Thousands Protest Outside Remand Hearing for Rabbi Suspected of Sex Crimes

By Yair Ettinger
Haaretz
July 25, 2016

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.733136

Rabbi Eliezer Berland, the leader of Israel's Shuvu Banim Hasidic community, was brought to court for a hearing on extending his police detention on Monday. The police asked the court to extend Berland’s detention by another few days for questioning in order to complete their investigation.

Berland is suspected of sexual and other offenses and was arrested when he returned to Israel last week from South Africa under an extradition agreement. 

Some 1,000 of his followers protested his arrest outside the Rishon Letzion Magistrate's Court in support.  Some of his supporters carried pictures of the rabbi or signs, with slogans such as "The people are with the saint."  

Berland, 79, is one of the leaders of the Bratslav Hasidic movement in the country and is considered a holy man by his followers.