Rabbi Yehuda Rosilio was indicted earlier today on six criminal counts related to those alleged thefts. Those charges reportedly include aggravated theft, fraud; aggravated fraud,
breach of trust, and something called committing "an affront to
religion."
Mordechai Vaknin of Moshav Brosh poses with the community's Torah scrolls
Remember the rabbi of Moshav Brosh who was arrested last week for allegedly stealing Torah scrolls?
Rabbi Yehuda Rosilio was indicted earlier today on six criminal counts related to those alleged thefts. Ma'ariv reports that those charges include aggravated theft, fraud; aggravated fraud, breach of trust, and something called committing "an affront to religion."
Rosilio allegedly used a bait-and-switch scheme to defraud at least one group of donors, a family who wanted a new Torah scroll written in memory of a loved one.
But instead of writing or commissioning the new scroll, Rosilio took the family's money, stole one of the synagogues' existing scrolls, put it in a new case, and presented it to the family as if it were a new scroll.
Rosilio also borrowed a scroll from a dealer but told another family seeking a new Torah in their loved one's name that he had written the scroll himself. Once the family paid Rosilio in full and the 'new' Torah scroll was dedicated, Rosilio removed the scroll from its ornate case and gave it back to the dealer.
To avoid detection, Rosilio regularly swapped out scrolls between the various ornate cases bearing dedication information that held the scrolls and that were stored in the synagogue's aron hakodesh, ark. He also placed cardboard inside some cases to make them appear heavier, also to deceive donors and synagogue members.
Rosilio is also accused of stealing scrolls written by other scribes.
Related Post: Rabbi Arrested In Torah Thefts.
[Hat Tip: Paul.]