district court. The chassidim danced outside courthouse. They first filled the courtroom but in compliance with a request of the rav, they exited the courtroom to remain outside where they danced and were mispallel. Just two weeks ago the prosecution compelled the rav to leave his NYC hospital bed to fly back to Israel to attend court session despite leaders from senior physicians that this would further jeopardize the rabbi’s fragile state. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Video: ינקאל , Medabrim Tikshoret)

Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto is heading home to Israel despite objections from his doctors in New York City. Earlier in the week it was reported the rabbi collapsed on a plane heading to Israel prior for takeoff from NYC. The rabbi is compelled to return to Israel to appear at this trial as the prosecution is unwilling to take his fragile medical state into consideration. The rav is scheduled to arrive in Israel before Shabbos. He will present the court with a letter from one of his physicians, explaining his condition. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)