Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Three additional complaints of sexual assault were filed Monday night against a well-known rabbi, Ezra Sheinberg, facing accusations of rape...

ezra sheinberg
RABBI EZRA SHEINBERG

Additional complaints filed against Israeli Orthodox rabbi accused of rape

 

 Rabbi from northern Israel was arrested last week while attempting to flee the country. His identity remains under gag order. Except HERE!







Three additional complaints of sexual assault were filed Monday night against a well-known rabbi facing accusations of rape. ( 8 Women Have Come Forward Thus Far)


The rabbi was arrested Thursday evening at Ben-Gurion International Airport when he tried to leave the country. His remand was extended until Wednesday and a gag order was issued.

Nazereth District Court Judge Ester Helman rejected the rabbi's appeal of the charges filed against him on Tuesday morning, and ruled that his identity can be revealed, though she granted the defense's request to withhold publication until 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday, to allow for an appeal to be filed with the Supreme Court.

In her ruling, the judge wrote "the investigative materials brought forward in this incident are significant and jarring, and include more than one complaint. Further, there is indication of widespread and systematic harm against other victims."

The three complaints filed Monday night bring the total number of complaints to eight. A source with intimate knowledge of the scandal told Haaretz on Monday that other complaints are likely to follow. "It's very safe to assume that the last word hasn't been said."

The story began last week, when three leading rabbis decided to expel the suspect from the city where he runs several religious institutions, after they received information regarding alleged sexual crimes he committed. At that stage, the police had not received any complaints against the rabbi.

Last week, in the wake of reports of his expulsion, a woman filed a police complaint for sexual harassment ostensibly committed 13 years ago. The complaint is being investigated, including whether the statute of limitations applies.

That same night, another woman filed a complaint for rape that allegedly took place a few years ago. A source involved in the story claimed Thursday that more complaints are expected. A spokesman for the Northern District of Israel Police declined to give details.

The suspect’s attorney, Efraim Damari told Haaretz last week that the rabbi denies the acts attributed to him. “He’s cooperating fully with the police, giving his complete version. At this point we’ll wait for the conclusion of the investigation. The rabbi believes that this is groundless slander.”

About The Yeshiva


Yeshivat Orot HaAri was founded in the Safed, Israel in the year 1999 as a pre-army yeshiva by Rabbi Ezra Sheinberg. The yeshiva's name brings together two giants of Torah, Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as the AriZal, who lived in Safed, and Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of Israel. The yeshiva was established according to the instruction of Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu, president and spiritual leader of the yeshiva.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/1.664784