Abuse

Catskills

Haredi police officer rehired in Monticello despite admitting to sexual assault

“The message that’s being sent to people is that because people have political connections, they’re above the law,” the village’s former mayor told Shtetl.

Williamsburg

Report: Hasidic boy commits suicide after father prevented from attending bar mitzvah

The parents’ divorce had led to a four-year separation between the boy and his father. A heart-rending video circulating on social media purported to show the father sobbing heavily while delivering a eulogy at his son’s funeral

Courts

Lev Tahor Weingarten brothers convicted for role in 2018 kidnapping of two children

The U.S. government has now convicted all nine people involved in the scheme, through testimony of former Lev Tahor member Shimon Malka

Courts

Former student sues Oholei Torah, alleging child sexual abuse on school premises

The complaint adds to three lawsuits filed against Oholei Torah since 2019 that are currently pending in court

Courts

Chabad special ed teacher sued for child sexual abuse, banned from school premises

The teacher, who worked at Crown Heights yeshiva Darchai Menachem, has been accused of repeatedly abusing an 11-year-old boy in 2001

Crime

Man sentenced to decades in prison for attempted murder of Midwood rabbi

Matthew Karelefsky received 25 years to life for setting fire to the home of Rabbi Jonathan Max, a teacher at Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin

Courts

Key witness in kidnapping case describes horrors of Lev Tahor life

Shimon Malka, 24, fled the group in 2018, but later assisted in a kidnapping scheme organized by Lev Tahor leaders

Satmar

Satmar rebbe honors notorious sex abuser with a visit to daughter’s wedding

At the wedding of Nechemya Weberman’s daughter, Satmar rebbe Zalmen Teitelbaum was an honored guest. Many Satmar Hasidim still believe the convicted rapist is innocent

Lakewood

Severe neglect at Haredi-run home prompts NJ lawmakers to draft new legislation

At the Special Children’s Center, management tried to save money by neglecting children’s needs, employees told NJ.com

Abuse

Sinister ploy by conspiracy theorist filmmaker targets activist and victim of child sexual abuse

Manny Waks, a renowned Jewish activist, gave a moving interview on camera about his experiences as a victim of child sexual abuse. The filmmakers used it to advance a lie about the 770 excavations

Bobov

Jacob Daskal’s victim files suit, naming Shomrim and Bobover rebbe among co-defendants

The complaint alleges that Bobov community leaders, Boro Park Shomrim, and Jacob Daskal’s family worked together to silence victim Rivka Mandel, “creating and maintaining a regime of terror and intimidation”

Gender

Controversial rabbi launches campaign to ‘rescue’ women from ‘indignities’ of Israeli military service

Rabbi Noson Leiter, who endorsed an Alabama politician mired in sexual misconduct allegations, is calling to “save our daughters” from military service