Breaking! Prosecution Caves: Mondrowitz To Stay In Israel

Israeli government decides against appealing High Court ruling.

According to a spokesperson for the state's attorney's office in Israel, the Israeli government has decided not to appeal the High Court's ruling overturning lower court decisions to extradite accused haredi child rapist Avrohom Mondrowitz to the US.

This ends Mondrowitz's 25 year battle to block extradition to the US.

Mondrowitz fled Brooklyn and was indicted in absentia. He has lived openly in Israel ever since.

Earlier this week, before the Israeli government's decision not to appeal was revealed, in another excellent article by Hella Winston the New York Jewish Week reported:

…[T]here is widespread concern among advocates that Mondrowitz continues to pose a threat to children. Israeli police acknowledge that they found child pornography in his home, though he is apparently not being charged with any crimes in connection with that material.

Moshe Rosenbaum, one of the original activists who brought Mondrowitz’s activities to light and has had personal contact with over 50 alleged victims of Mondrowitz, many of whom knew of other victims, told the Jewish Week that he believes the Israelis should be very concerned if Mondrowitz goes free.

"I estimate that there were over three hundred victims of Mondrowitz as of 1985. In my history of dealing with pedophiles in the Jewish community, nobody has ever come close to the level of the vile abusive behavior of Mondrowitz. He has a disease that doesn’t go away. It ruins lives forever. And the lack of response from the public empowers people like him which only makes them more dangerous.“

“Mondrowitz’s ability to charm his way into the presence of children is not to be taken lightly,” Rosenbaum continued. “It’s important that the Israeli public understand the extent of the danger Mondrowitz poses.”

Further, The Jewish Week has also learned that as recently as 2005, Mondrowitz was advising a man named Benyamin Rosenstein, a resident of Bnai Brak who works helping troubled religious boys, on matters related to adolescent psychology.… 

Mondrowitz is a member of the Gur (Gerrer) hasidic sect. His family, also Gerrer hasidim, are said to be close to Gerrer leadership.

The Gerrer Rebbe, the leader of Ger hasidim, controls the majority of votes in the United Torah Judaism political party, which plays an outsized role in Israeli politics.

Comments

[harold]

I guess the next step is to try to find victims of Mondrowitz's 25 year stay in Israel. I would find it hard to believe that in close to a quarter of a century that there was not one victim in Israel that can be found.

[Yerachmiel Lopin]

This sucks. No wonder American rabbonim were so outspoken about Mondorwitz. They knew he would never come back with Ger on one end and Hynes on the other.

I agree with Harold. There has to be at least one victim who can not be intimidated by the Gerrorists.

[effie]

Please. If the guy has the juice to avoid extradition, he has the juice to destroy any child or family that crosses him.

[steve]

We need to ask the US State Department and Justice Department to pressure Israel to extradite him. Presssuring Israel is something the State Department is usually good at.

[harold]

Please. If the guy has the juice to avoid extradition, he has the juice to destroy any child or family that crosses him

I thought that there are victims here in the US that would testify against him, then why not in Israel? I always thought that Israelis are tougher than Americans, especially American Jews.

[Shmarya]

The US victims are all Italians.

The Jewish victims did not come forward until many years after Mondrowitz fled.

[bootsy thorton]

Can you enlighten us, oh great Shmarya, as to why the non-religious israeli govern.ent decided not to charge him for child-porn?

[Shmarya]

I think you can follow the votes all the way to the Gerrer Rebbe on that one.

[harold]

The US victims are all Italians

Well then maybe they should extradite him to Italy to stand trial there?

[Shmarya]

Well then maybe they should extradite him to Italy to stand trial there?

Please.

[effie]

I thought that there are victims here in the US that would testify against him, then why not in Israel?

See my previous answer in response to your comment about finding victims in Israel.

I always thought that Israelis are tougher than Americans, especially American Jews.

Same as above.

[harold]

The US victims are all Italians

Maybe they can get the Mafia after him (or are they afraid of the Gerrer too).

[alternative childcare]

I'm sure he's going to throw a little seudat mitzvah now that Hashem has saved him, wonder if they'll be photos with Mountain Dew, etc?

[Neandershort]

If all legal remedies are exhausted, then perhaps some of his victims, now strapping young men, should twist his neck, send him to the bottom of the ocean with weighty matters, and send his family a package containing his long black coat, black hat and a dead fish.

[Sarah K]

Harold,
The Mafia is not afraid of the Gerrer. They're in business with them. You know: birds of a feather....
Sarah K

[Bill]

I speculate that the Israeli govenment is not appealing the ruling because it is waiting to see what the international fallout might be.

If they appeal now - and lose - they will have played all their cards, with no face-saving remedies left.

Who knows.

"The arc of the Universe is long, but it bends toward Justice."

[Shmarya]

I believe the time period for appeal ahas now passed.

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

If all legal remedies are exhausted, then perhaps some of his victims, now strapping young men, should twist his neck, send him to the bottom of the ocean with weighty matters....

An excellent idea! I think that might be the only way to get satisfaction at this point.

I am reminded of a time when I was in a park as a third-grader reading a book. Two older boys, about 17-18 years old came up and grab me and held me by the legs and hands and threw me into a ditch of muddy water. I got a real good look at the goofy SOB holding my legs.

10 years later, I'm playing basketball in the same park and I see the same goofy guy with a big boom box (this is the 80s now). I walk up to him, take his boombox and I run for the very same ditch with him after me. After throwing the boombox into the ditch, he confronts me. I proceed to grapple with him, and I shove him into the ditch as well.

A very satisfying experience! Too bad I never got a chance to take on his partner.

[effie]

Some of you should look up the Ricky Rodriguez case. There was a documentary a few years ago and you can either find it or the tapes Rodriguez made on the internet. After killing one of his abusers, he called his wife, told her that it made him feel even worse, and then he shot himself.

I'm not saying forgive your abuser and I support the death penalty. I'm just saying that actions have unforseen consequences.

[Dave]

Any connection with the fact that the acting minister of health is a gerer chosid? Banish the thought!