Jerusalem – Prominent Chareidi rabbi, Rabbi Uri Sofer is the latest person to come out against Israeli news site B’chadrei Chareidim, saying that the site’s editors demanded $100,000 to halt a campaign to discredit him publicly.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
According to a report on Israeli news site Israel Hayom, B’Chadrei Chareidim accused R’ Sofer of child molestation.
“They wrote stories about me, my sons in law and my children that were complete lies,” said R’ Sofer. “I have been teaching children for twenty years and they told parents to take their children out of my classes. They tried to destroy my parnassa, my work, all for their financial gain. I tried contacting them with letters, by sending people to speak with them on my behalf but they didn’t even bother to respond.”
R’ Sofer said that he considered taking legal action against B’Chadrei Chareidim but was advised against it.
“They have big lawyers and deeper pockets than me,” explained R’ Sofer. “All that would have happened was the matter would have dragged on in court until I ran out of money. I just gave up.”
R’ Sofer, who spoke with police this week, believes that there are many other blackmail victims who have yet to come forward.
“Everyone knows that if they go to the police their names will become public,” said R’ Sofer, who believes he was targeted by the site after participating in a ban against B’Chadrei Chareidim. “Me? I have nothing to fear here. I have already been burned. What else can they do to me?”
Police continue to hold the editor who was arrested on Sunday morning and according to one police source the list of those who were blackmailed continues to grow on a daily basis as more and more victims continue to come forward.
“I am not familiar with R’ Sofer’s story and have no idea what he is talking about,” said Sharon Keenan, a lawyer for the main suspect in the incident. “We will study the allegations and respond accordingly.”
Rav Sofer in interview with Israeli Ch. 2
People this is no big deal. As long as u don’t walk on the same side of the street as a woman all is well.
I don’t understand what so hard to understand it is all about power and money try to put your kid in a school in lake wood or in any other yeshiva and you say how can they be so heartless they have to be the people you look up to so in order not to get all worked up just look at it as a business strictly money power and control some do business the Wright way some don’t don’t ever think its some thing else they try to tell you its your wife’s heels its your hat your friends but it all boils down to money and power it is sad that they use religion as a business but what don’t you do for money
now the rabbis will ban all computers
It’s about time they close down this anti Chareidi site. Anything that is sacred and holy to Jews were met with such litzunis …. “Asher Korchu B’derech” They had a way to make fun and cool off anything decent for frum Jews
How could this go on for so long, as it is said now, with lots of money and NOBODY said anything what so ever? Was/is it blackmail or are the accusations false allegations in order to bring down a competitor. AND those Rabbis who are taking with the secular police now, shouldn´t the have gone to a Beis Din in stead? Or is the Kol Koreh against going to secular police, signed the other day by lots of Rabbis, something that does not apply when Rabbis are involved?
People that believe money is everything, will do anything for money.