An article in Israel HaYom is heded "AG: No deal with scandal-ridden rabbi, case to go to court ". The teaser under the hed reads: Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto fails to convince officials he should be let off the hook in corruption case in exchange for damning information on senior police officer • Pinto allegedly tried to obstruct probe into possible campaign finance violations overseas.
I don't know if Pinto is guilty of anything in Israel or in the U.S. or, for that matter, anywhere else.
I do know there has been an inordinate amount of conjecture and that there are too many people with too little to do lined up on both sides of the issue(s).
At one time, if it was even suggested that a rabbi was involved in a nefarious act, the rabbi was shunted aside. Guilty or not, the fact that the rabbi's name was besmirched was sufficient.
Today, that's not the case.
Why?
With today's ability to send a rumor or accusation - false or not - to the eyes and ears of millions via the internet, it's easy of a malcontent to publish anything "to the world."
No one bothers to check facts. Immediately people take sides; forces line up like opposing armies ready to defend their positions. It is extremely hard for a person to back down and admit that perhaps - just "perhaps" - he or see lacks all the facts and maybe - just "maybe" - the decision to stand on this side or that of the fence was made in too much haste.
I would like to see Pinot vindicated. He is from a famous Moroccan family, a relative of Rabbi Israel Abuhatzeira (aka Baba Sali) to whom, at least as far as I know, no scandal ever was associated.
Hopefully - בע''ה - the Israeli court will look at Pinto and his accusers as "just another group of litigants standing before the bench" and will treat both sides impartially.
Let both sides present their cases; clear the air. If the prosecution claims Pinto did something, allow Pinto the opportunity to refute the prosecution.
I know the Israeli court system isn't the same as the U.S. court system - it's closer to the English system on which it is based - but one hopes that when the gavel bangs for the final time that both sides will be satisfied with the verdict.
