JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Yehuda Meshi Zahav, the founder and former director of the ZAKA organization, passed away Wednesday at the age of 63. Meshi Zahav’s condition had deteriorated over the last few days and the Herzog hospital where he was hospitalized reported Wednesday morning that he passed away.
In March 2021, Meshi Zahav was due to receive the Israel Prize for his work in ZAKA but an investigative report was aired claiming that he had abused many people over the course of many years. Meshi Zahav denied the allegations but resigned from ZAKA’s leadership and forfeited the Israel Prize. Police opened an investigation into the complaints.
On April 22, 2021, another investigative report was due to be released with witnesses testifying to Meshi Zahav’s actions. On the morning prior to the airing of the report, Meshi Zahav attempted suicide. His son found him in very serious condition and alerted emergency personnel. Meshi Zahav was rushed to the Shaarei Tzedek hospital in critical condition where doctors tried to save him, but he fell into a coma and was later transferred to the Herzog rehabilitative hospital, never regaining consciousness.
Meshi Zahav had defended himself against the allegations but warned that they were aimed at eliminating him. “Unfortunately this is part of the price I am paying for the way I chose,” he declared. “The publication of the article is an attempt to ‘settle accounts’ with me and to eliminate me. As long as I have strength I will continue to serve the people of Israel and the State of Israel as I have done all of my life.”
What is the purpose in mentioning the allegations & suicide attempt? He is no longer alive therefore even if true, is no longer a threat to anyone. A little kovid hames please!
O so we after a brief period of sanity after Chaim Jeffery Walder died, were back to respecting abusers. Shame on you vin. If this is the vin reports, I wonder how the other great abuser protectionist publications like Yated YM”S are reporting.
Nebech all around. Just another lesson that when the Talmud says that אין אפוטרופוס לעריות, roughly translated as NO ONE is trustworthy when it comes to illicit relations, it should be taken seriously, as should Hilchus Yichud.
Well seems he got his wish.
B.D.E.
Your legacy will be that you have taught us not too look the other way, not to put these unspeakable crimes under the rug, to take victims seriously, to seek justice, (tzedek Tzedek Tirdof – is in the Torah, it not just a nice Minhag) and to put an end to this scourge
You have taught us that one predator can victimize many hundreds of victims IF we ignore the problem and look the other way. you thought us that we can put a swift end to the horrors IF we shine a light to the horrors and seek justice
Through your brazen, and prolific unspeakable crimes you have inadvertently shocked us all into action and changed our attitudes for the better.
And for that we will always be grateful to you.
we are not GOD and we won’t judge you now. rest in peace,
We ( the general public) are not a bais din , who can judge and pasken if there was any wrongdoing commited