New York City – He’s a rabbi to the stars in real estate. Israeli wheelers and dealers in New York City real estate consult Rabbi Yishayahu Yosef Pinto when it comes to business and personal matters.
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Rabbi Pinto, who has no formal business education, only speaks Hebrew and won’t meet with women, is considered by Israeli real estate professionals as well as people in other professions and of different faiths to be a holy man. His supporters credit him with helping hundreds of thousands of people.
Some line up for hours to meet with the rabbi, who makes himself available to the public outside of synagogue services and the classes he runs, one day a week. He sees 5,000 people a day in Israel and 200 or 300 in New York, giving most people a quick blessing and others more time, claimed Ofer Biton, one of the rabbi’s two New York assistants and translators.
“I think I was very lucky to meet him at a very crucial part of my life: when I was 40 years old,” said Israeli native Ofer Yardeni, principal and co-founder of Stonehenge Partners. “I started making money and thought I was God’s gift [to the world]. He gave me the wisdom to listen to people, not to think with ego, but to think with the heart and the mind. He balanced my life very, very much.”
Yardeni said Rabbi Pinto is “a huge part of my life,” despite Yardeni’s not being religious.
One time, the rabbi had the foresight that Yardeni should not sell a building despite the exceptionally good price he was being offered for it. Office tenants who were underpaying for their space in his building ended up going out of business, so Yardeni recaptured the space; now, the building is worth double what it would have been had he sold it, Yardeni said.
Rabbi Pinto’s New York City synagogue, Shuva Israel, is at 328 East 61st Street, not far from his East Midtown home where he lives with his wife, Rivka, daughter of Rabbi Shlomo Ben Hamo, the chief rabbi of Argentina, and 6-year-old son, Yoel. The spiritual guru has written more than 25 books and descends from a long line of prominent rabbis including his father, Haim Pinto
GET YOUR WALLETS READY ITS NOT CHEEP
Rabbi Yoshiyahu (not Yeshayahu) Yosef Pinto shlit”a is a grandson of the Holy Baba Meir Abuchatzira zt”l and great-grandson of the Holy Baba Sali zt”l. His mother is a sister of the Holy Abuchatzira brothers: Rabbi David shlit”a (from Nahariya) and Rabbi Elazar shlit”a (from Be’er Sheva) and Rabbi Yekutiel shlit”a (from Ashdod).
Rabbi Y.Y. Pinto shlit”a is a “hot” Satmar chossid, learns a lot the Satmar Rebbe’s seforim, and on the 26th Menachem Av the yoma d’hillulah of the Satmar Rebbe zt”l, he celebrates annually a big hillulah (yahrtzeit) seudah in honor of the Satmar Rebbe zt”l. He named his son after the Satmar Rebbe, R’ Yoel zt”l.
i read that article in the “Real Deal” magszine last week.
it also sais that he lives in manhattan. HOW COULD THAT BE! a MEKUBAL living in “A known makom hatuma”
He lives in a residential yiddish neighborhood in Manhattan and also has a shul there. However, most of the time he is not there. Either Israel or Brooklyn or LA. He also has two shuls in Flatbush, and a koilel, as well as a koilel in the Manhattan location.
His koilel is very generous for quailified people, paying more than $2,000 a month.
Although most of his “chasiddim” are sephardic and Syrian jews, there are many Willie & BP types visiting him all the time.
What’s the price tag to meet him?
Why does he only give time to the wealthy?
What’s he doing in manhattan?
What’s his Shaychus to Satmar?
I have a way better person that is always available to listen. He is never busy and is guranteed to answer all your requests. He is full of rachmim and mercy. His name is the Ribono shel oilam. talk to him. It won’t cost you anything and he WILL listen and anser your problems. Just put faith in the one above and noone else.
When you start being sold to these mekubalim, you foget that there is a god. Be sincere about your tefilos, there is no need for this hocus pocus stuff. hashem is the answer and noone else.
HERE IN LAKEWOOD EVERY BODY THAT IS IN NEED OF SHIDDUCHIM GOES TO TO RAV YONAH CARLEBACH AND ALMOST ALL GET ENGAGED WITHIN THAT YEAR AND HE NEVER TOOK A PENNY FROM ANYBODY HE IS NOT A REBBE OR ANYTHING FANCY JUST AN ERLICHER YID WHOSE BRACHOS SEMM TO WORK
Question:
Modern Kabbalists-There are many stories of “Kabbalists” today who can foretell events, like predicting when a couple will have a baby, or tell people about themselves things that only they could have known, such as previous experiences, or give blessings that only after the blessing, come to fruition. What is the true perspective on these Kabbalists? Do they really contain the true Kabbalah? Is the Zohar a source for them to claim their connection to mysticism on? Or is it like avodah zora ?(but, then, how does one explain the true stories?)
Response:
I have heard of people going to kabbalists, and are told that they will get married in the coming year. One such person who went to a kabbalist was told this, and did not get married as he was “foretold”. It is amusing that only the favorable stories get circulated. There are twice as many unfavorable ones.
Know one thing clearly, Kabbalists are human. They have no more power than anyone else. People go to them against Jewish law (b’issur) to satisfy their insecurities. They want to know what gender their child is, or what business to go into, or who to marry. This is against halacha, and against the chumash. It only serves to satisfy the insecurity emotion. Nothing more.
As for the so called “true” stories, I never heard of anyone claiming that a kabbalist did a miracle in front of him. Its always second hand knowledge. Viz, “I HEARD that he does …..”
For the rest of their stories, many times a kabbalist will say a general statement about a person, seeing that a person’s personality is, for example, hot tempered. The kabbalist will note this and say, “you lost a job not too long ago”. The kabbalist is merely putting 2 and 2 together. The person is hot tempered, loses control, probably has conflicts with others (his employer is a likely candidate), and the rest is simple logic. Now, have a kabbalist say this to a needy and insecure person, and he will think the kabbalist is a teller of secret things, a holy man, a spiritual leader. It doesn’t take much for some people to go off excited, thinking they have found a special person. Finding someone like this satisfies very basic desires, but it’s all in the person’s head, not in reality.
The Rambam, Yad Hachazaka, Hilchos Avoda Zarah, Chapter 11, clearly outlines all that kabbalists do today, and Rambam subsumes these acts under idolatry.
See also Deuteronomy, 18:13, 14, “You should be perfect with Hashem your G-d. For these nations which you inherit, to fortune tellers and enchanters do they listen, and you (the Jews) not so (has) Hashem your G-d given.” G-d admonishes us from following enchanters and fortune tellers. Regardless if they are Jewish. Being Jewish, and having a title of Rabbi does not entitle one carte blanch to act against the Torah.
Know from all this that mysticism has never been, and will never be part of the system which G-d gave, regardless of the number of people performing such prohibited acts. We must follow the Torah, not what the masses sinfully choose.
G-d never validated enchanters or fortune tellers. Therefore, we must abhor them as G-d does.
Does anyone know that he takes money or are you just assuming.
Yes. He takes money.
“Pinto is a spiritual adviser and guide for dozens of local celebrities, who draw from him good advice and strong belief, and pay with generous donations.”
Maimon,
Are you quoting someone else is is this the beginning of your own Teshuva sefer.
I have had, and so have many many of my friends had, personal experiences with Horav Machluf Laseri z’l not once but many times.
It is unfortunate that you have not had the zechus of being in the company of true tzaddikim in this generation.
You can add the ramban in Yisro yud ches posuk tes vav as a maare mokom as to what “Derishas Elokim” means in your ill-ustrious teshuva.
People go to “get a brocho” for a limited number of reasons. Health. Parnossa. Shidduch. Children. By looking at the applicant, with just a bit of sechel, intuition, experience, and larceny in your heart, you can pretty much figure out what they want even before they open their mouths.
I bentch you, dear reader, with a brocho in whatever you need. Especially if you’re from those few who still want a brocho for hatzlocho in learning.
This is utter avodah zara. its a nice money making venture and nothing more. how far have we strayed that we seel out all kinds of miracle workers and magicians?
this is clearly against the Torah. G-d needs no intermediaries.
when will the (real) rabanim come out agains this idol worship?
I am a sephardic Jew and I follow the Rambam to the best of my abilities. So don’t tell me all Sephardim agree with this nonsense.
Its not my “teshuva” it is from Mesora.org, I posted the exact link along with the post so others could reference it, however the editors (I’m assuming) deleted it – I believe it was written by R. Moshe Ben-Chaim, but I am uncertain as to this (if you find out otherwise please let us know).
According to RaMBaN’s reading of Shemos 18:16 [Lidrosh Elokim] it speaks of Moshe a) praying on behalf of the sick b) informing people where to find lost objects c) teaching Torah.
This RaMBaN has nothing at all to do with the “kabbalists” (as far as I can see).
Moshe Rabbeinu was a Navi, in fact his Nevua is unparalleled (see Devarim 34:10). As such it was appropriate for people to beseech him with requests to pray for their sick, his prayers would likely be much more efficacious considering his speaking with HaShem ‘panim el panim.’ Additionally since he was in such a position to be able to communicate with HaShem in such a manner it makes sense for people to make requests concerning the whereabouts of lost property (as RaMBaN notes was the case with Shaul/Shmuel). Furthermore considering that Moshe transcribed the Torah and brought it to our nation, it makes sense that people would want to go directly to the primary source in order to learn it.
Now if the inference you are trying to make is that a) these modern kabbalists are in possession of real Nevua, or b) that they are somehow on the same level as Moshe Rabbeinu then I believe you are extremely mistaken in this respect.
I do not see the relevance of this pasuk or RaMBaN’s interpretation of it to the material cited. Please enlighten me.
“I have a way better person that is always available to listen…His name is the Ribono shel oilam.”
Since when is the ‘Master of the Universe’ a “person” ch’v?
While ultimately Hashe’m controlls everything, we still need the “Moshe Rabbeinu”. That’s the way Hashem created the world that there should be a “Memutza” a medium between Hashem and B’neei Yisrael. And, “Korech” couldn’t understant this concept, he therefore complaind, “Kol Hoeedoh Kulom Kedushim…” so why do we need an itermediary. And that was the source of his “Machlokes” on Moshe Rabeinu and Aron Hkohen. But Korach was wrong, obviously. Those who fail to connect to a Tzadik, should relearn the Chazal on the Posuk “Uldovkoh Bo” which the Chzal interpret as connecting to Zaddikim and Talmidei chachomim.
There is also a very simple proof. Hashem says to Paroh, “Go to Avrohom, and he will pray for you”. The whole Torah is full of intermediaries.
Halevai people would go all the time to zaddikim for brochos and advice and be attached to them thereby fulfilling the verse “vehoyu einecho royos ess morecho”. Chas vesholom to compare tzaddikim to avoda zorah. Just the opposite. Going to a tzaddik like Rabbi Pinto shlit”a will give you the yiras Shamayim you’re obviously lacking if you can talk about them like that without shame.
HaShem ISH milchomo.
re: “ish milchomo”
RaShI [Shemos 15:3] points out that in loshon hakoidesh the term ‘ish’ carries other connotations such as that of a baal…. the English word PERSON carries no other such connotations. As such it is best to refrain from using such a term when referring to HKB”H.
Vyaaminu BHashem UvMoshe Avdo.
re: “Kol Hoeedoh Kulom Kedushim”
This is indicative of a mindset that believes truth is to be found in numbers. The more people that believe in something the more it must be true. Obviously such logic is extremely flawed, nothing could be further from the truth. The indictment on Korach here is that he felt that being a schismatic and sectarian was justified because of the alleged slight being committed against the eidah. He alone could not have felt he was right. The truth is the truth regardless if 1 or 6 billion acknowledge it.
re: “Go to Avrohom, and he will pray for you”
see RaShI on the pasuk – HaShem did not tell Avimelech that he should request Avrohom to pray for him, Avrohom praying for him is understood as a natural consequence of his being a Navi.
כי נביא הוא –
ויודע שלא נגעת בה, לפיכך ויתפלל בעדך
re: ‘Uldovkoh Bo’
ספר המצות להרמב”ם – מצות עשה מצוה ו
– היא שצונו להדבק עם החכמים ולהתיחד עמהם ולהתמיד בישיבתם ולהשתתף עמהם בכל אופן מאופני החברה במאכל ובמשתה ובעסק כדי שיגיע לנו בזה להדמות במעשיהם ולהאמין הדעות האמתיות מדבריהם והוא אמרו ית’ ובו תדבק וכבר נכפל זה הצווי גם כן ואמר ולדבקה בו ובא הפירוש ולדבקה בו הדבק בחכמים ותלמידיהם וזה לשון ספרי וכן הביאו ראיה על חיוב האדם לישא בת תלמיד חכם ולהשיא בתו לתלמיד חכם ולהאכיל תלמיד חכם ולתת להם עסק מאמרו ובו תדבק אמרו וכי אפשר לו לאדם לידבק בשכינה והא כתיב כי ה’ אלהיך אש אוכלה הוא אלא כל הנושא בת תלמיד חכם והמשיא בתו לתלמיד חכם והמהנהו מנכסיו כאילו נדבק בשכינה:
This does not at all suggest we should utilize them as good luck charms for business deals. The whole point of cleaving to SAGES is so that we can learn from their ways and emulate them.
re: ‘vehoyu einecho royos ess morecho’
See Eruvin 13b, this is understood to refer to LEARNING and levels of understanding… Seeing with one’s eyes the manner in which their teacher holds themselves is a crucial aspect of acquiring the culture of Torah. I don’t see Yishayahu here telling us to go seek out ‘wonder workers’.
There is another Tzaddik who doesn’t ask for money. He is satisfied with whatever you give him, even small change.
The holy Tanna Reb Mair baal hanes.
—There is another Tzaddik who doesn’t ask for money. He is satisfied with whatever you give him, even small change.
The holy Tanna Reb Mair baal hanes.
THAT TOO IS A MISINTERPRETATION OF THE LESSON OF THE GEMORRA.
“Eloha D’rebbi Meir Aneni”
literally means of course
“May the God of Rabbi Meir Answer me!”
— of course it doesnt mean…
“im giving money to raise the soul of r’ meir and to fund a charity which hijacked his name, answer me now what I want r’ meir’s god!”
Who is R’ Yona Carlebach? I’m Sure he must be from the GReat Carlebach Lineage;
In my business, we have babbas”, “kabbalists”, “tzaddikim”, “admorim” passing thru constantly. I’ve studied some kabbalah and chassidus so I started discussing various topics with them. 90% are total frauds, and 9% are yirei shamayim ame ratzim. About 1% are authentic. The Pintos are not ame ratzim and definitely have a working knowledge of kabbalah. If their brochos and nevius are worth anything is beyond me, because I never ask for either. I got the impression that while they are learned charismatic people, their inner circle is a group of low-lifes looking to score another buck.
“If their brochos and nevius are worth anything is beyond me, because I never ask for either”
Perhaps their brochos are worth ‘something’… but nevius? ChaZaL taught that nevua ended a long, long time ago.
Sota 48b:
ת”ר משמתו חגי זכריה ומלאכי נסתלקה רוח הקודש מישראל
Rabbi Pinto is a great Tzadik,
What people donate to his organization is used to the many services the organization offers the poor. In fact, many gave him large gifts for his son’s bris and he returned all the money. He never keeps anything. It is important not to offend talmidei chachamim, for good reasons. At times due to the large amounts of people who come for a blessing there is just not enough time in the day, but for those persistant there is always a chance. Shabbat Shalom
who are the idiots who wrote this article??? its impossible to meet with 5000 people a day. just do the calculations – if he met one person every 10 seconds (which in itself would be close to impossible) which is 6 people a minute and 360 per hour. This would add up to him having to meet people for almost 14 hours STRAIGHT each day in israel. Its a shame when people exaggerate….
#8 Maimon
You are misinformed regarding your information of genuine mikubalim and have obviously never gone to someone who  220;sees 221;. Sorry you are just quoting others that they are vague and put 2 and 2 together, it is not true and doesn 217;t hold water. I have personally been to a mikubal ( alone) who has never met me or my family- I handed him a name of someone not present in the room, whom he never met I did not utter a word and the mikubal told me the private situation of the person who needed a refuah without ever meeting him or my explanation.