Imprisoned in Israel, Rabbi Eliezer Berland has sent an urgent letter to Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Dovid Lau Shlita and Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita asking their assistance in getting out of prison. In his letter he denies any and all allegations being made against him.
The letter, which was revealed by Channel 2 News, states he is innocent of all charges against him and his health is continuing to deteriorate and at present, he can barely stand on his feet. “I do not know if I will be able to continue to survive the harsh suffering” he writes.
“From the imprisonment and distress I turn to you, from the darkness and gloom, I turn to you after being alone in a dark cell for so long and so much suffering while I have not committed any crime” the rabbi wrote.
Regarding the harsh allegations against him, he writes “This is a dark conspiracy of sinners acting out of greed for money – they falsely accused me of things I never did or had in my heart”.
He adds he is being held in the “dark hole without a minimum of justice and honesty”, adding he came close to the gates of death several times.
“I appeal to you from the heart which is torn and broken, as I am a victim by those criminals and villains who concocted this…I want to defend my innocence and my honor in court and prove there is no credibility to the charges against me…I have been caused much grief by rumors and gossip…I appeal that you daven on my behalf and do your best to have me released towards protecting myself and my dignity”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
How does this square with the recordings where he appears to admit many of the things alleged against him? This says nothing about the conditions he is being held under which seem unfit even for a dog.
If the allegations that he is being under unsafe conditions or denied necessary medical care than those circumstances should be addressed immediately. However, if its just the idea that he doesn’t like being held in prison over yom tov or doesn’t have access to many of the creature comforts he become accustomed to while being flown around the world first class to avoid responding to his accusers, thats just too bad. Everyone would be better off if the prosecutors either brought charges and scheduled a trial or let him go. This circus seems to go on forever. From a purely legal perspective, Lau and Yosef should not get involved in this litigation matter unless they have some evidence to help exonerate him.
What are you talking about? I never heard about any recordings. He always denied all the charges and allegations. I think that you are mixing up 2 different stories.
This Berland guy has created an international hillul hashem of astronomical proportions! There is no way to defend THIS!
And there is no kapara for hillul hashem! Even if he is innocent (which I doubt) he is certainly guilty of the gigantic hillul hashem that he caused.
A person like that can in no way be called a tzadik, on the contrary, hillul hashem is one of the worst possible sins – not something that a tzadik would cause.
If the Rabbis support him they will be condoning hillul hashem.
The only way to save whatever can be saved is to totally disassociate from this guy and make him disappear from the media!
Even if he stands trial and is found innocent (which is highly doubtful!), the terrible hillul hashem that he caused will not be forgiven! Ever!
If he were a mensch, he would have returned to Israel on his own accord as soon as he realized what he was causing.
Or maybe he didn’t realize because he is just plain NUTS!
I dont understand. If he has be falsely accused why would he be on the run for so long. If he hadnt done anything surely he would hand himself in go through a trial prove his innocence and that would be it. Im not accusing him cv’s but why do the facts not add up?