Kanye West meets with famous mystical rabbi, seeks to atone for past antisemitic comments

The controversial American rapper "Ye" – also known as Kanye West – met with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto in what was described as an effort to atone for his past antisemitic remarks. The prominent rabbi’s office released a video of the meeting online.

“I feel really blessed to be able to sit with you today and just take accountability. I was dealing with some various issues,” Ye told Pinto.

“It’s a big deal for me as a man to come and take accountability for all the things that I’ve said, and I really just appreciate you embracing me with open arms and allowing me to make amends. And this is the beginning and the first steps,” the rapper continued.

Rabbi Pinto, known as a rabbi for celebrities, leads a global religious organization called Mosdot Shuva Israel, based in Ashdod, Israel and New York. He's a kabbalist, one who engages in Jewish mysticism, and has gained a large international following.

Ye also reportedly told Rabbi Pinto that he has been struggling with bipolar disorder, among other issues. He compared the condition to a child who has to take responsibility for the mess that he created.

“You are a very good man,” Pinto said at the end of the video, squeezing the rapper’s hands.

In December 2022, Ye praised the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in a controversial interview on Infowars with the far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

“The Jewish media has made us feel like the Nazis and Hitler have never offered anything of value to the world. I see good things about Hitler, also,” he said at the time.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), an organization dedicated to combating antisemitism and bigotry, blasted West’s antisemitic remarks.

“History teaches us that words and ideas can have profound consequences. Kanye West’s serial antisemitism is now accompanied with the deconstruction of evil,” the SWC warned.

In late 2022, popular social media platforms blocked West for posting antisemitic content.

ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor-in-Chief Joel Rosenberg responded on 𝕏, condemning West’s “revolting, anti-Semitic and unacceptable from anyone – but especially from someone calling himself a passionate follower of Jesus Christ.”

The same year, the popular athletic company Adidas ended its partnership with West due to his antisemitism.

“Adidas does not tolerate anti-Semitism and any other sort of hate speech,” the company stated, adding, “Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.”