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Last update - 07:58 17/04/2008 Suspicion: Rival cantor hatched scheme to seduce Great Synagogue colleague By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Naftali Hershtik  Cantor Israel Rand is suspected of sending a woman to entrap the cantor of Jerusalem's Great Synagogue, Naftali Hershtik, in an attempt to have him removed from his job. According to the suspicions, Rand recruited the young woman and recorded an intimate meeting between her and the married Hershtik in a Tel Aviv hotel room. Rand then sent pictures of the two along with an anonymous letter demanding Hershtik be fired. A Channel 10 news report by Baruch Kra on Tuesday revealed the text of the letter sent by Rand, the cantor of the main synagogue of Ramat Gan, and the owner of a cantorial school that competes with a similar one run by Hershtik. Advertisement "It has been brought to our attention the matter of an affair between the cantor of the Great Synagogue, Naftali Hershtik, and a young woman," the letter said. "We have also received pictures and recordings where Cantor Hershtik is heard and seen ... If the situation of nothing being done and no clear steps taken in the matter continues, we will no longer be able to continue our silence, and will certainly keep away from the synagogue. It is unthinkable that a cantor who commits such acts can serve as a the representative of the public." The letter was addressed to the vice-president of the Great Synagogue, Zeli Yafe. As a result of the letter, it was decided that Hershtik could no longer serve as cantor, and a letter to that effect was sent to him in February. Yafe told the reporter that it was decided to keep the matter totally secret to protect the honor of both the synagogue and Hershtik. Hershtik's daughter, Hannah Zikel, called the sending of the young woman to entice her father and the distribution of the pictures a "disgusting plot." At the same time the synagogue's senior officials were examining the matter, the police's international crimes unit opened an investigation and discovered Rand's part in the affair. He told investigators how he hired the woman, who pretended to be a musicology student. She arranged to meet Hershtik in the hotel room, which had been outfitted with cameras. The transcript of Rand's police testimony, quoted in the report said: "Two or three months ago, I asked her to collect information on Naftali Hershtik. The man has been persecuting and defaming me for years. He has been making up stories about me. In the last two or three years he has harassed me. When they invited me to appear in the Great Synagogue, he prevented it with all sorts of excuses," Rand is quoted as saying. When the police asked Rand whether he knew he was committing a crime, he said no. "After what he has done to me for 15 years, why should I be quiet?" A draft indictment for extortion and threats has been given to Rand. At the same time, the question of whether Hershtik can continue to serve the synagogue is being handled by a mutually agreed upon arbitrator. The officials of the Great Synagogue also clarified Tuesday that no one from the synagogue had anything to do with the enticement of Hershtik. Related articles: British philanthropist Maurice Wohl dies at 83, to be buried in J'lem Prima Kings, Jerusalem Forty years on, they still come back to pray Heroes and hitchhikers Bookmark to del.icio.us   Sex, lies and videotape 3 Kibbutz Ein Gedi residents suspected of filming themselves raping Danish tourists. Big brother is watching An IDF soldier has been jailed for posting sensitive photos on Facebook.   1.   Can we all agree? 06:21  |  Paul 17/04/08   2.   The immoral behaviour conclusion is still valid. 07:24  |  Alex 17/04/08   3.   Unholy row 08:25  |  sh 17/04/08   4.   NO ONE SHOULD DO ANYTHING WITH RAND!!! 08:47  |  Victor 17/04/08   5.   #1 - it`s not funny 08:49  |  David 17/04/08   6.   Speaking as a perv myself I could always 10:04  |  RB 17/04/08   7.   Yes, funny 10:07  |  qrypt 17/04/08   8.   the article does not say that they went to bed ! 10:15  |  AL 17/04/08   9.   Entrapment 10:30  |  Motic 17/04/08   10.   Re: the article does not say that they went to bed ! 11:49  |  Alex 17/04/08   11.   Why the hastiness to fire cantor Naftali? 11:56  |  Magnify 17/04/08   12.   G-d can resist? 12:12  |  qrypt 17/04/08   13.   jooos jooing joos!! 12:14  |  i love it 17/04/08   14.   So why has the Great management been so silent? 12:59  |  Sid Emess 17/04/08   15.   Hershtik is a gentlmen 14:25  |  Eli 17/04/08   16.   Yichud? 15:18  |  Avi 17/04/08   17.   Photograph 15:43  |  Motic 17/04/08   18.   cantors 16:37  |  Tevye 17/04/08   19.   can we get clips of the meeting? 16:44  |  g. lee 17/04/08   20.   Comment on # 18 Cantor of the week? 19:23  |  Motic 17/04/08   21.   Rand`s motivation -- revenge 01:38  |  yossele 18/04/08   22.   Jaffe family and Schaprio must go 13:29  |  David 18/04/08   23.   Naphtali "the Great" 23:25  |  Russel Lurie 18/04/08   24.   Great Synagogue Jerusalem 11:43  |  Kate 19/04/08   25.   "GREAT" shmucks from "great" synagogue... LOL! 22:52  |  Avi Zimm 20/04/08   26.   Naftali Herstik 23:40  |  Jeremy 23/04/08

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