Shaul Alkreib to Pay 830,000 Shekels in Financial Exploitation Settlement
A Petah Tikva court validated a settlement requiring Shaul Alkreib and his wife to pay 830,000 shekels to a woman who accused them of financial exploitation and distress manipulation.
The Magistrate's Court in Petah Tikva has given legal validity to a settlement agreement under which Shaul Alkreib, known as the " rabbi of criminals," and his wife Tova will pay 830,000 shekels to Nehama Gabai, who had filed a lawsuit against them for 1.17 million shekels.
The extraordinary lawsuit alleged a prolonged pattern of distress exploitation, intimidation, and financial control through which hundreds of thousands of shekels were transferred to the couple. Filed through attorneys Dov Weisroth and Asher Rubinger, the lawsuit details how Gabai, a mother of three facing personal and financial hardship, turned to Alkreib in 2021 after he was presented to her as a rabbi, kabbalist, and spiritual figure capable of assisting people in distress.
According to the plaintiff, as their relationship intensified, Alkreib became a central figure in her life. She began relying on his advice and following his instructions in personal, family, and financial matters. The lawsuit claims that Alkreib exploited her trust and growing dependency to acquire significant sums of money. Between February and March 2022, Gabai transferred a cumulative sum of 745,467 shekels to the couple, largely originating from the sale of an apartment during her divorce proceedings, alongside state allowances intended for her and her children's livelihood.
The plaintiff detailed how Alkreib accompanied her to bank branches, instructed her on how to act, and in some instances even posed as her father before bank tellers. Whenever she expressed concern, he allegedly assured her that he had spoken with her divorce attorney, who was fully aware of the transfers and approved them. The funds were transferred in several installments, partly to the couple's joint account, partly to Tova Alkreib's personal account, and partly in cash under the pretext of protecting her assets.
For years, Gabai hid the transfers from her family out of fear, as Alkreib allegedly threatened to harm her relatives if they intervened. The situation came to light in late 2025 when she faced severe financial distress and sought her family's assistance. Transcripts attached to the lawsuit showed that Alkreib admitted to receiving the funds during conversations with family members, promised to return them, and asked relatives to sign a document framing the money as a loan. Despite these commitments, the funds were not returned prior to the legal action.
Gabai's lawsuit sought the return of 745,467 shekels plus linkage and interest—totaling approximately 970,000 shekels—alongside 200,000 shekels in additional compensation for damages. Following asset freezes secured during the proceedings, the parties reached a compromise, culminating in the court-validated settlement.
