Los Angeles – Charedi Rabbi Who Refused To Rat On Jews Freed After Seven Months In Prison

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    In this Dec. 11 2012 photos Zigelman in Shul reciting The Gomel Blessing at the Torah in an unidentified Borough Park synagogue. Photo: CourtesyLos Angeles – A judge has ordered a Brooklyn orthodox rabbi be freed after he refused to answer questions, saying his religion forbids him from testifying against other Jews.

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    The Los Angeles Times reports (http://lat.ms/VyWsiM ) Judge Margaret Morrow ordered Rabbi Moshe Zigelman freed Monday, after he spent seven months in a Brooklyn jail.

    Morrow ordered Zigelman freed when a federal prosecutor agreed in court papers that “additional incarceration would be futile” in compelling the rabbi to testify.

    Zigelman was found in civil contempt in Dec. 2011 after Morrow rejected his attorney’s argument that forcing him to testify would violate his First Amendment religious freedom.

    The Jewish doctrine of mesira bars Jews from informing on other Jews to secular authorities.

    Zigelman had been called before a grand jury regarding an investigation into the Spinka sect, which was accused of tax fraud.

    He had pleaded guilty in 2008 to criminal conspiracy and received a two-year prison sentence.

    Below video: Munkatch Rebbe Dancing with Rabbi Moshe Eliezer Ziegelman After Chanukkah Candle Lighting on Dec. 11 2012.


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    73 Comments
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    YUDA20
    YUDA20
    11 years ago

    How refreshing! If only all Jews were like him, unfortunately were in the middle of a competition her who can throw more Jews in jail for the longest period of time.

    marck100
    marck100
    11 years ago

    Tzadik hador ! Kemoischoo yirbee b’yisroel !

    I have no idea where this man took the strength he has demonstrate. Ready to go to jail, not simple jail but a like central booking facility where there are no service, visits, organization. Living on vegetable and water for months, suffering from being with murderers and rapists. All, not to be moiser mumen yisroel. Its a story for history, a proudness for Judaism, a sample of mesires nafesh.

    welldone
    welldone
    11 years ago

    ברוך מתיר אסורים! ברוך המקדש שמו ברבים

    monalisa
    monalisa
    11 years ago

    My daily Tehillim worked!!! Very happy about this good news. Now onto Yakov Ostreicher (Bolivia), SMR, Alan Gross (Cuba) etc.

    thegreatone
    thegreatone
    11 years ago

    A real tzadik.
    It is a chov to tell our kids this story to teach them real Mesiras nefesh.Special these days when yidden are willing to inform on other yidden.

    username
    username
    11 years ago

    They wouldn’t let him plead the fifth?

    11 years ago

    !בוצין ובוצין מקיטפיה ידיע, כמותו ירבו בישראל

    DrMSPhD
    DrMSPhD
    11 years ago

    What a beautiful story. It reminds me of the stories I read as a youth about the mesiras nefesh that pashutah yidden showed in communist Russia where they would rather get sent to Siberia than be moser on their fellow brothers who were practicing their religion in secrecy.

    -not

    ALTERG
    ALTERG
    11 years ago

    My daily Tehillim worked!!! Very happy about this good news. Now onto Yakov Ostreicher (Bolivia), SMR, Nchamya Weberman, Alan Gross (Cuba) etc.

    11 years ago

    another thing not mentioned is that it was in the year of his mothers dead and he couldn’t say Kaddish for months

    anon1m0us
    anon1m0us
    11 years ago

    Don’t forget O.J.

    11 years ago

    If it’s truly unethical to inform on others, then why would we be allowed to inform on a person who is a Non-Yid. Aren’t we supposed to love all people.
    Would we want the Catholics to abstain from informing on there own, while agreeing to inform on Yidden?

    yaakov613
    yaakov613
    11 years ago

    A big inspiration, they tried to break him, and saw that real emunah has no limits. Kol Hakavod. We all support you and take inspiration from you

    Granny
    Granny
    11 years ago

    Can anyone please tell me more about the niggun in the little video with the Munkatcher Rebbe? Is it a Munkatcher niggun? Special for Channukah? What are the words? I would appreciate it very much.
    This man is a reall tzaddik, whether or not the tax fraud charges are true.

    11 years ago

    I think that by keeping the הלכה his mother (that i knew personal) was very proud of him
    As a family member and Jewish brother we are really proud of you and we are happy to see u out finally hopefully the last time
    People like u help bring משיח!

    shredready
    shredready
    11 years ago

    a real tzadiauk who laundered money scammed the government a real person to look up too tell you children about him so they they scam again again again

    shnitzel
    shnitzel
    11 years ago

    He is in financial ruin as a result of this ordeal. Now that he is out of jail, If anyone can help him find Parnassah now it would be a tremendous mitzvah

    GEULA
    GEULA
    11 years ago

    Baruch Hashem a yid that makes such a gevaldige kiddush hashem. Mesira is one of the biggest aveiros; which obviously too many are uninformed of. This brave behavior and good deeds is a story fitting for the old sages and tzaddikim. Our generation has a lot to learn when looking at a man like this. The priority of yidden not trusting in hkb”h and running to the govt authorities to masser or take revenge is so disfunctional at this present time. That those involved will only get to reap their rewards in the pain and hardships in later generations when they;ll be more honest with themselves. But then it’ll be too late.

    behiema
    behiema
    11 years ago

    A real tzadik!!!!!

    shulem
    shulem
    11 years ago

    Very refreshing news! A real hero to look up to! Not surprising, that of all the 25 comments I read on this thread only ONE person had something negative to post. And you guessed it right… “shredready”

    shredready
    shredready
    11 years ago

    to add what i mean to say it is honorable what he did but no tzadiuk if you he would a tzadiuk he would not have been involved in money laundering. It seems among so in the frum world they take financial crimes very lightly or feel it is not a averah at all. No shame no repercussion from the community

    this only leads the next generation to do the same.

    lets see protect molesters, think financial criminals are tazidikium no wonder people mock you

    11 years ago

    The idea that you can not witness against a fellow jew is a fraud against the Torah of Moses. Israel has a duty to inform the public when a jew is violating an existing law, provided that the law is just.

    LionofZion
    LionofZion
    11 years ago

    The reason Moshiach is not here is because Jews do not follow the Torah. It does not matter how long your beard is. Having sex with 13 year old girls and boys is an Aveirah. Stopping people from molesting boys and girls is a Mitzvah. Stealing from the government is an Aveirah. It is so simple. You are so caught up in following your Rebbelles, you have lost all common sense and decency.
    You people in Brooklyn and Monsey are so lost, if I was Moshiach, I would not want to have anything to do with you.

    MatterOverMind
    MatterOverMind
    11 years ago

    Amazing
    Only Few people would keep their mouths shut

    GEULA
    GEULA
    11 years ago

    reply to #32 :
    There are a few aveiros that get warnings as harsh as ” al tehi sikve” and read what the gemara says about it. I didn’t say it’s the only, gravest sin, I said it’s from the biggest aveiros. From, meaning one of some. Please please read correctly so you wouldn’t need to just unimportantly comment.

    Reply to shredready:
    Firstly, I suggest you go back to first grade and learn grammer correctly and perhaps before you take the liberty of commenting here.

    Reply to #31 :
    I don’t know which Torah you’re refering to. Perhaps when you refer to your false testament that “Israel has a duty to inform the public when a jew is violating an existing law” You might be refering to the “New Testament” since in the old testament “Israel (as in yidden; if you meant that) has a duty and an obligation to absolutely not report anyone to authorities” It is an aveira. point blank. You are a heretic if you twist the words of the torah or if you misinterpet it.

    Benabenja
    Benabenja
    11 years ago

    Hey guys, how can most of you call this Rav a tsaddik? How can a tsaddik: “.. had pleaded guilty in 2008 to criminal conspiracy and received a two-year prison sentence”??? Honestly, the support you give him is SHOCKING! It may be good he didn’t testify against Jews on a secular court (even though it would be BAD if it was about molstation) but still.

    GEULA
    GEULA
    11 years ago

    so many confused and lost souls commenting on this forum. How in the world does molestation have to do with this story? This guy did no aveira. he wasn’t the alleged money launderer. He did what every erliche yid should do and that is not to massur. One of the most important things I think about daily is “Mi keamcha Yisroel” and with that I mean the torah and Hkb”h. And with that I mean and feel the simcha and pride of being a yid lifnim meshuras hadin. Without twisting and turning what the torah states and by being close to a competent and I mean ccompetetent well versed talmid chacham. Those that have found ways of finding fault in our torah, twisting its word or accusing those that follow it wholesomely have veered off the derech hayashar and have come to think that the olam hagoy, its mentality (which has pple killed , emotionall, mentaly and physically every day) and way of life; are more right or appealing or make more sense will surely when they feel the despair that the olam hagoy feels but somehow never honestly acknowledges it but will when the והיה ד’ למלך על כל הארץץ
    not merely believing theres a god but also believing his word honestly and truely.
    They will then rea

    GEULA
    GEULA
    11 years ago

    cont.
    They will then realize that being a god fearing jew is not merely saying I believe in god like any christian or muslim might say. It means following our torah. Following the halachos within that. And they will thus realize how wrong they were and feel the painful consequences of their heretic beliefs. There is no such peace and simcha as following the straight path and looking at the good. And the only derech hayashar in this world is the instruction of the torah. Halacha says: velamalshinim al tehi tikva. Many of you commenting here are surely just searchers, searching for the truth all your life. You may have been taught things in an inconsistant sequence or with the tafel before the ikar and therefor your misunderstanding or misinterpeting some of the most important halachos in our torah. I suggest you read a few sefarim on emuna and bitachon and find yourself not only a guide that talks to your neshama but a competent rabbi who knows halacha well. you’re life will change and your undestanding to pure halacha and it’s psak will be much easier to undestand and carry out.

    Granny
    Granny
    11 years ago

    Sorry to be asking again, but does anyone know anything about the niggun in the video clip with the Munkatcher Rav?

    11 years ago

    The idea that you can not witness against a fellow jew is a fraud against the Torah of Moses. Israel has a duty to inform the public when a jew is violating an existing law, provided that the law is just.

    shredready
    shredready
    11 years ago

    Maybe I am a dreamer, maybe naive. Or, maybe I set the bar to high for who I consider a tzhadick for me someone who was involved in money laundering should be labeled a tzahdick. Must be that most who post here have a lower bar of what a thzadic is.

    A-P-C
    A-P-C
    11 years ago

    He’s the furthest thing from a tzaddik. His admitted involvement in cheating the very same country where jews are free to practice judaism as they wish is both a disgrace and a huge chillul hashem. And if his practice of yiddishkeit allowed him to be a thief, its hard to respect his claim that all of a sudden he’s too frum to be a moiser.
    Shame on him and all who think he’s a tzaddik. If he is, then I’m moshiach.

    11 years ago

    Its not clear why the article drags the heilege Munkatch into this mess. The tax fraud investigation involved the Spinktar, not the Munkatch. Zigelman was trying to protect the Spintar who were known to have engaged in tax fraud and he had refused to testify about these tax chearts. The Munkatch chassidim are known to be extremely careful about full compliance with civil laws and have never been accused of any tax evasion.

    HeshyEkes
    HeshyEkes
    11 years ago

    Money Laundering for Drug Cartels is probably not condoned by many. In the instant case however, Rabbi Zigelman pleaded guilty to not filing and reporting transactions above $10,000 from Donors who received cash back from their official “donations”. As money laundering is defined as hiding the proceeds from any crime (in this case tax evasion), I doubt that Rabbi Zigelman did any Aveireh, especially as he was following the directions of the Rebbe, and could not imagine that there was a Moiser among them wearing a wire & causing a Chilul Hashem. Rabbi Zigelman is indeed a Tzadik, in my humble opinion.

    11 years ago

    I dont know what is more concerning- Rabbi Zeligman’s selective observance of Halacha (genaiva less important than mesirah?), or a community’s elevation of such action to heroic. Whatever the explanation, this case, coming on the heels of the Satmar molestation case, leaves to me wonder why such as a straight-laced community seems more than willing to act collectively as lawless bandits (or allow their leaders to present it thusly). It doesnt make sense.