Court approves NIS 830,000 settlement in lawsuit against Shaul Elkariv

A court in Petah Tikva on Sunday approved an agreement under which Shaul Elkariv, known as the “criminals’ rabbi,” and his wife, Tova, must pay Nechama Gabai NIS 830,000, approximately $264,000. The settlement, now a binding judgment, resolves her lawsuit seeking NIS 1.17 million, or about $372,000.

The complaint, submitted by attorneys Dov Weinroth and Osher Rubinger, alleged that the couple received hundreds of thousands of shekels through a prolonged pattern of exploitation, intimidation and financial control. Gabai, a mother of three facing personal and financial difficulties, approached Elkariv in 2021 after he was introduced to her as a rabbi and practitioner of Jewish mysticism with spiritual abilities to help people in distress.

Gabai said she increasingly depended on Elkariv as their relationship developed, accepting his guidance on family, personal and financial decisions. Her lawsuit alleged that he used that trust and dependence to convince her to give substantial amounts of money to him and his wife.

According to the complaint, Gabai transferred NIS 745,467 to the couple during February and March 2022. The bulk came from an apartment sold during her divorce, while the remainder came from government benefits used to support her and her children. Payments were allegedly divided among the couple’s joint account, Tova Elkariv’s personal account and cash.

Gabai alleged that Elkariv accompanied her to the bank and directed the transactions, sometimes presenting himself to employees as her father. When she questioned the transfers, she said, he claimed to have consulted her divorce lawyer and secured the lawyer’s approval. According to the lawsuit, Elkariv portrayed the arrangement as a means of safeguarding her assets.

Her family remained unaware of the payments until late 2025, when financial difficulties led her to seek their assistance, the complaint said. Gabai alleged that she feared requesting repayment partly because Elkariv had threatened to hurt her relatives if they became involved in his affairs.

The lawsuit included transcripts of conversations involving Gabai and her brother, as well as exchanges between relatives and Elkariv. Gabai said these showed that Elkariv acknowledged receiving the funds and promised repayment, including by borrowing money himself. The complaint also alleged that he asked the family to sign a document characterizing the payments as a loan. The funds had not been returned when the suit was filed.

The complaint also referred to separate defamation proceedings brought by Elkariv against Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and others over publications concerning him. The Tel Aviv District Court dismissed that case in July 2024. Its ruling considered testimony and publications concerning how Elkariv represented himself and allegations that he exploited women who sought his help while in distress.

Gabai’s financial claim comprised the original NIS 745,467, with interest and inflation adjustments bringing that amount to approximately NIS 970,000, plus NIS 200,000 in damages for the alleged harm and severity of Elkariv’s conduct. During the proceedings, the court froze assets at her request to secure the claim. The eventual agreement set the couple’s payment at NIS 830,000.