Rabbi Yechiel Farkash, Facing Extradition to Israel for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Students at Bnei Brak Yeshiva Denied Bond Ahead of Extradition Hearing

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 Lakewood Resident, Rabbi Yechiel Farkash, Facing Extradition to Israel for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Students at Bnei Brak Yeshiva Where He Taught, Denied Bond Ahead of Extradition Hearing

According to a complaint filed in New Jersey Federal Court, Rabbi Yechiel Farkash, 43, was working as a rebbi, menahel, and remedial teacher at Yeshiva Toras Hachayim in Bnei Brak between 2020 and 2023. During that time, the complaint alleges, he began giving Victim 1 extra attention relative to other students, summoning him to Farkash's office often, buying him clothing, and giving him money for that purpose. According to the complaint Victim 1 was living at Keren Hayeled, a boarding house in Bnei Brak that caters to orphans, children with mental illness, and children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

On multiple occasions between June 2021 and October 2023, according to the complaint, Farkash called Victim 1, who was a teenager, to his office, where he would hug Victim 1 from the front or back, and occasionally press his erect genitalia against Victim 1's body. In June of 2022, according to the complaint, Farkash and Victim 1 visited the Knesset in honor of Victim 1's birthday. During the drive, the complaint alleges, Farkash touched Victim 1 near his lower abdomen and genitalia, and reminded Victim 1 of everything Farkash had bought him when Victim 1 resisted, which made Victim 1 stop resisting. The complaint alleges that while in a Knesset elevator Farkash hugged Victim 1 and pressed his genitalia into Victim 1's body.

later that day, according to the complaint, when the two of them returned to Yeshiva, Farkash called Victim 1 to his office where he again hugged Victim 1, pressing his genitalia into Victim 1's body, and then touched his own genitals, and then touched Victim 1's genitals over his clothes. The following month, according to the complaint, Farkash took Victim 1 to a bed and breakfast in the Jerusalem area where he played porn on the television, seated Victim 1 on his lap, hugged and soaped Victim 1's body, and touched Victim 1's genitalia under his underwear. The complaint alleges that while this happened Victim 1 stated that he wanted a smartphone, and Farkash responded by telling Victim 1 that in that moment he could request anything.

Farkash and Victim 1 then allegedly went into the hot tub in their underwear, where Farkash allegedly placed Victim 1's head of Farkash's genitalia, then pressed his genitalia against Victim 1's buttocks and between his legs, trying to experience sexual release. The complaint alleges that Farkash then kissed Victim 1 and touched his buttocks under his underwear. When Victim 1 resisted, the complaint alleges, Farkash told him that next time would be easier, then grabbed Victim 1's head, kissed him on the mouth, and then followed Victim 1 into the shower and kissed him.

The complaint further alleges that the following month Farkash took Victim 1 and Victim 2 to a water part in Holon where he entered a hot tub with Victim 1 and touched his genitalia. The following month, according to the complaint, Farkash invited Victim 1 to sleep over in an apartment that Farkash rented near his home in Rechovot, and on at least four occasions touched Victim 1's genitals over and under his clothes.

The following year, in 2023, according to the complaint, Farkash rented a room for himself and Victim 1 where he instructed Victim 1 to sit on his lap in the jacuzzi, telling Victim 1 not to be ungrateful. Later, the complaint alleges, when Farkash took the victim back to bed, Farkash inserted his penis through Victim 1's boxers, rubbed it against Victim 1's buttocks, and attempted to anally penetrate Victim 1. When Victim 1 resisted, according to the complaint, Farkash got angry, grabbing and shaking Victim 1, and repeatedly attempting anal penetration, changing positions periodically, while Victim 1 continued to resist.

At some point during the incident, according to the complaint, Farkash, while wearing boxers, pressed his penis against Victim 1's mouth and subsequently placed Victim 1's hand on Farkash's penis, who then asked Victim 1 to remove his underwear so Farkash could see his genitals. On the drive back, the complaint alleges, Farkash repeatedly touched Victim 1, eventually stopping the car to reach his hand into Victim 1's underwear, touch his buttocks, and kiss him.

The complaint alleges that in June of 2023, under the pretense of celebrating Victim 1's birthday, Farkash rented a room in Bnei Brak where he brought Victim 1 and another minor. In the room, according to the complaint, Farkash and the other minor changed into bathing suits while Victim 1 undressed to his boxers. Farkash then allegedly played porn on the TV and later allegedly touched Victim 1's body and genitals over his clothing.

The complaint alleges that Victim 1 told a staff member at the boarding house about what Farkash was doing.

The complaint further alleges that in December of 2022 Farkash overheard Victim 2, a teen a couple of years younger than Victim 1, discussing his sweater with other people, and decided to buy Victim 2 a new sweater. Victim 2 allegedly expressed reservations, but Farkash allegedly insisted. According to the complaint, Farkash then drove Victim 2 to a shopping center while another minor sat in the front passenger seat and Victim 2 sat in the rear. During the drive, according to the complaint, Farkash reached out and stroked Victim 2's leg and moved up to Victim 2's groin, repeatedly telling Victim 2 that Farkash loved him.

At the shopping center, according to the complaint, Farkash asked Victim 2 to pick a sweater, and when Victim 2 said he didn't see one he liked, Farkash approached him, stroked his neck, told him he loved him, and insisted on finding a sweater Victim 2 would like. They then allegedly went shopping in other stores in the shopping center, where Farkash allegedly stroked Victim 2's neck, and placed his hands on Victim 2's

abdomen. Victim 2 allegedly removed Farkash's hand and told him that he found the action unpleasant.

Afterwards, according to the complaint, Farkash took Victim 2 out to eat, and on the way back continued putting his hand on Victim 2's body.

The complaint alleges that Farkash departed Israel in January of 2024, shortly after the investigation into these alleged crimes began.

At a bond hearing today in Federal Court, the US Attorney alleged that Farkash had been aware of the investigation and had fled Israel to avoid it. The purpose of the hearing was to determine of Farkash would be allowed to leave jail on bond and house arrest ahead of his extradition hearing. He was represented by a federal defender.

At the hearing a number of people appeared in his support. His wife was present, accompanied by Rabbi Yosef Irons, Rav of Beis Medrash 309 Central, which is very close to where Farkash lived in Lakewood after allegedly fleeing to the United States. Farkash's attorney requested that Farkash be released on house arrest on a bond secured by Rabbi Irons' house, and also said that Farkash would live in Rabbi Iron's mother-in-law apartment for the duration of his proposed house arrest. Farkash's lawyer also pointed to

In further support of Farkash's release he argued that Farkash faces special circumstances that should allow him out on house arrest rather than pretrial detention. He raised the serious genetic health conditions faced by two of Farkash's children who are undergoing treatment for those conditions, as well as Farkash's wife's pregnancy which, given her age and other factors, rendered her at high risk of miscarriage. Additionally he raised concerns over how much more difficult incarceration would be for Farkash, who was facing impeded access to tallis and tefillin, kosher food, and an absolute language barrier in the jail.

He cited Farkash's close ties to the community, as evidenced by the presence of Irons', Irons' wife, and another community member who wasn't identified, as well as the incredible commitment to Farkash's compliance demonstrated by Irons' willingness to house Farkash for the duration of the proceedings and offer his own house as collateral for Farkash's bond.

Farkash's lawyer also dismissed the complaint presented by the government as sparse, containing no evidence or certification from an actual victim or law enforcement officer in Israel for what was asserted, and implied that the students who made the allegations may have had other motives for making them.

The US Attorney argued that this was not a normal bail hearing since it involved extradition and not a crime charged in the United States, and therefore the burden on the defendant to prove eligibility for bail was higher. She pointed out that he was already allegedly a fugitive from Israel, and argued that while the government wasn't concerned about him fleeing to Israel, since that's where he was wanted, they were instead concerned about him disappearing into the community in Lakewood.

She also raised concerns about the fact that by living with Irons Farkash would be living in a house where children lived, and raised further concerns over the fact that Farkash had been working at a K-12 girls school when he was apprehended.

The judge then addressed Farkash saying that while she sympathized with the health challenges faced by his wife and children, and recognized Farkash's connections to the community and Rabbi Irons' extraordinary willingness to ensure Farkash's compliance, she was nonetheless denying Farkash's bond. She found that none of the circumstances Farkash presented qualified as special purposes to qualify him for bond during an extradition proceeding, and that even if they did, there was a real concern for flight risk and danger to the community, especially since he would be staying in a house with children.