Israel shaken by decision to indict Rabbi Pinto
The serious charges to be filed against Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto have generated a storm among the Israeli public days after the police recommended that Rabbi Yona Metzger be indicted for bribery and fraud.
Before he got into trouble with the law, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto enjoyed an unprecedented public standing. Barely 40, he had already succeeded in amassing a fortune, as well as power and adherents in Israel and the broader Jewish community. His success had made him one of the most influential rabbis in the world.
Then, on the evening of Feb. 12, a bombshell dropped: Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein announced his decision to indict the rabbi on charges of bribery, obstruction of an investigation by offering inducements, illegally influencing various authorities, witness intimidation, money laundering and other offenses.
