With the Help of Hashem ...

Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel

Yoel Zev ben Mirel Risa Chava

Yosef ben Ita Rivka

Hatzolas Nefashos/Pidyon Shevuim 

for the three boys incarcerated in Japan by the Japanese Government

Tokyo - Japanese Ger Who Was Former Minister to Help Imprisoned Bochurim

Rav Moshe Haturi, a former Japanese Protestant minister who converted to Judaism and lives in Israel Shaarei Chesed, has traveled back to Japan to help the two remaining bochurim on trial.

Although every ger tzedek has his own amazing story, Rav Haturi's story is unique. Born Novo Taka in the city of Naguya in 1960, Haturi was a spiritual individual since his youth. He studied to be a minister for 6 years. He received a divinity degree, married, and became one of the youngest ministers in Japan. At 27, he received his first position in a church. He engaged in missionary activity in schools and universities, and worked with young and old.

"In Japan, I wanted to meet my Creator," he says. "Finally, today, I sit here most of the day with the gemora open and I study Rashi, Tosfos and Rishonim and afterwards the Gaon's biur on Shulchan Aruch. I truly feel like I'm living with Hakodesh Baruch Hu."

Haturi had previously told the rabbonim dealing with the bochurim's case that he was willing to intercede on their behalf with the Japanese justice system. Rav Weiss from Antwerp and the boys' lawyers took up his offer this past month. He left for Japan this past Sunday with the blessing of Rav Shmuel Auerbach.

The life of Rabbi Haturi is fascinating and the remainder can be read  here.