Borough Park, NY – The Brooklyn DA is investigating whether a shadowy, Israel-based Kabbalist rabbi bilked vulnerable New York Jews out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by offering divine promises for cash, The Post has learned.
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A stream of alleged victims from Borough Park, Brooklyn, to Englewood, NJ, said Rabbi Elazar Abuchatzeira, of Beersheba, Israel, demanded money from them during annual visits to Orthodox Jewish communities in the tri-state area.
“This man is hurting people,” said Borough Park businessman Menachem Ellowich, 53, who signed over a check for $100,000 — shown to The Post — in exchange for a guarantee that his barren daughter would be able to conceive a child.
She never did.
“He ruined my life. He ruined my finances by making these promises.”
“We know about him,” said Brooklyn Assistant DA Eileen Ayvazian. “It’s an active investigation.”
Surely it’s only a scam if the Rabbi says “pay me & I guarantee XYZ”, not if it’s the other way round & the guy says “I’m giving you a gift as appreciation for your Bracha.” I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what happened. It all sounds very strange.
Another Chillul Hashem. And with the greatest sensitivity, why didn’t Mr. Ellowich use the $100,000 for IVF? Would he have sued the doctor if he had & it didn’t work? Mr. Ellowich didn’t show the smartest judgment in handing over $100,000 on a “guarantee” , especially if it was quid pro quo.
Its about time the same should go to charity’s that promise yeshuas if you give them money but the people that believe this deserve some of the blame, I know the excuse they are going through hard times you will try anything well I went through my share of troubles it didn’t even entering my mind I should send my money to a mekubal,rebbe or kupat hair all you do is give money for a reliable tzedakah you say some tehilim which all ways helps
well, what fool gives 100,000.00? a brocha I understand but how does money buy a pregnancy?
I was bilked out of $3600.
he told me he ‘saw’ bad things happening to me.
For $3600. he would ‘clean’ it up.
Well. He’s a ganev and the people are dummies. As allways, dummies get bilked by smarties. One way or the other.
people who read this story are going to say.
Maybe Jews are not that smart
when are people going to learn medical problem doctor
Didn’t he used to advertise in the Torah Times?
My dad was bilked out of 20k. He told him that he saw bad things as well and basically implied that if he didnt give money life would turn sour.
My friend who had zero money at the time was bilked out of 26k. He was single and implied that if he doesnt give the money he wont get married.
He puleed 26k together and gave it to the rabbi. 5 years later he is still single.
People either you believe or you don’t the people that are complaing probaly never believed & are just complaining
This rabbi is a very special & holy man
Abuchatzeira just plays on frum people’s greatest weakness, which is preferring to pay somebody off rather than solve their own problems. They are not trained from a young age to think how to solve issues like finding a shidduch or having children. All of these problems have workable solutions that are not insurmountable but to people untrained in “thinking outside the box”, only money is the key to life’s illusive happiness. How weak and ineffective we have become!
The emesdige gedolei yisroel do not taking money for a brocho. They know that hakol bidei shomayim. And those chasidishe rebbes and yeshivishe gedolim who have performed miracles did so by using their koach hatorah and tzadik goizer v’hashem mikayeim, rather than jewish voodoo kabalistic mumbo jumbo promises and guarantees. I know several people who this mystical bozo bilked out of huge sums of money with empty guarantees. These mystics have a great backup to their failures. The recipient of the brocho didn’t live up to their avoidas hashem and therefore the “guarantee” couldn’t work. Great copout. Yes it’s hard to question a distressed parent or husband who desperately wants an answer. All the more reason that these unholy mystics who prey on such individuals will suffer from mi sheporah.
I see that something terrible is going to happen to all readers of Vosizneias. If you send $180.00 to my paypal account, I’ll make sure nothing bad befalls you but you must do it today.(Sarcasm)
it boggels the mind how anyone can be so gullible grown up otherwise rational people its beyond belief that they give over their hard earned money its their fault not the kabbalists no one should let themselfs be manipulated to this level so i fault tottaly the people who fall for this shame on them and they desrve what they get
I never believed any of these hokes.
one time there was a baal mofes who said you see that plan in sky over there its going to crash. his folowres said o please do something he closed his eyes walked up and down then turned back and said ok the plane will land and so it did.
Hashem is the only one to turn to if you have problems, not these people or jesus
Ummm, I feel that I am obligated to say my piece. I was ONCE by this Rabbi, in his hometown of Beer Shava. He is a grandson of the holy Baba Sali.
Regarding his $$$ for brochot, I KNOW of a story that happened in his hometown, when an “American” came to him that his wife is very ill. He gave him $5000.00. Baba Elizar told him that for an additional 5 grand, he “promises” that she will be well. On the spot the “American” gave him another 5 grand. Just as he left the room to the back courtyard, he received a call that his wife passed away. He immediately tried to turn around, to get back his money, but the “turnstile” only turns one way, and he was not allowed back in.
Without choice, he went to the Beth Din of Beer Sheva, and to make a long story verrry short, he did get back his money.
By now we should all know, if someone promises you a bracha for money you should take your wallet and run.I myself learnt the hard way, and very few people can get a penny out of me unless I know it’s real Tzedaka.
Beware, there was a Rav that sounds like this one that was here for a time staying in someone’s home. I figured why not, maybe we will rcve a beracha even though B’H’ I am ok. We were told “bring your mezuzza” Again, I thought this could be entertaining at most. Well he was. Reading our palms ,he said that I own 2 homes.(wrong) When asked about aliyah, he dissuaded me. From experience with real Rabbis w/ruach hakodesh, I felt stupid for bothering. Not only that, I fought with my husband after he knocked the idea of aliyah.
I’m familiar with that case, it is trued story, and it is shame for KLALL ISRAEL.
to my then 82 year old father a promise was made in exchange for $250,000 a guarantee was made 10 more years & a key to gan eden _ while a lawyer sitting there as witness< my father responded that the key to gan eden he found in aushwics and he is a gambler my father would put down 250,000 if he would also put down, just in case the broche does not work, yes emonus tzadikim is big thing --- SUCKERS ARE BORN EVERY MINUTE just do your homework
there are people i know that lost over 300,000 but let me tell you its a cult. you get cought up and then he asks for donations after your sucked into the cult feelings. yeah its hard to believe but it happens every day
You are missing the MO. Its a great con game.
Its psychological extortion. It is very powerful .You walk in the room asking for a brocho from a “holy person”.
His head is covered with a hood.
He comes highly recommended having others believing that their success is some how related to his blessing.(note the failures arent sticking with him, so are not publicized).
Your vulnerable, and needy. He plays on that .
He then plays a psych game ie. your a sinner, i see a ayin horah, etc. its very powerful at the time.
This game of 100k is rare but not uncommon.
There is more money in it for him in the small guy that was going to give him $36 and ends up giving him $500.
Tamim tihyeh… tefilla to Hashem is the best segulah.
Unfortunately people who are in a desperate situation do become gullible and believe in a lot more.
let not forget he is a grandson of Rabbi Abuchatzeira who was a very holy man and i hope that the swiss bank account he has he will start emptying for these victoms
so I was
a Bris for a child that was paid by boine olem and the father said a droshe praising the brocho he got from _ so every one wasking he should try next time reverse get money from him and get a brouche from boine olem lets c if it works
This character came to the Five Towns some years ago and left a whole trail of debts and bounced checks.He has not returned since.
Someone once told me that Kaballah says that before Moshiach comes, there will be false mekubalim that will become popular. I decided not believe him, or did I just believe him by doing that?
Chazal say it is perfectly OK and proper to give Tzedaka and make a condition with G-d that it is CONDITIONAL “Al Menas Sheyichye Beni” and not only is it “OK” but you even deserve the title “Harey Zeh TZADIK GOMUR” (even) if you do so.
Also, only in regards to Tzedaka Chazal say that it is not on “OK” but preferable and that Hashem asks us to PLEASE TEST HASHEM (Yes put Hashem to the TEST) with that and Hashem BEGS us “Ubechonuni Nah Bezos”.
Whoever gives Tzedaka and asks Hashem to help him even CONDITIONALLY, and has BITOCHON will surely be helped.
That is of course for REAL Tzedaka and not to give Money to FAKERS.
if you need a zchus give how much money you want for rab mier bal hanas even you give 1 dollar you wil have more zchus than giving to any rabbi money and I’m telling you its a better deal almost all kabalist almost all the rabbis or GANOVIM and if the man gave it its hos fault
Any minimally mature adult who can fall for this fraud deserves what he gets.
the shpoler zeide used to charge chai rubles for every brocha he gave – and sometimes much more – would he be under investigation today?
i went to the Baba Eluzer once and he didn’t ask for any money
This is any different from the Goyim who go to the Gypsy fortune tellers?
Go to a real Rebbe, who will truly bless all who need it at no charge, just your tefilos as a keili. Pray on your side, find a solution and the blessings wil come through.
NO CHARGE.
The more you pay, does not mean this Mekubal will help you more.
$18.00 should do just the same not hundreds or thousands.
STOP STOP!!! It is amazing how many miguided comments there are here from people who are simply clueless and then have the audacity to chant their opinions of ivf, doctors, blah blah
The true story as heard at the time it happened. The man in question went to this mekubal for a brochah for his “only” daughter who was married, leading a normal life but not healthy enough to carry a baby – do you hear me? – not infertile – just very fragile from ill health that they hoped would one day be corrected and she would have a yeshuah and yes that could have been a possibility. This mekubal alledgedly told the father that he could see that she would have a baby and in order for that to happen with his divine intervention it would cost him $100,000. I believe a while later this mekubal allegedly told a family member that this father should hand over even more money (i believe another $100,000) the father refused claiming that he was pennilless. The mekubal threatened that if he did not hand over the money very bad things would befall the family – this daugther was niftar a months or two later in very sudden and unexpected circumstances.
I have a sick child, who at one point, the Dr’s said had ‘days’ to live. They tried convincing me to ‘pull the plug’ so he doesnt have to suffer. I asked herr Duktor “Is it possible that he can heal” and she responded “Impossible.”
I spoke to a kabbalist who I will not mention by name, and he said ‘The Dr’s appear to be right…fork over a check, and we can change it’
I did not fork over the check. I am too smart for that. Instead I davened like noone has davened before, and my child was healed. A nays, no doubt. I realized that Doctors, Kabalists, Tzadikim, Gadol Hadors…..all of them are dust compared to the Creator. The Creator controls the world…not people.
mayain yavoh ezri?
mayain, mayain yavoh ezri???
EZRI MAYIM HASHEM, OSSEH SHAMAYAIM VAHARETZ!
EEHZZRI MAYIM HASHEM, OSSEH SHAMAYAIM VAHARETZ!
Oilem Goilem. But once again, kudos to VIN for publicly posting important stories like this.
Fools ! Read Nefesh HaChaim. The Gadolim all taught one thing: Learn Torah ! It is the ONLY segulah for Chaim u’Bruchah. Aitz Chaim Hee…
And supplement your learning Torah with Teshuvah, Tefilla, u’Tzedukah — maaviren es haGazeirah.
Yisroel Btach B’hashem !……No voodo etc……..
I never heared of this bal mkibel I know about a diff bal makibal who came last year twice to b.p. And flatbush and I see no one complains about him
When people came to the Lubavicher Rebbe ZT”L not only did he(or the gabai)not ask for money, he would give them a dollar as a shlichus mitzvah to make a ‘tzinor’ for Hashems brochah.
Today thousands of yidden of all types go to his tziyon in NY for a yeshuah, 24/7 (they have a hachnosas orchim on shabbos ) and not one cent is asked from anyone. they have a mikvah, bais medrash, refreshments all hours of the day or night.
(many people that are ‘anti Chabad’ come at 4 AM to be mispalel- so that they can keep their reputation V’da”l)
All these mekubalim who come here to give their brachas are nothing less than con men preying on gullible fools, I know a few of them personaly, in their private lives their victims are more G-D fearing then them.
I vehemently make a machaa [protest] for kovod harav.All who speak against this tzaddik hador should RUN to ask his mechila.
p.s. look in this weeks yated neeman where one of the ziknei roshei yeshiva went last week to beer sheeva to visit the many mosdos hatorah and yeshivos of hatzaddik baba elozor[was on or around page 74].
I hope that people finally learned their lesson to go only to authentic gedolim i.e.
for chasidim : belz, ger,rachmstrvke,satmar,square,viznitz
for litvishe : rav eliashiv, rav konievsky
I personally prayed for a rav who was yiraat Hashem and found one. He died a few years back-probably of the anguish of seeing too many Yehudi scandals. He told us stories of great rabbis who performed miracles based on the faith of the people in Hashem alone. This Rabbi knew Kabbala but didn’t brag about it. He was a hidden tzaddik who sometimes took money from a rich person who seeked advice then subsequently gave it to the poor(like a middleman shaliach) People like this Rabbi are rare-please beware of all Kabbala Rabbis ie. con artists.
Elowich makes himself out to be a fool advertising how much money he spent on this adventure. A bright and astute businessman he cannot be.
response to #16 . Tzadikim asking for money is not a new thing. the Minchas Eluzor in his Sefer Divrei Torah shows that it was common in the days of the Neviim! We know of certain Tzadikim in the previous generation who asked for specific amounts of money.
2. I personally was by R’ Elazar abuhazeira in Beer Sheva he accepted whatever we gave him and did not request a specific amount.
3. R’ abuhazeira requested a high amount from my own Mechutan (an amount which was very difficult for him to give, but he gave it) He had a Yeshua very soon after
4. There is a family in Boro Park supporters of R’ Elazar, they were childless for 20 years. they now have 2 children
Even after getting a Bracha from a Tzaddik you still need a zechus
I dont understand this…This is messireh…..He is not claiming here money damages he is claiming criminal…Who gave them a heter to go to DA to masser. First the baba has to be summoned to Din Torah and if bes din feels he comitted a criminal act they have to give them a heter to go to DA….Where is this world coming to.? What would happen if his daughter did have a baby ,would he of gone to DA.? How stupid can some one be to pay the $$ b4 he sees results..? If i would promise you that you will win the lotto this friday if you give me $20,000 would u give me.? Of course NOT….I spoke o a poysik today and he told me this is against haluche and its calles messireh..