Is it natural talent? Is it all those training sessions? No, it's the X-Ray Rabbi

Ha'aretz follows up on the sudden popularity of the X-Ray rabbi, Ya'akov Ifergan, amongst sportstars:

"[Maccabi Herzliya chairman Ariel] Scheiman, it turns out, isn't the only Israeli soccer personality to seek spiritual advice.
'I visit the X-ray once or twice a week,' says former Israel international Itzik Zohar. 'In the past I used to see Yeshiahu Pinto in Ashdod. I visit the graves of righteous rabbis as well. It makes me feel good. I believe in it, and not just in order to succeed on the soccer pitch. I think that almost every player in the top two divisions and certainly in the lower divisions consults with rabbis. Mostly in Tiberias, Netivot, Ashdod and Nahariya.'
"Zohar may favor the X-ray, but the big name in the Premier League at the moment, other than Assoulin, of course, is Rabbi David Abuhatzeira of Nahariya. Almost the entire squad of both Maccabi and Hapoel Haifa consults with Abuhatzeira, and with players from Be'er Sheva, Ashdod, Tel Aviv and Netanya making the pilgrimage, it can be hard to get an audience with the rabbi.
"I believe in him,' said one of Maccabi Tel Aviv's top players. "He is God's messenger. He does a lot of good and we will continue to go see him."
"Several Betar Jerusalem players go to the Western Wall every Thursday for midnight prayers. But Betar hasn't reached the spiritual level of Ashdod, which is considered the "Kabbala club." The entire team, with the exception of the foreign players, travels frequently to meet with rabbis and to pray at the graves of righteous rabbis.
"The X-ray may not know much about soccer,' Scheiman admits, 'but he doesn't have to. He understands spiritual affairs..."

Well, maybe. But by now it's clear what else the X-Ray rabbi knows about, and that's making friends in high -- or extremely medium, I suppose -- places and taking advantage of their naiveté.