The Brooklyn DA is looking into suspicions that Rabbi Elazar Abuchatzeira defrauded Jews from New York City and its surroundings out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the New York Post reported Tuesday.
According to the report, the rabbi offered divine promises for cash.
A stream of alleged victims from Borough Park, Brooklyn, to Englewood, NJ, said the rabbi, of Beersheba, 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. That never happened.
He ruined my life. He ruined my finances by making these promises," the man said.
Brooklyn Assistant DA Eileen Ayvazian said the authorities were aware of the complaints. "It's an active investigation," she added.