
© REUTERS / Sebastian Scheiner
Sex convict rabbi Eliezer Berland promises he can revive people who were officially declared brain dead, if family members pony up some NIS 20,000 ($5,400), according to a television report on Thursday that exposed the working of the miracles-for-cash services offered by the shadowy leader of the Shuvu Bonim community.
Berland has long been known to offer "
pidyonim," or kabbalistic benedictions, to the ill, whereby they receive a blessing after donating money. In late-night visits, and surrounded by dozens of followers, Berland frequently shows up at Israeli hospitals across the country, unattended by staff, to bless the sick, according to footage uploaded by his followers.
Israeli journalists from Channel 12 news, seeking to unearth how it works and after encountering victims of Berland's scheme, invented the case of a 35-year-old woman, "Yael," who was declared brain dead.
They contacted Berland's aide Natan, who was initially circumspect, saying he would have to check as it was a case of brain death.
"If it wasn't brain death, I would promise you that he would revive her," he tells them, tacitly acknowledging the irreversible loss of all cognitive functioning.
Comment: Incidents at transport hubs are all over the news these days. Although it is interesting that the threat was made to a particular company, so one wonders whether it was a disgruntled worker?