Kanye West attends struggle session with connected criminal rabbi who caused cop’s suicide

Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, sat down apologized for his antisemitic remarks to an Israeli-Moroccan Orthodox rabbi with deep ties to Israeli and American business elites and a criminal past.

How the meeting went:

In recent years, Kanye West made a series of public remarks about Jews that sparked intense debate at times, overshadowing his music and business ventures. In interviews and social posts he often framed his statements as blunt social commentary, testing boundaries and reacting to perceived industry grievances, rather than intending personal malice. Now, the artist has seemingly turned over a new leaf and agreed to engage in a very public apology video with a controversial jewish figure.

In a video of the encounter, Kanye West can be seen sitting with ultra Orthodox rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, their hands clasped, while Ye delivered a monotone explanation for his actions:

“I feel really blessed to be able to sit here with you today, and just take accountability. I was dealing with some various issues dealing with bipolar also. So it would take the ideas I have and have me taking them to the extreme where I would forget about the protection of the people around me and/or myself. So, I wanted to come and take accountability. Sometimes with, you know, people aren’t that knowledgeable about the bipolar and the cause or what causes it and the way you act when you have this disease. So, it’s like if you left the house and left your kid at the house and your kid went and mess up the kitchen, mess up the garage, and mess up the living room, when you get back, it’s your responsibility ’cause that’s your child. And that’s the way I look at it, it’s like I gotta go clean up the kitchen. I gotta clean up the living room. I gotta clean up the garage. Yeah – and it’s a big deal. For me as a man, to come and take accountability for all the things that I’ve said and I really just appreciate you embracing me with open arms and allowing me to make amends. And this is the beginning and the first steps, brick by brick, to build–to build back the strong walls.

The rabbi’s translator then reiterated his response, with the rabbi telling Kanye that he is a “good man” and that Judaism believes in redemption.

Ye, Meet Yoshiyahu Pinto. Pinto, meet Ye.

Rabbi Pinto has an incredibly checkered past to say the least. Considered the Jewish businessman’s guru, in 2014 he pleaded guilty to bribing a high-ranking Israeli investigator officer and was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 1 million shekels.

But that’s not the totality of the rabbi’s story, either. That investigator, Ephraim Bacha, would later take his own life after a harassment campaign led by supporters of Pinto and the rabbi himself, overwhelmed the lifelong officer. “You killed him with the reports and the leaks from Rabbi Pinto,” an unnamed officer is reported to have told Israel’s Wala news. “Words kill.”

Bracha was cleared of any wrongdoing.

But that hasn’t limited his reach or influence which still spans across the globe in his worldwide network of religious adherents. Even Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu met with Rabbi Pinto in Washington in 2025 where the trio discussed Israeli security, the so-called multifront war effort, and unity as the path to victory.

While serving his one-year sentence, Pinto came before a parole board in 2016 and, in a disingenuous act of remorse, vowed to withdraw from public life, cease serving as a rabbi, and repent. Three years later, he would be made Chief Rabbi of Morocco.

In one display of raw power, Pinto is said to have summoned 80 American businessmen to attend a summit with him during his stay in Bulgaria. The stated purpose? To convince these men to invest $5 billion in the Israeli economy.

In 2010, the rabbi received honors in Israel at a reception attended by dozens of Israel’s elite including, at the time, 5 sitting cabinet members.

Pinto holds court over a number of Jews and non-Jews alike who routinely seek out his counsel. These include:

• Jay Schottenstein, American Eagle Outfitters chairman.
• Jacky Ben-Zaken, Israeli real-estate mogul.
• Haim Revah, Metropolitan Real Estate Investors (Lipstick Building).
• Ilan Bracha, New York real-estate executive.
• Ilan Ben-Dov, former controlling shareholder of Partner Communications.
• Nochi Dankner, Israeli billionaire investor.
• Yitzhak Tshuva, Israeli tycoon.
• Ofer Yardeni, Israeli real-estate magnate.
• Tzipi Livni, Israeli politician, reported visitor.
• Anthony Weiner, former U.S. congressman, reported attendee.
• Donny Deutsch, TV host and businessman.
• Jacob Arabo (“Jacob the Jeweler”), jeweler.
• LeBron James, NBA player, business advice.
• Michael Grimm, former U.S. congressman.
• Rudy Giuliani, former NYC mayor, reported visitor.