Rabbi's Organization Denies Candace Owens' Allegation of Bitcoin Payments to Pastors

An Israeli Modern Orthodox educational organization, Ohr Torah Stone, has vehemently denied claims made by conservative political commentator Candace Owens that its founding rabbi, Shlomo Riskin, offered Bitcoin payments to Christian pastors to criticize her and fellow far-right influencer Tucker Carlson. The accusation, which quickly gained traction on social media, has been labeled "entirely false, baseless, and defamatory" by the organization.

Owens made the allegations on her podcast and X account, presenting what she claimed was a letter from Rabbi Riskin to an unnamed pastor. According to Owens, the alleged email offered a "$2,500 donation in Bitcoin to your congregation" in exchange for remarks "encouraging awareness, compassion, and caution when engaging with media voices that spread division under the cover of opinion." The purported message specifically cited Owens and Carlson for using language that "lately has crossed a line" and "veered into rhetoric that echoes classic antisemitic tropes."

Rabbi Kenneth Brander, President and Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr Torah Stone, swiftly responded to the claims. In a statement, Rabbi Brander asserted, "Rabbi Riskin and Ohr Torah Stone don’t spend time thinking about Candace Owens." He added, "We do not engage in smear campaigns, and we certainly don’t make unsolicited offers — Bitcoin or otherwise — to anyone. The claim is absurd and bears no connection to reality."

The controversy arises amidst a backdrop of increasing scrutiny over Owens' public statements. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has previously noted Owens' embrace and promotion of antisemitic tropes and anti-Israel rhetoric, particularly following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. Owens departed from The Daily Wire in March 2024 after public disagreements with co-founder Ben Shapiro regarding her controversial remarks.

The tweet by Katherine Brodsky, stating "This is an excellent example of how when you really want to believe something, you'll believe anything. Like an 85-year-old rabbi paying off pastors with Bitcoin to criticize Tucker and Candace," appears to be a commentary on the nature of the accusation itself, highlighting its unusual and potentially unsubstantiated character. Ohr Torah Stone has called for a retraction and a formal apology from Owens regarding the allegations.