Rabbi Eliezer Berland, who is hiding from Israeli authorities in South Africa, is trying to raise funds to establish a talmid torah in Johannesburg, MyNet reports. The report adds that 200 of the rav’s chassidim are with him in S. Africa.
The report states that in his fundraising letter, the rav writes there are dozens of boys and girls compelled to live outside of Israel and a talmid torah must be established immediately.
The report quotes a chossid close to the rav explaining “The police thought the rav would stop leading his kehilla in Israel but they were mistaken. In today’s world this can be done from a distance”.
The rav continues giving shiurim over the internet and phone.
Rabbi Berland has been avoiding arrest for over two years, having traveled to a number of countries including Morocco, Switzerland, Zimbabwe and Holland. He lost an appeal to the Supreme Court in Holland and faced extradition to Israel to stand trial for alleged assaults against women. The Rabbi managed to flee Holland before he was taken into custody for extradition.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
We truly do not know the entire story as of right now, so I don’t think that it is fair to repeat again and again all the details. Why don’t you mention also the Rabbi’s side of the story?
Anyone contributing a single NIS to this felon and abuser should be themselves be prosecuted for aiding and abetting his abuse. If he is innocent as he claims, let him return to EY and face his accusers in the court of law. Equally embarrassing is the incompetence of the Israeli judicial authorities who on several occasions hae allowed him to escape capture and extradition.
Why are we writing articles about a cult leader? Can someone please explain to me.
If the man is innocent, why is he always hiding?