Quid Pro Kabbalist?

A real estate developer who also is a senior associate of "kabbalist" Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto tells investors they will get a fixed rate of return on their money invested in his company and they will also get a percentage of ownership. But unlike the rate of return, which is fixed, the percentage of ownership is determined, in ways not specified, by "kabbalist" Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto. Worse yet, the developer apparently has check signing power for the rabbi's charity and investors were brought to him through Rabbi Pinto, and the implication is that as long as these wealthy investors do the rabbi's bidding and donate large amounts of money to him, they'll be rewarded by the read estate investor's company – but only at Pinto's discretion.

Comments

[zibble]

Well at least they are up front about this possible scam. Caveat emptor fools!

[Alteh Mirrer]

Shmarya, I have to admit that although you often make Orthodox Jews, including me, feel uncomfortable, you do a creditable job of exposing issues that we ought to be addressing better. In this case, though, I don't believe that most Orthodox Jews ever thought that this Pinto guy was legit, if there's even such a thing as a legit kabbalist. He's a scammer, his people are scammers, and his act is not endemic to the frum community at all. When I first heard of him (when he met with LeBron James) I (and most intelligent people) knew it was only a matter of time until this exact scenario would ensue.

[Chicago Sam]

What kind of person would go to LaBron James and dupe him of hundreds of thousands of dollars? A crooked Kabbalist, need I say more?

How do you spell, "Chillul HaShem"?

At least the Haredi rabbis don't do endorsements for $$ with gentile celebrities, but Hasidim and Kabbalists sure do!!

[WoolSilkCotton]

LaBron and this crook deserve each other.

[PishPosh]

Where did all these Jewish Shamans and Witch doctors come from. I myself enjoy the mystical aspects of Judaism but after 20 years sitting over grueling texts of the different schools of thought I still could not dare explain to the layman what its all about. You need to read and understand it and get commentary from honest credible sources. It has to be internalized for one to really appreciate it. These guys are chayave misa according to the Torah because this is witchcraft and sorcery of a type not permitted. There is practical Kabbalah and theoretical Kabbalah. The practical is this sorcery they use to promise this and that if the people act they way they tell them too.

When the Kabbalist profits even a dollar from this alleged help stoning is the only answer because the Kabbalah is not something you get doctorate in to bamboozle people.

The theoretical Kabbala which tries in our plain words to explain the universe and how we relate to God is something everyone can learn and either accept or not.

P.S. This post is not intended to condone any violent acts against Kabbalistic charlatans but to use truthful investigation to unmask anybody who profits fraudulently from the Nistar.

[Captain Obvious]

I must have missed something. What exactly has Pinto done wrong? I have read through all of the posts about him and have yet to see evidence of any wrongdoing on his part. I usually agree with the articles, point and many of the comments on this site, but feel like in this case there is a marked lack of story. I have actually met R' Pinto and though I cannot understand why there are those who are willing to pay huge amounts of money to meet with him, he is certainly a charismatic and interesting man. If people choose to follow his advice or donate to his charities, who are we to say he is doing wrong? Spending 9k on suits may be a bit unusual for a Rabbi but shouldn't be construed as fraud of any sort. While I do not know what his charity needs expensive jewelry for, I am sure its not for his wife. If I remember correctly, sometimes the charity buys lavish gifts for particularly generous donors who are celebrating a simcha. You can bet that they receive much more than that in donated monies.