Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Aharonov, head of Chabad's mission in Israel, served about 14 months of a two-year prison sentence imposed on him - and was released today from Hermon Prison in the north, after deducting a third of his prison term.
Chabad followers and the Rebbe's emissaries joyfully announce the end of his prison term.
Rabbi Aharonov served a 14-month prison term after, at the end of an eight-year period, during which he waged a long and drawn-out legal battle to preserve the name of Chabad Hasidism, he took responsibility, as part of a plea bargain, for serious charges that were leveled against 28 shluchim and employees of the extensive Chabad Youth Association system.
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As mentioned, today, the first day of Pesach - the holiday of freedom, Rabbi Aharonov completed his term of imprisonment and was released from prison.
During his imprisonment, Rabbi Aharonov, even within the prison walls, was able to sanctify the name of God and continued the missionary work entrusted to him by the Rebbe.
Rabbi Aharonov was convicted, based on his confession as part of a plea agreement, of the offenses of receiving something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, fraud and breach of trust in a corporation, false registration in corporate documents, and the use of fraud, deceit and trickery with the aim of evading taxes, amounting to millions of shekels.
The representative of the prosecution stated clearly in the court hearing: "Rabbi Aharonov is not suspected or accused of taking any amount into his private pocket.".
