Rabbi Berland Now Accused Of Inciting Followers To Commit Murder

Allegations continue to unfold against Rabbi Eliezer Berland, the “founder and spiritual leader” of Shuvu Banim Yeshiva in Jerusalem’s Old City, who has been on the lam for three and half years in an attempt to prevent standing trial for alleged sex crimes against four women prior to 2013 and intimidating one of the victim’s husbands. 

Israel’s Ch. 2 news reports (http://goo.gl/gpihEc) that the rabbi, who was recently extradited from South Africa to Israel, directed his followers to kill one of his adversaries while he slept, saying in a 2013 video recording, “Send him straight to heaven. There is an explosive pack in the house. Put the explosive pack underneath his bed. An explosive pack, so that he’ll go straight to heaven.” The target of the attack is not identified in the video.

Even before Berland’s return to Israel last week, other Breslov rabbis have maintained their distance from him, cautioning the public to do so as well. “We hereby announce our view that we have no part or share or ties with this man or any of his followers, and anyone who cares for his own well-being will keep his distance from him,” the rabbis said in a statement.

The rabbi’s son, Nachman, has called his own father either “totally wicked or mentally ill,” adding, “He pretends to be a great saint. My father has no shame. When people know about his crimes, they won’t come near him. My father is such a criminal.”