JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Jerusalem Magistrates Court extended by six days the remand of Rabbi Menachem Yova, the head of the Chachmei Lublin yeshiva in Meah Shearim, who is suspected of committing serious abuse offences against his students.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Rabbi Yova (51), a resident of Jerusalem, was arrested Tuesday evening is suspected of performing the abuse over a period of many years against his students.
“This is an ongoing and sensitive investigation,” a police spokesperson stated. “Our Central Unit is thoroughly investigating all allegations, particularly given the vulnerable nature of the alleged victims and the position of authority held by the suspect.”
The investigation remains active as detectives work to determine if there are additional victims. Police have established a hotline for anyone with information related to the case.
As Rabbi Yova entered the court Wednesday, members of victims families called out at him: “Rapist, rot in jail.”
Channel 12 reports that police have received many complaints as well as documentation which corroborates the serious nature of the acts which Rabbi Yova allegedly committed.
One of the sisters of the victims said that “We were sure that our brothers learning in yeshiva were pure and unsullied. We now discovered that they were suffering for years from severe sexual harassment from Rabbi Yova. This has ruined their lives.”
The investigation started after police received a report and after signs were hung in Geula and adjacent regions lambasting the Rosh Yeshiva for his actions. A few months ago Channel 13 published an investigative piece on the matter.
A group of prominent charedi rabbis including Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and Rabbi Tzion Boaron published a warning about Rabbi Yova earlier this year, calling him “evil, depraved and causing many to sin. He exploited the innocence of young students to perform forbidden acts.” They encouraged people to contact the police and inform about the rabbi’s acts.
May Hashem bless Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu for bringing to light another abuser. Finally a Rabbi that sees the pain of abuse victims and is taking action. We need more like him. Rabbis with outrage, heart and wisdom.
To all survivors that are reading this. Your pain is not going unnoticed. There are many that will fight for you and are fed up with abuse getting shoved under the rug.
You are seen. You are loved.
There is help out there. Please reach out. You don’t have to go through this on your own. Please believe that there still is kindness and goodness out there in the world.
A fellow survivor.
I always feel bad for the wife and kids of abusers. They are probably suffering terribly from shame besides that they might have been abused as well. Abusers don’t just hurt the victims they also hurt their own family.
To all survivors that are reading this. Your pain is not going unnoticed. There are many that will fight for you and are fed up with abuse getting shoved under the rug.
You are seen. You are loved.
There is help out there. Please reach out. You don’t have to go through this on your own. Please believe that there still is kindness and goodness out there in the world.
A fellow survivor.
lock him up
Why did they wait so long
I am surprised that the Meah Shearim community is publicly condemning this “rabbi” and “tzadik” sexual abuser. Traditionally these communities have covered up these “rabbis'” crimes and tried to silence the victims with threats of expulsion (see sex abuser “Rabbi” Eliezer Berland ) It seems like these communities are making tremendous headway towards admitting the existence of abuse and its evil and its terrible destructive effects on the victims. They are becoming open to exposing this evil and condemning it instead of covering it up. . This is a very hopeful and positive development. It will help victims to get the help they need to heal and help to bring these criminals to justice.
So sad that this exists in the most religious groups…
He’s a Talmud of Berland ym”s. No surprise
So ironic how this the second time it took people outside of the community to expose abuse.
The police and courts are taking this seriously. What would happen under the Ottomans, the British Mandate, or a potential Palestinian government????????
A father of 17 children…
To shloime : Just seen your comment,
while , as said I wouldn’t do it , at the same time : as always I respect and cherish your opinions , comments .
To Judith & the whole tooth : Needles saying that your opinion is the POPULAR one ( I got less than 100 thumbs Down ), anyway, I respect your opinion very much , although, still I wouldn’t do it Thanks a lot for your messages.
Everyone should please remember, non offending MAPs have nothing to do with CSOs. Please take the time to think critically about that and void it of misguided emotions. Don’t let the pain and anger overflow to places where it is not supposed to be. Every child and adult should feel safe and protected and has an inalienable right to self autonomy over their own body and soul. Klal Yisroel needs the geula.
The Israeli Government would have never allowed him to serve in the Military, because they have high standards.
He’s a rosh yeshiva
“A group of prominent charedi rabbis including Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and Rabbi Tzion Boaron”
you should just know that these are mizrachi leaning rabbonim…
Are these the same people that spit on soldiers that are Moiser Nefesh to protect Yidden in Eretz Yisroel?
This is the fault of the Zionist leaders who promote mishkav Zachor parades in Jerusalem. As well as the chareidim who do nothing about them the last twenty two years.
VIN. ! I do very much appreciate your wonderful programme , but I am wondering as to why mentioning his name . I wouldn’t do it .