Matzo Man

This week Hussein Ismail Jaber, a banquet manager at the Jerusalem Renaissance Hotel, father of three and a Muslim, is one of the richest men in Israel. For a week. For the fourth time. Because Jewish law forbids possession of certain grains on Passover, Jews who own bread or bakery companies sell their inventory to a Gentile for the holiday. The Sephardic and Ashkenazic chief rabbis sell it all to Jaber, who gives the Finance Ministry a check for $25,000 as a deposit for food products worth about $50 million. Jaber says he does it as “a gesture to the rabbis.” He makes nothing on the deal. Now that’s trust.