SOUTH AFRICA
Failed Messiah
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
According to a report in the Zionist Orthodox news website Arutz Sheva, South African police have confirmed that they tried to arrest Breslov hasidic rabbinic leader Rabbi Eliezer Berland Sunday. They also confirmed that an international arrest warrant has been issued for the rabbi, who fled Israel almost two years ago after Israeli police opened a criminal investigation into alleged sexual abuse committed by Berland against several of his female followers, some of them minors.
Plainclothes police mingling with wedding guests tried to grab Berland but missed him when Berland’s followers shoved a hasid who resembles Berland at police and secreted Berland in side room.
After the confusion subsided, Berland went into hiding.
“We do confirm that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation [HAWKS]is working with the Israeli government to track Rabbi [Berland],” Captain Paul Ramaloko, Hawks’ National Spokesperson reportedly told the South African Jewish Report yesterday.
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