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bemildred

(90,061 posts)
Sun Jul 15, 2012, 08:06 AM Jul 2012

Israel's richest rabbis become savvy businessmen

NETIVOT — One summer night, on the outskirts of a sleepy desert town, a who’s who of Israel’s elite gathered for an annual feast to honor a rabbi whose gaze is said to pierce the soul.

He’s Rabbi Yaacov Israel Ifargan. But he is better known as, simply, the X-ray.

Over the past few decades, he and dozens of other rabbis have carefully positioned themselves at the fulcrum of Israeli power and influence. They have attracted throngs of adherents — most notably some of the country’s top business moguls, who pay top shekel for an audience with their rabbi to solicit blessings and discuss business matters.

These magnates have helped fuel the rise of a rabbinic aristocracy whose members have channeled the donations they receive into multi-million-dollar empires. After gaining experience dishing out advice to Israeli tycoons, the rabbis have become shrewd businessmen themselves, managing hefty investments in stocks and real estate at home and abroad — with much of their earnings allegedly kept far from the watchful eyes of Israeli tax collectors.

http://www.fdlreporter.com/viewart/20120715/FON04/307150096/Israel-s-richest-rabbis-become-savvy-businessmen

I don't know what to make of this, I just find it strange/interesting/troublesome.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Israel's richest rabbis become savvy businessmen (Original Post) bemildred Jul 2012 OP
a couple of thousand years ago it was written that.... madrchsod Jul 2012 #1
I just dislike "big man" politics anywhere I see it. bemildred Jul 2012 #2
Sigh ! King_David Jul 2012 #4
Why do you resist... holdencaufield Jul 2012 #7
But I always thought The Romans killed Jesus, King_David Jul 2012 #8
Nah... holdencaufield Jul 2012 #9
I went to a Jewish day school King_David Jul 2012 #10
Old Joke... holdencaufield Jul 2012 #11
If those people could kill god imagine what they could to do you. shira Jul 2012 #12
how come one of them hasn't been able to choie Jul 2012 #3
Imitating some of their American Christian counterparts? LeftishBrit Jul 2012 #5
Learning from the masters. bemildred Jul 2012 #6

madrchsod

(58,162 posts)
1. a couple of thousand years ago it was written that....
Sun Jul 15, 2012, 08:12 AM
Jul 2012

a young rabble rouser was nailed to a cross because he openly challenged the money changers in the temple. my, my how things never seem to change.

bemildred

(90,061 posts)
2. I just dislike "big man" politics anywhere I see it.
Sun Jul 15, 2012, 08:16 AM
Jul 2012

Though to be fair, it's not particularly gender linked that I can see.

 

holdencaufield

(2,927 posts)
9. Nah...
Tue Jul 17, 2012, 06:52 PM
Jul 2012

... Lenny Bruce let the cat out of the bag years ago.

We killed him, because he wouldn't become a doctor.

 

holdencaufield

(2,927 posts)
11. Old Joke...
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 02:18 AM
Jul 2012

To a Protestant ... a foetus becomes a human at the time of birth

To a Catholic ... a foetus becomes a human at the time of conception

To a Jew ... a foetus becomes a human the day it graduates medical school

choie

(4,107 posts)
3. how come one of them hasn't been able to
Sun Jul 15, 2012, 09:51 AM
Jul 2012

break into television a la Billy Graham, Creflo Dollar or John Hagee?

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