While rabbis report over NIS 1 billion in business a year, their activities are difficult to monitor and not always reported to the Tax Authority. This has given rise to much higher estimates.

Most of the income comes from donations by businesspeople, yet many of the rabbis are successful businessmen known for their fiscal acumen in their own right.

Another contributing factor is many of the rabbi’s abilities to foment an air of celebrity around themselves, such as Rabbi Yeshayahu Pinto (No. 7 with NIS 75 million net worth), who has become the de facto rabbi to the country’s elite.

With money does not always come influence, though, as borne out by the absence from the list of Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, who has a fervent following among politicians and the masses alike, but not enough clams to make the top 10.

Here are Israel’s 10 wealthiest rabbis:

1. Rabbi Pinchas Abuhatzeira – NIS 1,300,000,000

2. Rabbi David Abuhatzeira – NIS 750,000,000

3. Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter – NIS 350,000,000

4. Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeaḥ – NIS 180,000,000

5. Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi – NIS 100,000,000

6. Rabbi Yaakov Ifargin – NIS 75,000,000

7. Rabbi Yeshayahu Pinto – NIS 75,000,000

8. Rabbi Baruch Abuhatzeira – NIS 50,000,000

9. Rabbi Reuven Elbaz – NIS 40,000,000

10. Rabbi Yoram Abargil – NIS35,000,000

Thanks, Horse. Wouldn't you like to know how much of this loot goes back to US taxpayers?