Israel Wants Rabbi Yechiel Farkash Extradited for Repeated Sexual Abuse of Many Children!

 

Update on Rabbi Yechiel Farkash Extradition to Israel for Alleged Repeated Sexual Abuse of Multiple Children

Rabbi Yechiel Farkash is a former high school rebbi and menahel in Bnei Brak currently incarcerated in New Jersey and facing extradition in Israel for his alleged repeated sexual abuse of two students.

Prior to his detention Farkash was living in Lakewood. See ZA'AKAH's original post about the case for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/zaakah/posts/pfbid0FCWZWZbAnbXCiR6m184MfLm8hMBRyt9rwgUGkrbwTopgTJpjiFUvKpfWqWicbyEEl?__cft__[0]=AZjwcPBar-RIItuvJ9dhQvDfNxLZfuWZBEVNez4x4LNRSdMCsU4qG4JoaTbmCiVzxrxDoe2nY2ndgRx8ci3HUBs_1gsD6cT85-TS5_vaFdzLOVZcWZGJf64I0fNVTfuDc0xNzLK9_N9ZOlKuYDemZ8X5lDEDsFUJttXFyABsEYW8yynJ0HCX5DFRGP8&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Following a protracted battle over his continued detention, which ultimately ended with the judge denying him bail, the prosecution was ordered to file its full extradition brief. The brief was filed in early August and contained a full account of the Israeli government's investigation of Farkash's alleged abuse and their warrant for his arrest. The brief contains more details about Farkash and his alleged crimes.

Included in the file from Israel was a statement by a counselor at the boarding house where Victim 1 was living while attending Farkash's Yeshiva. The counselor said that Victim 1 confessed Farkash's sexual abuse to him stating that Farkash had "burned his soul," and described incidents involving tzimmers, Farkash laying on him, touching him, performing oral sex on him, forced tongue kisses, and retaliation, anger, and accusation of ingratitude when Victim 1 resisted. The counselor promised to report the abuse and arrange therapy.

According to the report, the counselor also detailed the attempted rape, forced exposure of his penis, and an incident where Farkash showed Victim 1 pornography on his 16th birthday. The report states that the counselor knew of the close relationship between the two of them, with Farkash treating Victim 1 as his right hand man, and frequently asking him to go out to eat and perform various tasks. The counselor, per the report, emphasized Farkash's respected position as a director at the Yeshiva.

There are also multiple interviews describing Farkash having "special relationships" with students, and taking students out of the school for various one on one outings. One such account in the report is from another student who described Farkash caressing his arm, cheek, waist, and back, and asking him many times to come study in Farkash's room. The report states that this student described this happening many times, and that every time the two of them spoke Farkash touched him, never around other staff, but sometimes near other students. He also described seeing Farkash touching other students, including Victim 1, according to the report.

The report details emails sent between Farkash and Victim 1 which reveal a relationship of an unusual and inappropriately emotional nature. These emails include statements by Farkash to Victim 1 like "I love you very very very much," Go to sleep, sweetheart," "I'm crazy about you," and "I really miss you," alongside other late-night communications.

The report further details email correspondence between Farkash and Rabbi Refael Moshe Alaluf, the other menahel at the Yeshiva, a day after the alleged abuse was reported in which Farkash tells Alaluf that he knew the complaint was about Victim 1, that he wasn't concerned with the case itself just how it would affect his reputation at the Yeshiva, and that he was going to get the best lawyer in the field, Yehuda Fried, who also represented Malka Lefier. According to the report Alaluf wished him good luck, and Farkash then sent him the lawyer's number, asked Alaluf to be in touch with the lawyer, and then asked Alaluf to delete that email.

In another email, according to the report, Farkash wrote to Alaluf saying he only indulges the students to strengthen them in their studies, and that he understands he made a mistake. Alaluf also stated, according to the report, that he met with Farkash who denied that there was anything inappropriate between him and Victim 1, and that Farkash was just rewarding Victim 1 for studying well. Alaluf also stated, according to the report, that after Farkash left the Yeshiva Alaluf was approached by a student who told him he'd seen Farkash putting his hands down the pants of a former counselor at the Yeshiva.

According to the extradition request from the Israeli Government, Farkash is facing one count of Attempted Rape against Victim 1, 17 counts of Indecent Acts Against a Minor Under the age of 16 against Victim 1, and 4 counts of the same against Victim 2.

Read full extradition brief here: https://1drv.ms/.../IgAQDdeeUt2FRoik0omth2ufARuKDZWDzcBn7...