I'm NOT religious - I don't read Torah and I eat bacon and prawns. However, I have never stolen, cheated, physically abused anyone, committed fraud, or any of the array of nasties committed by the Haredim. AND I give to women's charities and my children serve in combat units in the country 'god gave us' I'm closer to God than YOU or they will ever be. Do I have something to fear? HA HA HA I DON'T THINK SOOOOOO!!!!

No, it's not religion which is twisted. It's quite bluntly those who are called teachers of Judaism who are always the problem. They, who are supposed to teach ethics have shown themselves to be the most unethical and dishonest. The nonsensical statement that the rabbi took nothing for himself has no bearing. He stole taxpayer money from the government of Israel Fraud is fraud and theft is theft. As a rabbi, he knew what he was doing was illegal, ergo he should pay the penalty the court decided.

Yes i am an openly gay man so what? I am entitled to live my life according to the law of the county in the way you are also entitled to live your life style. First of all i do not claim to live by the rules of the bible and secondly i do not class being gay as a sin. Being gay is someones genetic makeup and not an alternative life style. I work, pay taxes , serve my country , yet i dont steal, lie , cheat, and embezzel $470,000 of tax payers hard earned money and your judging me. Is not stealing such a large sum of money a sin, maybe he hasnt heard of the 10 commandments? How strange you make no reference to MK Offer Hugi? The criminal in question? Do you reserve the same hatred you show to gay people towards people who drive on Shabbat and eat non kosher food? I wonder where such homophobic feelings really come from? Sure gay people commit crimes like any other sector of society but they are not standing of a stool preaching "i am hollier than thou" and claiming to represent God. Well compared to shas mk Ofer Hugi im the pope!

if this is a crude attempt to divert the attention away from this low life criminal im afraid it wont work. yes im gay! Ill shout it from the roof tops for all to hear! Yes i was born gay thats who i am thats my genetic makeup . But i dont live by the rules of the Torah and am not religious, however Mk Ofer Hugi does live by the rules of the Torah, correct me if im wrong bit isnt stealing $470,000 of tax payers money , and making false accusations a sin? and all this from some one who preaches "i am hollier than thou" and judges and slanders others in the name of the Torah.

yes of course secular people commit crimes and i hope Hirschon sits in jail for a long time, but the issue is here is that MK Ofer Hugi claims to be religious, preaches "i am hollier than thou" quotes the Torah, judges and slanders others in the name of God, while committing serious criminal offenses. Hasn't he ever heard of "thou shalt not steal" ? thats why this man really is the lowest of the lowest . Dosent wearing a black Kippah have any respect for this person. Does he think he can select the commandments according to his requirements? Attorney Elad Persky of the State Prosecutor's Office was right to demand a heavy sentence. Shas is a criminal organization that uses religion as a means to obtain wealth, and power, surely the "good lord" provides for these so called "righteous" people

'RELIGIOUS' MEN WHO THROW WOMEN OFF THE BUS, OR THOSE WHO RAPE KIDS?LET'S GET REAL, MANY CRIMINALS HIDE BEHIND 'RELIGIOUS' FRONTS THAT ALLOW THEM TO BE 'LEGALIZED' CRIMNALS. IN ISRAEL, CLEAN YOUR OWN HOUSE!!!!!!

Are you that ignorant or just plain stupid, there is a large gay population in Jerusalem. Oh yes we do, we will march every year in Jerusalem our democratic capital city. We will become louder and louder untill we get out rights. We will not allow a situation where one minority group denies another minority group its rights. I work, pay taxes and serve in the army, that gives me rights buddy boy! The holy streets of Jerusalem ? dont make me laugh. Get a life !

The last gay pride parade was held in Jerusalem on 26 June 2008 - I believe several thousand people attended. That's about, what? 20 or so weeks ago? AND there was an orthodox mayor at the time. But oh you made me laugh so much! So, thanks for that.

And has , by the own words of religious people , a lower "standard" , That's why we , seculars , talk so harshly against religious who commit crimes . They pretend to have higher standards . Not all of them apparently . This does not excuse crimes comitted by seculars of course . But all those thefts begin to give a very bad name to Shas .

Hes the master criminal behind the scam, the purpled glassed dress wearing one should be behind bars. Would be a good idea to check his bank account, for all the stolen tax payers money!

and there is NO name to desecrate for them and for many others . We see what some name and words honoring people do , is this honoring ? And they pretend to honor him !

A Haredi who commits a crime, is no worse than a secular who commits a crime. They are BOTH from the dregs of society. However, one doesn't expect a Haredi, because of his undying love and devotion to God and the Torah, to commit such God fearing despicable acts. It makes it that much worse from someone who claims to be devoted to God – and KNOWS it’s wrong I’m sure God would just love to distance himself from these slime-balls that pretend to honour him and respect him – then go and steal. Shabbat Shalom!

Strange i was in Jerusalem this morning , walking the streets of "heavenly Jerusalem" luckily i avoided all the burning trash cans and riots, ultra orthodox thugs attacking women, then went for a cup of coffee, In case you haven't heard the people of Jerusalem voted for Nir Barkat obviously had enough of people like you, in fact as i own property in Jerusalem (yes gay people own property in Jerusalem) i went to vote just to make sure Meir Porush wouldnt get it. Lets just hope Mr Barkat wil bring Jerusalem back to all the people of Israel and that buddy includes me. Were here were Queer.

In the United States, if a public official transfers money from one public purpose to another, without authorization, he can be impeached. Unless he is pocketing the money, it isn't criminal. Frankly, it seems his crime pertained to what he is, not what he did (as if being an orthodox Sefardi is a crime in Israel ).

others. I don't see hetersexuals demanding to parade through the streets of Jerusalem half naked in racy, seductive dress. I've met some really decent gay people who would never shove their agenda in your face or ask that you accept their way of life. All they ask is that they get the same rights everyone else gets and that they are allowed to have their private life.

One , Talula , Simon and some others , including me , give their names and tell that a "religious" man , who should be without such bad behaviour is wrong . The others , many of them anonymous cowards , divert the discussion by attacking seculars , Gays ans so . This is a normal tactic when you can't say something serious regarding what happened . Attack is the best defense , but in your case , very low . Say it clearly , this guy has comitted crimes , has to be condemned , should not behave this way and has added another reason for some to vilify Shas . I , who generally say that such a person is not representative of his community , begin to think that it seems to be a Shas speciality . Yeroushalaim is ONE , the "heavenly" does exist only in the head of some .

For your information, we have a Love Parade also - for straight people in Israel. It's because of bigots like yourself that gays have to continually fight to be accepted in society and be granted the same rights as everyone else. You are stupid and you make me sick AND you don't even live here, so be quiet.

Forging documents to obtain more subsidies not punishable there ? Who will believe this ? No sane person

As you wrote it , all they ask is to get the same rights everyone else gets , those right include the right to parade in their Capital , and they don't do it half naked as you think

There are thousands of religious gay men. Life for them is very difficult and the loose talking flappy mouthed bigots who know nothing about the subject should show some tolerance and acceptance - because all the hate that you spew out of your ignorant mouths, won't change a thing. Try understanding instead of spewing out venom.

You answer it with another one about seculars. Why? because you can't. You are just too stupid to answer to anymore. Your ignorance is only surpassed by your stupidity.