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==Work as a Rabbi==
==Work as a Rabbi==
In his early 20s, Pinto founded the Shuva Israel yeshiva in [[Ashdod, Israel]].<ref name="jerusalempost"/> The center has four synagogues that serve more than 1,200 worshippers, a yeshiva with over 300 full-time students, and a soup kitchen that provides 3,000 meals a day.<ref name="jerusalempost"/> Pinto has also established a network of [[yeshivas]] in [[Israel]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Miami]], and New York.<ref name="rabbinotafraid"/><ref name="sageofmanhattan"/> In October 2010, Pinto led thousands of individuals to [[Silistra|Silistra, Bulgaria]], for an annual pilgrimage in homage of [[Eliezer Papo]], who is honored among Jews for his book ''[[Pele Yoetz]],''<ref name="jerusalempost"/> and revered in Silistra for giving his life to save the town from a plague in 1826.<ref name="jerusalempost"/> During his stay in Silistra, Pinto held a closed meeting with 80 Jewish American businessmen, asking them to invest $5 billion in the Israeli economy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rabbi asks businessmen to invest in Israel|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3949061,00.html|accessdate=18 February 2011|author=Weiss, Reuven|newspaper=ynetnews|date=September 5, 2010}}</ref>
In his early 20s, Pinto founded Shuva Israel, a yeshiva in [[Ashdod, Israel]].<ref name="jerusalempost"/> The center has four synagogues that serve more than 1,200 worshippers, a yeshiva with over 300 full-time students, and a soup kitchen that provides 3,000 meals a day.<ref name="jerusalempost"/> Pinto has also established a network of [[yeshivas]] in [[Israel]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Miami]], and New York.<ref name="rabbinotafraid"/><ref name="sageofmanhattan"/> In October 2010, Pinto led thousands of individuals to [[Silistra|Silistra, Bulgaria]], for an annual pilgrimage in homage of [[Eliezer Papo]], who is honored among Jews for his book ''[[Pele Yoetz]],''<ref name="jerusalempost"/> and revered in Silistra for giving his life to save the town from a plague in 1826.<ref name="jerusalempost"/> During his stay in Silistra, Pinto held a closed meeting with 80 Jewish American businessmen, asking them to invest $5 billion in the Israeli economy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rabbi asks businessmen to invest in Israel|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3949061,00.html|accessdate=18 February 2011|author=Weiss, Reuven|newspaper=ynetnews|date=September 5, 2010}}</ref>


In December 2010 Pinto condemned an [[December 2010 Rabbi Letter Controversies|open letter endorsed by 50 Israeli rabbis]] which encouraged Jewish community members to avoid renting or selling property to non-Jews.<ref name="openletter">{{cite web|first=Yair|last=Ettinger|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/u-s-based-rabbi-edict-against-renting-to-arabs-endangers-jews-abroad-1.331369|author = Ettinger, Yair|title=U.S.-based rabbi: Edict against renting to Arabs endangers Jews abroad
In December 2010 Pinto condemned an [[December 2010 Rabbi Letter Controversies|open letter endorsed by 50 Israeli rabbis]] which encouraged Jewish community members to avoid renting or selling property to non-Jews.<ref name="openletter">{{cite web|first=Yair|last=Ettinger|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/u-s-based-rabbi-edict-against-renting-to-arabs-endangers-jews-abroad-1.331369|author = Ettinger, Yair|title=U.S.-based rabbi: Edict against renting to Arabs endangers Jews abroad
|date=December 19, 2010|accessdate=December 20, 2010|work=Haaretz}}</ref><ref name="dontrent">{{cite web|first=Sara|last=Hussein|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101207/wl_mideast_afp/societyisraelarabsreligiondiscrimination_20101207174944|title='Don't rent to non-Jews,' Israeli rabbis warn|date=December 7, 2010|accessdate=December 20, 2010|work=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> Pinto believed that the letter would provoke racism against Jews both abroad and domestically, making it difficult for them "to live in New York or anywhere else in the world."<ref name="openletter"/> The letter has also been condemned by the [[Association for Civil Rights in Israel]].<ref name="dontrent"/>
|date=December 19, 2010|accessdate=December 20, 2010|work=Haaretz}}</ref><ref name="dontrent">{{cite web|first=Sara|last=Hussein|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101207/wl_mideast_afp/societyisraelarabsreligiondiscrimination_20101207174944|title='Don't rent to non-Jews,' Israeli rabbis warn|date=December 7, 2010|accessdate=December 20, 2010|work=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> Pinto believed that the letter would provoke racism against Jews in Israel and abroad, making it difficult for them "to live in New York or anywhere else in the world."<ref name="openletter"/> The letter has also been condemned by the [[Association for Civil Rights in Israel]].<ref name="dontrent"/>


==Work within the business community==
==Work within the business community==

Revision as of 13:35, 26 March 2011

Rabbi
Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto
Personal
Born1973
ReligionJudaism
NationalityIsraeli
ParentHaim Pinto (father)
PositionFounder and head
OrganisationMosdot Shuva Israel
ResidenceNew York City

Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto (born 1973) is an Israeli Jewish spiritual leader and Kabbalist[1] who lives in New York City and Ahsdod.[2][3][4][5][6] In addition to his religious work, Pinto is known for his work and influence with business and political leaders.

Family life

Pinto descends from a centuries-old Hebrew-speaking rabbinic family from Morocco.[1] On his father's side he is the great-grandson of Chaim Pinto, a Moroccan sage;[7][4] on his mother's side, he is the grandson of Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, also known as Baba Sali.[7]

Work as a Rabbi

In his early 20s, Pinto founded Shuva Israel, a yeshiva in Ashdod, Israel.[5] The center has four synagogues that serve more than 1,200 worshippers, a yeshiva with over 300 full-time students, and a soup kitchen that provides 3,000 meals a day.[5] Pinto has also established a network of yeshivas in Israel, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.[4][7] In October 2010, Pinto led thousands of individuals to Silistra, Bulgaria, for an annual pilgrimage in homage of Eliezer Papo, who is honored among Jews for his book Pele Yoetz,[5] and revered in Silistra for giving his life to save the town from a plague in 1826.[5] During his stay in Silistra, Pinto held a closed meeting with 80 Jewish American businessmen, asking them to invest $5 billion in the Israeli economy.[8]

In December 2010 Pinto condemned an open letter endorsed by 50 Israeli rabbis which encouraged Jewish community members to avoid renting or selling property to non-Jews.[9][10] Pinto believed that the letter would provoke racism against Jews in Israel and abroad, making it difficult for them "to live in New York or anywhere else in the world."[9] The letter has also been condemned by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.[10]

Work within the business community

Although Pinto has no formal business background,[2] a number of prominent Israeli and Jewish-American businessmen have visited him for consultation on business and personal matters, including the Israeli owner of the Plaza Hotel, Yitzhak Tshuva; talk-show host Donny Deutsch; jeweler Jacob Arabo ("Jacob the Jeweler"); Congressman Anthony Weiner; and professional basketball player LeBron James.[11] Pinto has said that he does not consider his help to be advice, saying instead that "It’s more of a blessing".[6] Politicians and businessmen who have visited Pinto in Israel include attorney (and former Justice Minister) Yaakov Neeman, former Bank of Israel governor Jacob Frenkel,[7] and Israeli soccer star Guy Levy.[12] Because of Pinto's influence, he has been called the "rabbi to the business stars",[13] and was described by Yoel Hasson, a Kadima member of the Knesset, as having a "a huge influence....He's connected to a lot of people in Israel, to people in Israeli politics."[6]

Real estate

A number of real estate issues with which Pinto is directly or indirectly connected have attracted media attention. For example, Pinto had an ongoing feud with deceased real estate mogul Solomon Obstfeld regarding Pinto's lease of Obstfeld's apartments at the post NYC Essex House.[14][15]

In 2008 real estate broker Ilan Bracha and his partner developer Haim Binstock paid $1.65 million for the ground floor at the Heritage at Trump Place condominium.[16] Bracha and Binstock had planned to open a synagogue in the 2,700-square-foot space for Pinto’s use,[17] and the rabbi has been involved in fundraising efforts.[18] In early in 2009 the partners defaulted by failing to pay their share of the building's common charges, according to the foreclosure action brought by the condo board in New York State. In February 2011 the site was saved from foreclosure proceedings by a $56,000 personal check from Binstock's wife.[16][19]

The building where Pinto lives is owned by the Mosdot Shuva Israel organization, which is a Manhattan-based not-for-profit organization that Pinto works with. In November 2009 the mortgage holders, JPMorgan Chase Bank, began foreclosure proceedings on the property as the mortgage had not been paid since May 2009. At least ten meetings have been held between the two parties, but to date, the matter is still not resolved.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Nathan-Kazis, Josh (June 23, 2010). "Charismatic Moroccan Kabbalist Draws Crowds And Questions". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Elkies, Lauren (April 30, 2008). "Rabbi Pinto Blesses the Deal". The Real Deal. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  3. ^ Bercovici, Jeff (August 10, 2010). "The Mysterious Rabbi Who Gave Lebron James Business Advice". DailyFinance. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Ettinger, Yair (March 29, 2010). "A rabbi not afraid to deviate". Haaretz. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e Mandel, Jonah (October 1, 2010). "Celestial Celebrity". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d Nathan-Kazis, Josh (16 March 2011). "Revered as Business Guru, Rabbi Faces Questions About His Organization's Finances". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d Handwerker, Haim (December 4, 2006). "The Sage of Manhattan". balintlaw.com. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  8. ^ Weiss, Reuven (September 5, 2010). "Rabbi asks businessmen to invest in Israel". ynetnews. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  9. ^ a b Ettinger, Yair (December 19, 2010). "U.S.-based rabbi: Edict against renting to Arabs endangers Jews abroad". Haaretz. Retrieved December 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  10. ^ a b Hussein, Sara (December 7, 2010). "'Don't rent to non-Jews,' Israeli rabbis warn". Yahoo!. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  11. ^ Berkovici, Jeff (August 1, 2010). "The Mysterious Rabbi Who Gave LeBron James Business Advice". AOL: DailyFinance. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  12. ^ Boker, Moshe (August 29, 2007). "Soccer/Luzon won't let coach bolt U21s". Haaretz. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  13. ^ Yanez, Luisa; Kaleem, Jaweed (August 11, 2010). "Report: LeBron James hires rabbi". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 10, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Questions raised about Brooklyn investor's suicide at Essex House". The Real Deal.com. June 18, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  15. ^ Nathan-Kazis, Jsoh. "Charismatic Moroccan Kabbalist Draws Crowds And Questions". The Real Deal.com. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  16. ^ a b Karmin, Craig; Frangos, Alex (February 9, 2011). "A Rabbi Gets a Helping Hand". Wall Street Journal Online. Retrieved February 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Elkies, Lauren (March 15, 2010). "Hoyda, Levy and rabbi-to-the-real estate community gather at 15 CPW to raise funds for new UWS synagogue". The Real Deal. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  18. ^ "UWS synagogue in danger of foreclosure". therealdeal.com. February 9, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  19. ^ Arak, Joey (February 9, 2011). "UWS Building in Holy Foreclosure War With LeBron's Rabbi". Curbed. Retrieved February 10, 2011.

Further reading

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