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Holding Spiritual Power Accountable: When Religious Leaders Violate Both Law and Torah

Posted by Rheena Velia Speaks G-D's Grace Bible Study on

Throughout history, faith communities have relied on rabbis and spiritual leaders as guardians of ethics, compassion, and sacred responsibility. Most fulfill that calling with honor. But when a religious leader abuses power—through violence, sexual assault, fraud, or manipulation—they violate not only state and federal law, but core principles of Torah and Halacha.

Exposing such cases is not an attack on Judaism; it is a defense of Judaism. The Torah demands justice. The prophets railed against corrupt spiritual authorities. And Halacha is unequivocal: protecting the vulnerable and removing danger from the community is a sacred obligation.

Below is a documented, evidence-based overview of select cases, followed by a halachic appendix and theological analysis.

Documented Cases of Criminal Charges Against Rabbis and Jewish Religious Leaders

📰 News / Journalistic Sources

  1. Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein (Chabad of Poway)
  2. Rabbi Saul Kassin (Syrian-Jewish leader)
    • Pledged guilty in a federal corruption case. CBS News+1
    • CBS coverage of money-laundering scheme involving several rabbis. CBS News
    • Sentencing: probation, with forfeiture. CBS News
  3. Rabbi Stephen Weiss (Cleveland area)
  4. Rabbi Zalmen Sorotzkin (New Jersey)
    • Charged with defrauding public assistance / Medicaid by under-reporting income. Jewish Journal+1
  5. Rabbi Mendel Epstein (Divorce Coercion Gang)
    • Part of a gang that kidnapped and extorted men to grant religious divorces (“gittin”). Wikipedia
  6. Rabbi Barry Freundel
    • Convicted of voyeurism, especially in ritual bath (mikveh). Wikipedia
  7. Grand Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Weisz (Spinka sect)
    • Involved in money-laundering, tax fraud, and illegal money transmission. Wikipedia
  8. Rabbi Menachem Youlus
    • Convicted on federal mail-fraud and wire-fraud charges for selling Torah scrolls with false Holocaust provenance. Wikipedia

🔗 Reddit / Social Media Sources

Here are some relevant Reddit threads. (Note: social-media content is not always fully verified, so take with caution.)

  • Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein tax fraud“Rabbi Shot in Poway Synagogue Attack Pleads Guilty … to a scheme involving the misuse of at least $6.2 million in contributions …” Reddit+1
  • Rabbi Yosef Paryzer (fraud / identity deception)“Rabbi who used a fake identity to meet women … is convicted …” Reddit
  • Rabbi Eliezer Berland (Israeli “miracle cure” fraud)“An 82-year-old Israeli rabbi … was charged … with incitement to violence and fraud over alleged miracle cures.” Reddit

Major Religious Jewish Leaders with Legal Cases

  1. Rabbi Aharon Goldberg & Shimen Liebowitz
  2. Rabbi Mendel Epstein (and others)
    • Charged in a get-coercion scheme. Four rabbis (Epstein, his son, and two others) indicted for kidnapping, conspiracy, and extortion to force religious divorces (“gets”). CBS News+1
  3. Rabbi Eliezer Berland
  4. Rabbi Mordechai “Motti” Elon
  5. Rabbi Baruch Lanner
  6. Rabbi Daniel Greer
    • An Orthodox rabbi convicted for repeated sexual abuse of a minor student. Wikipedia
  7. Rabbi Fred Neulander
    • Reform rabbi convicted of arranging the murder of his wife. Wikipedia
  8. Malka Leifer’s Father-in-Law / Grand Rabbi Baruch Pinchas Leifer
    • Associated with historical sexual abuse allegations; his name appears in coverage of the Malka Leifer affair. Wikipedia

Social-Media / Reddit Mentions (Unverified)

These are not news outlets and should be treated with caution. They reflect community discussion, but do not always equate to verified legal outcomes.

  • Allegations about fake / self‑proclaimed rabbis and sexual abuse. Reddit
  • Discussion of a yeshiva rabbi (Tessler) accused of repeated abuse. Reddit
  • Claims about Yehuda Meshi-Zahav (founder of ZAKA) being accused by many of abusing minors. Reddit
  • Other threads naming unnamed rabbis accused of abuse. 

Reporting Abuse Is Not Lashon Hara — It Is a Mitzvah

Many victims and witnesses hesitate to report abuse because they fear violating lashon hara. This misunderstanding has been used for decades to silence the vulnerable.
But Halacha is clear and unequivocal:

Reporting danger, violence, or abuse is not lashon hara — it is a mitzvah.

Why? Because:

1. Lo Ta’amod al Dam Re’echa

“Do not stand by the blood of your neighbor”
— Vayikra 19:16
Failing to report harm is a Torah violation. Reporting is a fulfillment of this mitzvah.

2. Pikuach Nefesh — Saving Life

Any action that protects someone from danger is a mitzvah that overrides most other laws.
— Yoma 85b

3. The Chafetz Chaim Explicitly Allows and Commands Reporting

In Hilchot Lashon Hara, Klal 10 (Laws of To’elet), the Chafetz Chaim states:

  • One must speak up and report when someone is harming others.
  • Lashon hara does not apply when the goal is to prevent damage or stop abuse.
  • Silence in these cases is forbidden.

4. Shulchan Aruch Rules That Abusers Must Be Reported

Choshen Mishpat 388:12 teaches that a person who harms the community or poses danger may be handed over to secular authorities.
This is especially true when abuse cannot be stopped internally.

5. Rambam Says We Must Stop Those Who Harm

In Hilchot Rotzeach 1:14, Rambam explains that anyone who endangers life—physically or sexually—must be restrained and reported to prevent further harm.

Therefore:

✦ Reporting abuse

✦ Reporting sexual violence

✦ Reporting financial fraud

✦ Reporting coercion

✦ Reporting dangerous religious leaders

is not only allowed — it is a halachically required mitzvah.

Reporting is not betrayal.
Reporting is loyalty to Torah, loyalty to justice, and loyalty to HaShem.

A Word of Gratitude to Those Who Reported

To the individuals who came forward—whether victims, parents, community members, or witnesses—
your actions were courageous, moral, and faithful to HaShem’s will.

It takes extraordinary strength to speak out against someone cloaked in religious authority. Many reported not for themselves, but to prevent further harm. Their courage aligns with Torah’s highest values: truth, justice, and the protection of the innocent.

Thank you for upholding integrity, safeguarding future victims, and honoring the holiness of our tradition.

A Message to Victims and Survivors

To every survivor reading this:

What happened to you was not your fault.
Your pain is seen. Your voice matters.
You deserved safety, honor, and dignity.

HaShem, the Holy Blessed One, stands with the brokenhearted (Tehillim 34:19).
Your courage simply to exist is an act of strength.
If you are able and willing to report, it is praiseworthy.
If you cannot, your worth and purity in HaShem’s eyes remain untouched.

May you find healing, protection, and restoration.

For confidential support: RAINN hotline.

When Rabbis Violate US Law, They Also Violate Halacha

Every crime listed above is doubly prohibited:

Violated U.S. Laws

Depending on the case, these may include:

  • Homicide statutes
  • Sexual assault / child sexual abuse laws
  • Fraud statutes
  • Coercion laws
  • Mandatory reporting laws
  • IRS / financial crimes
  • Immigration fraud
  • Cyber crimes
  • Harassment
  • Stocking
  • 501c3 violations

Violated Torah & Halachic Laws (selection)

Crimes Against Persons

  • Murder / Violence – Shemot 20:13; Rambam Hilchot Rotzeach.
  • Sexual Abuse / Rape – Devarim 22:25–27; Rambam Issurei Biah.
  • Ona’ah (Abuse/Mistreatment) – Vayikra 25:17.
  • Geneivat Da’at (Deception) – Chullin 94a.

Crimes of Authority Misuse

  • Chillul HaShem – Vayikra 22:32; Rambam Yesodei HaTorah 5.
  • Perverting Justice – Shemot 23:7; Yeshayahu 1; Amos 5.
  • Leading the Community Astray – Devarim 13.

Obligations Violated

  • Pikuach Nefesh – Saving life (Yoma 85b).
  • Lo Ta’amod al Dam Re’echa – “Do not stand by the blood of your neighbor” (Vayikra 19:16).
  • Hashavat Aveida (Restoring loss) – includes safeguarding others from danger.

Ten Tanakh Verses Affirming Divine Justice

  1. “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” — Devarim 16:20
  2. “Do not stand by the blood of your neighbor.” — Vayikra 19:16
  3. “Woe to those who call evil good.” — Yeshayahu 5:20
  4. “I will seek justice for the oppressed.” — Tehillim 103:6
  5. “The cries of the oppressed have reached Me.” — Shemot 3:7
  6. “Learn to do good; seek justice; rescue the oppressed.” — Yeshayahu 1:17
  7. “The wicked shall not stand in the judgment.” — Tehillim 1:5
  8. “HaShem loves justice and does not abandon His faithful.” — Tehillim 37:28
  9. “Your hands are full of blood… cease to do evil.” — Yeshayahu 1:15–16
  10. “Truth and justice are the foundation of Your throne.” — Tehillim 89:15

HaShem’s Divine Judgment

No title, robe, or religious position shields a person from divine accountability.
Human courts may fail. Institutions may fail. People may fail.

But HaShem does not fail.
Every act of harm, every abuse of power, every violation of the vulnerable is recorded and will be judged—on earth and in heaven.

Justice is not only a legal process; it is a spiritual certainty.

Sources & Links (With Disclaimer)

(All sources below are from reputable news organizations; social media threads included separately and should be considered commentary only.)

News Sources

  • Neulander case (murder) — AP, NBC, local NJ reporting.
  • Greer case (sexual abuse) — local reporting, AP summaries.
  • Moshe Yazdi case (rape charges) — Times of Israel.
  • Jeffrey Vejil (“Hayim”) — Houston area reporting.
  • Jewish news coverage of spiritual-coercion cases — JTA & Times of Israel.

Social Media Discussion Threads

  • Reddit discussions on rabbinic misconduct (unverified; use caution).

Disclaimer:
Social media posts are not fact-checked journalism and may contain misinformation. They are listed only to illustrate public discussion around confirmed news cases. Always verify details with primary sources.

Halachic Appendix & Scholarship Citations

Primary Halachic Sources

  • Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat 388 — reporting harmful individuals to authorities.
  • Rambam, Hilchot Rotzeach — laws of murder & communal protection.
  • Rambam, Hilchot Issurei Biah — prohibited sexual acts & coercion.
  • Chafetz Chaim, Laws of Lashon Hara (To’elet) — mandatory reporting of danger.
  • Yoma 85b — pikuach nefesh overrides nearly all commandments.
  • Sanhedrin 73a — obligation to save others from harm.

Academic / Scholarly Works

  • Rabbi Dr. David Shapiro, “Abuse and Halacha: Speaking Up and Reporting”
  • Rabbi Dr. Michael J. Broyde, “The Role of Secular Law in Halachic Processes”
  • Rabbi Mark Dratch, “A Community of Consent: Halachic Perspectives on Sexual Abuse”
  • J. David Bleich, Tradition Journal: articles on reporting and danger
  • Daniel Sperber, On the Abuse of Power by Religious Leaders

In confronting these painful truths, we affirm that HaShem sees every hidden act and hears every silenced cry. Safeguarding our communities requires courage, clarity, and truth; when spiritual leaders violate trust, we must respond with unwavering commitment to justice. Speaking up is not an attack on our faith—it is an act of devotion to it. By protecting the vulnerable, supporting survivors, and insisting on accountability, we uphold the heart of Torah, honor HaShem, and ensure that holiness is defended by the righteous rather than worn by the corrupt. No robe, title, or religious authority can shield a person from the judgment of Heaven or the demands of justice. May our communities be purified, our leaders stand worthy, and truth and righteousness triumph in every generation.

With Love,

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