A rabbi and another man have been charged in New York City in a plot to kidnap and kill a man so his wife could be divorced consistent with halacha.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara says the two men were arrested Tuesday in Central Valley while they met to plan what he calls a “chilling plot.” He says they planned to pay $55,000 to someone they thought would commit the murder but that person contacted the FBI.
It’s unclear who’ll represent the men during a Manhattan federal court appearance.
Prosecutors say one of the men belongs to the Satmar community in Kiryas Joel. They say the second man is from Bnei Brak, Israel, and is a “prominent rabbi in Kiryas Joel”.
It is interesting to note that in the press release disseminated to the media, the US Attorney took the liberty of slandering the entire Satmar community. The headline of the press release reads “Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest Of Rabbi And Member Of Satmar Community For Conspiring To Kidnap And Murder”.
Without condoning any illegal behavior in any way whatsoever, many are finding it quite shocking that Preet Bharara felt the need to smear the entire Satmar Community. Can anybody find anything similar stating membership in a church or mosque with other communities? Not to mention that the neither of the men arrested are “prominent rabbis” in Bnei Brak or in Kiryas Joel.
(Charles Gross – YWN / AP)
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15 Responses
Elul, Publicize another Chillul Hashem. Yasher Koach
Bharara is one of the most respected and effective U.S. Attorneys in the country and has prosecuted some of the highest profile terrorist and financial fraud cases in recent years with notable success. He is also known as a passionate advocate of the rights of religious minorities and would NEVER consciously demean or “slander” any religious group, whether Satmar or otherwise, I agree 100 percent that the press release is poorly worded but I doubt he personally had any intent to suggest that ALL Satmar are some how guilty of such behavior.
editor please just report the facts. no one wants your opinion. if you want to state your opinion make an opinion piece. its called professional journalism.
I think you are being harsh. YWN on many occasions singles out the entire Haredi community with headlines such as “Car with 10 passengers driven by Haredi stopped by police.” There is a tendency among news organizations, including those in the religious world (and YWN), to make sure that people know the perpetrator is Haredi.
Who does the US Attorney answer to? US Justice Dept?
The issue isn’t about preet or his press release its these two men
As per his honesty he’s a politician
And running for higher office
No #2…Bharara is all about ambition and nothing else. This is not the first time that he has utilized “poorly worded” press releases. He is not against any particular group BUT he often (State Legislature Cases etc.)uses poorly worded press releases. Just look at the cases where he failed to get a conviction. The releases in those cases made the cased appear rock-solid. No question…it is all about ambition. He is “effective” ONLY because of the large number of cases that he prosecutes…even though Many of them are never successful. If one tries many times….you often hit the jackpot.
Re: martycomp, and if it wasn’t elul?
While the title of the press release may be “problematic” it does not rise to the level of slander.
In addition, there is a quote in the following paragraph that is not in the Press Release:
Prosecutors say one of the men belongs to the Satmar community in Kiryas Joel. They say the second man is from Bnei Brak, Israel, and is a “prominent rabbi in Kiryas Joel”.
The Press release actually says ” is an Israel-based rabbi who also maintains a position of prominence in Kiryas Joel.”
#1- Are you not worried about the Geneiva from Mordy for stealing from the time that you’re being paid to work and instead posting pathetic childish comments on YWN – as if you didn’t already know this story yesterday?
Seriously.
Consistent with halacha? The halacha of not killing someone?! Some people just don’t use their brains.
To No 7:
I would agree with respect to several insider trading cases where he took credit only to have his position ultimately reversed on appeal. Otherwise, I think he keeps the same high profile as most of his predecessors have done and engaged in the same type of PR as many of his predecessors in this and similar U.S. Attorney positions (Remember when Rudy Gulianni had 15 Wall Street executives and traders shackled together for the TV cameras for “Perp Walk” into the U.S. courthouse).
If they ch”v managed to kill her husband, she wouldn’t be divorced.She’d be WIDOWED!!
On 8/29 YWN did the same thing… “Premishlan chossid, 56-year-old Eli Cohen is going to be extradited by Israel to the United States where he will face charges of illegal weapons dealings with Iran.”
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/457256/frum-man-suspected-to-be-dealing-in-arms-with-iran-being-extradited-from-israel-to-the-usa.html
Its funny how everyone here ignores the facts and is busy with ‘loshon hara” and bashing YWN.
The FBI doesnt arrest people for nothing. They obviously had some facts and acted on it. This was the same issue with the Epstein/Walmark gang. Yes, we need to help agunot, but if you live here, you have to obey the laws and if you get caught breaking them, you have only yourself to blame.