Hasidic Leader Who Fled Abuse Allegations May Return To Israel – If Police Agree Not To Treat Him "Like Some Sort Of Criminal"

Close associates of Breslov Shuvu Banim leader Rabbi Eliezer Berland say he has hired the services of criminal attorneys Roi Belcher and Moshe Mazor to negotiate his return to Israel. Belcher and Mazor are Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto’s attorneys who tried to negotiate a no-prison plea deal for Pinto on bribery, extortion, money laundering, embezzlement and obstruction of justice charges. Pinto has not been given that plea deal but he has yet to be officially indicted – even though a wealth of evidence against him exists.

Rabbi Eliezer Berland

Hasidic Leader Who Fled Abuse Allegations May Return To Israel – If Police Agree Not To Treat Him "Like Some Sort Of Criminal"
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

Wanted Breslov hasidic leader Rabbi Eliezer Berland may return to Israel in the near future, Israeli media are reporting.

Berland – who allegedly sexually abused female followers, some of whom were allegedly minors at the time of their abuse – fled Israel about a year ago and is wanted by Israel police questioning.

After bouncing around in several countries that do not have extradition treaties with Israel, Berland has reportedly lived for the past several months in Zimbabwe after being expelled from his previous sanctuary in Morocco.

Close associates of Berland say he has hired the services of criminal attorneys Roi Belcher and Moshe Mazor to negotiate his return to Israel. Belcher and Mazor are Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto’s attorneys who tried to negotiate a no-prison plea deal for Pinto on bribery, extortion, money laundering, embezzlement and obstruction of justice charges. Pinto has not been given that plea deal but he has yet to be officially indicted – even though a wealth of evidence against him exists.

Berland allegedly told followers planning to visit him in Zimbabwe or South Africa for Purim or move there to hold off. But that allegedly had more to do with trying to keep the Purim event low-key and small than with any real expectation Berland would be back in Israel by then.

“The rabbi is ready and willing to come back to Israel, but only if police change their approach and treat him with respect, not like some sort of criminal,” a close associate of Berland’s told the Jerusalem Post yesterday.

Related:

All Rabbi Eliezer Berland Posts.

[Hat Tip: Burich.]

Comments

[Sarek]

I LOVE that last quote. He's a reb, for God's sake. Show some respect. He's a Godly man. Just because he's a criminal is no reason to treat him like a criminal. He's a holy man, just ask him.

[jancsibacsi]

Sarek--Theese days anyone crazed enough is called a rebbe,it looks like its one of the qualifications to be a rebbe just go crazy and youre in.

[Rodin]

Forget the charges. What is important, is to find out what a man his age eats for breakfast, so that he has the energy to do what he did. I'm pretty sure it's not hot tea with lemon. hmmmmm

[Reese]

Zimbabawe, yup sounds about right.

[S M L]

Just send a couple of Mossad guys down there, let them tie this character up and toss him in the jungle alive for the lions or hyenas or alligators to eat and be done with this nonsense. Nobody in Zimbabwe will know or care. One less human predator. Several happy lions. On balance a good thing.

[ah-pee-chorus]

+++and treat him with respect, not like some sort of criminal,+++

Of course they will. dont you worry. theyre going to treat him like a big rebbe. They'll have him host a big tisch and then they'll bring him some very young females in which to impart his holy wisdom.