Rabbi Yaakov Yitzhak Rata (Roth), one of the sons of the Shomrei Emunim
Rebbe of Mea Shearim, was convicted in 1997 of incest, rape, and sexual
abuse of a minor girl. Rata refused to acknowledge his guilt or
show any remorse. He was sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by
law, 16 years in Massisyahu Prison. Rata was released less than two weeks ago after serving his full sentence. He is now considered to be a hasidic rebbe in his own right, shocking the ex-cons who served time with him.
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzhak Rata (Roth), convicted sex offender and the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe of Beit Shemesh
Ex-Cons Shocked That Sex Offender Who Served Time For Child Rape And incest Is Now A Hasidic Rebbe
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzhak Rata (Roth), one of the sons of the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe of Mea Shearim, was convicted in 1997 of incest, rape, and sexual abuse of a minor girl.
Rata refused to acknowledge his guilt or show any remorse. He was sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by law, 16 years in Massisyahu Prison.
Rata was not a model prisoner. According to fellow inmates, Rata was arrogant and assertive, and completely free of any remorse.
Rata 16-year sentence was up a couple weeks ago, and as Failedmessiah.com reported then, Rata is expected to become the Shomrei Emunim rebbe of Beit Shemesh (according to previous reports in FailedMessiah.com and Behadrei Haredim, but Ynet reports, probably inaccurately, that Rata's hasidic court will be in the haredi toown of Beitar Illit) – just as his father, who passed away a few months ago, wanted him to.
A reporter for Kikar HaShabbat, Israel Cohen, told Ynet that Rata and his three brothers, who are all now rebbes in their own right, are not charismatic figures.
"On the one hand, he and his brothers are not the type of figures that attract believers like the Rebbe was, and he specifically was in jail when the father's followers were divided between the sons and missed the opportunity to gain some of them. On the other hand, it's possible that because of his story some will see him as a martyr persecuted by the authorities and follow him,” Cohen said.
People who were imprisoned with Rata were shocked to hear that this arrogant convicted sex offender would now be a hasidic rebbe.
"How can it be that a person who served a prison sentence for sex offenses is now appointed as a rebbe? It's amazing to discover how cheap this job [or hasidic rebbe] can be,” one of the ex-cons who served time with Rata told Ynet.
"Many prisoners did not like [Rata] because he was aggressive toward his friends," another ex-con commented.
"How can a community of religious believers follow a person who was convicted of serious offenses which put him to shame? It's inconceivable that he will now become a rebbe,” another ex-con who knew Rata in prison reportedly said.
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