Former Shas Minister Rav Shlomo Benizri, serving a jail term for fraud, has submitted requests for clemency to President Shimon Peres and Justice Minister Prof. Yaakov Ne’eman.
In his impassioned letter, the former minister explains his dire financial situation, how all of his family’s assets are gone, adding he does not plan to return to the political arena following his release and that the punishment is “too heavy for me to endure”.
He details that the crimes of which he was found guilty took place 8-12 years prior to his conviction, and the fact the court acquitted him of the overwhelming number of charges filed against him. He also feels that he was convicted as a result of the media taking a strong position against him. In his plea to the president, he highlights his years of loyal service to the state and to the people, placing an emphasis on assisting the lower-incoming sector of society.
Benizri began serving his four-year sentence in September 2009.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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2 Responses
if you ar going to adress a prominent position as “..the president”
then why does this person who acknowledged that he was guilty of crimes that were 12 yrs old, etc, why does he get called “Rav”.
without reflecting on him, what mussar are the readers being given.
A talmud chochom with a stain on his clothing is chayuv missa.
So to give him a dan lzchus dont give him the elevation he, and all violaters [to put it mildly] deserve.
To comment # 1,
Until the “restoration of our judges” which I’m assuming you daven for 3 times a day in Shmone Esray don’t be so quick to pass judgment based on Israels perverted/agenda ridden judicial system and especially when it comes to men of Benizris’ stature who refuse to allow themselves to be intimidated by this ALL RIGHTEOUS ruling cliche and who have publicly stood up for torah values proudly and defiantly and are therefore a natural target for these “paragons of justice”.