New York – FBI Lead Raid On Monsey Yeshiva; Prominent Brooklyn Rabbi Arrested

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    FBI agents conducting a raid in Flatbush at the home of Brooklyn Rabbi Mendel Epstein late night Oct. 9 2013 (Shimon Gifter/VINnews.com)New York – An FBI raid on a Monsey yeshiva late Wednesday resulted in four arrests, including three rabbis who are charged with pressuring Orthodox Jewish men into granting religious divorces to their wives in exchange for money.

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    WABC NEWS (http://bit.ly/1acvDrY) is reporting that Rabbi Mendel Epstein, Rabbi Martin Wolmark, Rabbi Jacob Goldstein, as well as a fourth man, Ariel Potash, were all taken into custody in connection with the raid that was conducted at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Monsey.

    Sources say six others were taken into custody, but as of yet have not been charged.

    Sources also reported that FBI agents served a search warrant at Rabbi Epstein’s residence in Flatbush last night.

    An FBI spokesman would only say that the investigation is “ongoing,” and has spread into Brooklyn.

    A source has told VIN NEWS that those arrested are likely facing charges of money laundering, as well.

    A source close to the investigation said that the ring involved Orthodox wives seeking divorce making payments to the rabbis—in some cases up to $100,000—who then facilitated the divorce, often through violent means, with the rabbis hiring thugs to beat the Orthodox Jewish husbands into agreement.

    The source said the ring has been in existence for more than 20 years.

    Several students said they were inside the yeshiva when the raid began, and that they were ushered into the parking lot immediately.


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    147 Comments
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    10 years ago

    will those who briebed the ‘rabbis’ and those who advanced their agendas, should take note.

    10 years ago

    The chickens are coming home to roost! In the 80’s and 90’s law enforcement was busy apprehending the mafia and now it’s us. How many cases have been started by disenfranchised individuals who see through this mirage created by our so called “Rabbis”.
    Time to go back to the basics – Shabbos, Kashrus, loving your fellow neighbor…and not how one looks to fit into the silliness of communal life!

    How many more warnings do we need???

    ModernLakewoodGuy
    ModernLakewoodGuy
    10 years ago

    As shocking as this is, it is not the least surprising. And that is what is most disturbing about this.

    ChareidiMan
    ChareidiMan
    10 years ago

    Great story and great news, and let this be a lesson especially for some other groups ( like Vaad Hatznius etc) that think that they can get away with stuff like that, your day will come and you will have to answer.

    I know a person that the Vaad blackmailed him with a penalty or they will expose his work ( not illegal but not yiddishkeit) and they extorted a lot of money from him, I know he is working with the feds, and eventually they will pay a hefty price.

    these days of intimidation are long long gone!

    DRE53
    DRE53
    10 years ago

    If found guilty, those “rabbis” should be given life without parole.
    The torah gave the right for You husband to refuse giving a get and they had no right taking that away.

    10 years ago

    Is this the same Rabbi Mendel Epstein who was giving us מוסר a short while ago?
    Nice going Epstein.

    qazxc
    qazxc
    10 years ago

    Just the beginning. What’s coming next could make Reb Noaif wish he had kept his hands to himself.

    PeaceNow
    PeaceNow
    10 years ago

    No one is a above the law.

    Eli_W
    Eli_W
    10 years ago

    These are the same group of thug Rabbis that work with the infamous Shmiel Fried.

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    10 years ago

    Golly, I hope these guys declared everything on their tax forms. This could be awkward.

    10 years ago

    Kol hakovod to the police and district atttorney for taking down these dreche yidden who would hold agunot for ransom. They should rot in jail for the rest of their lives if found guilty. After the Dwek episode in New Jersey, SMR, the Spinka,e tc. I was hoping we had seen the end of these episodes where rabbonim are alledged to have engaged in felonies, tax evasion, fraud and extortion.

    Phineas
    Phineas
    10 years ago

    Wait a minute. Isn’t it somewhat useful to have a group of people that can pressure husbands to give their wives gets? I’m not saying they are tzaddikim but there is some toeles is there not?

    Secular
    Secular
    10 years ago

    What about the divorces granted by these Rabbis, will they be invalidated retroactively?

    PeaceNow
    PeaceNow
    10 years ago

    If a divorce must happen the. It shouldn’t happen by force. There should be a bet din court that can grant divorces after a trial reviewing the facts. You see these rabbis allegedely broke both Torah and civil law to maintain the divorce system in place. On that premise why would they not simply change the law of how to give the women her desired divorce by way of a specially formulated bet din of divorce?!?

    SERIOUS
    SERIOUS
    10 years ago

    Remember the bill of rights for the Jewish woman. Alot of the talk then was that the system is corrupt. Now we see who was corrupt

    10 years ago

    Is Ariel Potash from Culinary Depot?

    Sugar
    Sugar
    10 years ago

    I hope Fried goes down with them too! It’s time these clowns pay for what they did

    EliWohl
    EliWohl
    10 years ago

    Finally, this is way over-due. Epstein is nothing more than a gangster. I wish I had seen some additional names here, but I am sure the FBI is up to them too. Every dog has its day.

    joseph
    joseph
    10 years ago

    Anyone who beats a husband in order to force them to give a “get” belongs in prison.

    Good going FBI.

    10 years ago

    כל שאינו בקי בטיב גיטין וקדושין אל יהא לו עסק עימהן -קדושין י”ג

    that applies for the ‘rabbis’ as well commenting’s

    Mark Levin
    Mark Levin
    10 years ago

    Let’s not jump to conclusions. Try being ” dan l’kaf zchus ” just like you want HKBH to be with you!

    987654321
    987654321
    10 years ago

    I don’t know where you get your info from, but my husband learns in a kollel located in that yeshiva and was there during the raid last night, he remained in the building until the end of night seder! No one was forced out, if someone left they were not allowed to reenter until Maariv!

    Liepa
    Liepa
    10 years ago

    Wow, alot of hate in some of these comments. Relax guys, have a coffee, sip slowly before you post some of your comments.

    10 years ago

    Any wonder why the vast majority of Russian Jews, want no part of this?

    ShatzMatz
    ShatzMatz
    10 years ago

    These people were providing a valuable service. Now, where will trapped husbands turn? Whoever was involved in a case of a woman chained by a psychopathic husband would look at this matter differently. These husbands do not deserve our sympathy and deserve everything coming to them.

    Although these rabbis might have stepped outside the boundaries of the law, they still performed a valuable service that is morally justified.

    10 years ago

    יבמות ק”ו, וכן אתה אומר בגיטי נשים, כופין אותו עד שיאמר רוצה אני

    ברטנורא, כל מי שדינו שכופין אותו לגרש ולא רצה לגרש בי”ד של ישראל מכין אותו עד שיאמר רוצה אני, ונותן הגט והוא כשר

    well torturing the husband physically is against the domestic law, but if the wife is ‘willing’ to pay up! legally, than the bais din has legal ways how to thread on the husband, until he says : רוצה אני

    Avi613
    Avi613
    10 years ago

    The issue is extortion n money laundering
    מצד הלכה שוחד ועיוות הדין

    אבל להתיר עגונה הנה הרמבם..

    הרמב”ם מסביר את הביטוי: “כופין אותו עד שיאמר רוצה אני” (הל’ גירושין פ”ב ה”כ):
    מי שהדין נותן שכופין אותו לגרש את אשתו ולא רצה לגרש, בית דין של ישראל בכל מקום ובכל זמן מכין אותו עד שיאמר רוצה אני ויכתוב הגט והוא גט כשר, וכן אם הכוהו גוים ואמרו לו עשה מה שישראל אומרין לך, ולחצו אותו ישראל ביד הגוים עד שיגרש הרי זה כשר… ולמה לא בטל גט זה שהרי הוא אנוס בין ביד גוים בין ביד ישראל, שאין אומרין אנוס אלא למי שנלחץ ונדחק לעשות דבר שאינו מחוייב מן התורה לעשותו, כגון מי שהוכה עד שמכר או נתן, אבל מי שתקפו יצרו הרע לבטל מצוה או לעשות עבירה והוכה עד שעשה דבר שחייב לעשותו או עד שנתרחק מדבר שאסור לעשותו אין זה אנוס ממנו, אלא הוא אנס עצמו בדעתו הרעה, לפיכך זה שאינו רוצה לגרש מאחר שהוא רוצה להיות מישראל – רוצה הוא לעשות כל המצות ולהתרחק מן העבירות, ויצרו הוא שתקפו, וכיון שהוכה עד שתשש יצרו ואמר רוצה אני כבר גרש לרצונו.

    Student
    Student
    10 years ago

    These guys are thugs. Lets hope the other gangsters in this business, such as the one mentioned above in the comments,are taken off the streets. These thugs live large off of other peoples blood.

    MonseyLuke
    MonseyLuke
    10 years ago

    Wow, just wow! Plastic bags, cow prods and warehouses. However, this is my all time favorite line..

    “…to get the rabbis on the rabbinical court to approve the kidnapping….”

    Hmm…isn’t that “kinda” like….”go burn down the dissenter’s house to get him out of NS….”

    Awaiting the community spokesperson’s spin on this. News 12, please go find Yossi, this story needs some entertainment value.

    Wow, and all in the name of religion.
    “Gotta” love it.

    Luke.

    ohvei
    ohvei
    10 years ago

    The FBI is saying the investigation is ongoing, sadly enough many commenters her are making conclusion based on there agendas, this busted ring could be the same as the busted ring from Dwek , which by now everybody knows there was no ring, it was individual incidents, and a crime of the FBI to challenge people into doing criminal activities, just for there agendas.

    tweedledee
    tweedledee
    10 years ago

    the loshon hora here is appalling. i am a former agunah who was a client of rabbi epstien and no one fought harder than he did. yes i paid him because i was purchasing his services, the way i would pay a lawyer. he didnt take money specifically to free me. He published a booklet of warning signs for women to look out for in shidduchim that i distributed to all my friends. they way that commenters here are assuming he took bribes to hold women hostage is a slap in the face to all he has done. yes he broke alot of rules to make things happen because unfortubately there is not straught and narrow way to make things happen in our system. i am horrified at how people here are rejoicing at his mosfortune just because he has the title rabbi. some of you are so dripping with hatred and venom that you salivate at seeing anyone with a beard suffer. you are disgusting.

    TexasJew
    TexasJew
    10 years ago

    In the Modern Orthodox communities we don’t have these problems now because everyone signs a prenuptial agreement that in case the marriage ends in divorce, the man must give his wife a get within 90 days or pay his spouse a fine for every day it is delayed. Then they can work out the details in a civil court.
    It’s time for this practice to take place all over the country, especially in the Careidi world.

    Sol-Sol
    Sol-Sol
    10 years ago

    While some are already call them thugs and Chayos, “what are we supposed to do to a thug husband that refuses to give a get after years & years just for the sake of chaining the wife to an invisible jail”? Who would you turn to to take care of the matter if you were such a wife that already spent much more on legal fees just to run around in circles?

    The word has it that they did a terrific job in these cases and got the thug husband to finally agree to give the get. Their time is not free. If they will stop, after a little while we will have lots of Chained Agunas to deal with.

    wondering
    wondering
    10 years ago

    Was your husband kidnapped and tortured? Maybe not but take this to the other side. Imagine if your son (because he didn’t have a booklet to read like the ones you gave out) married a crazy woman who eventually divorced him and would not let him see the kids so she paid to have him tortured and beat up and kidnapped and held with a plastic bag over his head…hmmm… the point is – yes there are horrible husbands and there are horrible wives but kidnapping , torture, paying for kidnapping and torture – these are all behaviors that lower the moral and ethical standards of the community. Instead of engaging in these activities, the Rabbis should either be advocating for as no. 59 said – halachic prenups or come up with another solution, Wen the solution lowers the bar of the reaction to violence so low – you get communities who think its OK to burn a house with people inside because they daven in the wrong shul…. eventually the violence will get to everyone for some action or opinion others that dont like…it is a slippery slope Very slippery..you don’t even know how slippery…

    Election2014
    Election2014
    10 years ago

    tweedledee!

    while I feel for your situation, I am the other guy who had no problem signing the get but mendel is a con artist.

    we went to him as a mediator he managed to convince my ex to hire him as her toen.

    this guy is scum he only complicated things which made matters worse..

    10 years ago

    after this story nebech on the poor woman out there who are waiting to be freed from there captures

    hershel
    hershel
    10 years ago

    This story misses the point that the Rabbis may have been operating under the Jewish Jurisdiction of a Bais Din???

    HappyOlah
    HappyOlah
    10 years ago

    Why would a man WANT to stay married to a woman who is willing to hire thugs to beat him up! Obviously, there’s no more love there.

    10 years ago

    Hashem help us! WE HAVE NO, I REPEAT NO RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHATSOEVER!!!!!

    berelw
    berelw
    10 years ago

    CHEVRA IS IT RIGHT FOR A HUSBAND TO HOLD BACK A GET TO HIS WIFE? think its high time that if a husband doesnt give a get a bais din should invalid the marriage .

    hulahoop
    hulahoop
    10 years ago

    So doing this is more halachic than a get prenup? It’s time for universal adoption of this, once and for all.

    smadi
    smadi
    10 years ago

    There are many sides to this and many aspects of agunah.

    Some claim someone is guilty once they separate they should give a get. This is a major story of 2 families of big Rabaniim where one is willing to blame the other for no get, while the other holds that I do not have to give a get until we finish our civil divorce. Yet I have seen people scream on blogs about the guy not giving a get right away. Minute a guy refuses until things are settled with the children, and the divorce finalized he gets ostracized.

    Then there is the fact that us women are powerless when it does shift the other way and people wait years. I know of a friend who waited a decade while her husband went to jail and refused to give a get. He then ran away to Israel and still refused. He only in the past few years finally gave her a get. She was a true agunah a hostage.

    In today society there is a hard balance between freeing these women and helping them and Civil law, potential for huge Chillul hashem. While if accurate I can not blame them for trying to free the women. Alas we should all stop pointing fingers about it, nothing we type here can help only what we type can hurt others.

    MonseyLuke
    MonseyLuke
    10 years ago

    Hey, I know a few “families” in New Jersey who would “off” the dude for far less than $100K. Seems like a more permanent solution.

    Just sayin’…

    Luke.

    10 years ago

    I have heard it all. Woman who go to secular court and take the husband for everything and then complain they are agunahs.They are because they did not try to solve the get problem through a beis din. Then there are the husband who are looking for the father in law to set him up for life of Riley. Their a women who are agunahs because their husband went off the derick and is no longer Shommer Torah and mitzvahs or even Jewish any more. I have seen wives refuse gets because they are off the dereck and make it hard on their husbands to get remarried. There are many many different situations. I hat the smug people who post here how glad about this take down; well don’t be so glad because there are families being ruined and it is nothing to laugh about. Some people like Rebushkin who is sitting in Jail and really really is innocent and the judge should be in jail for what she did. Even if they are wrong what about their familes. Remember a sign of a Jewish is RACHAMIM.

    ShatzMatz
    ShatzMatz
    10 years ago

    Epstein did not just take on the case of any crazy women who wanted a divorce. He tried to work with the husband first. Only if the husband turned out to be an evil psychopath who would not listen to any reason would he use force. In our reality this was unfortunately necessary and it was the only hope for these chained women. Now who will they turn to?

    I am also very interested in which Heimishe lady set the trap for these rabbis. She really did a disservice to people of her gender. I bet you she turns out be be a peice of garbage who got into a legal mess. Once her identity is known people will have a different opinion.

    qazxc
    qazxc
    10 years ago

    Yasher Koach to all our leaders who can’t manage to put aside their egos, pettiness, and selfishness to unify and bring some order to the bais din system.

    Your inaction has brought this machleh upon us. How bitter and sad it is that the closest thing to din torah many women can come to is this dirtball and his cronies. For years I have heard unverified rumors about women being held up for their shtaros at the end of the ‘get’ process, until they pay a second ransom, this one to Epstein himself! As I said, I have never verified these rumors as true, but no one ever told such stories about the Chofetz Chaim ztz”l.

    As #9 astutely pointed out, the most disturbing aspect of this story is that while (the allegations) are shocking, they are not in the least bit surprising.

    Klal Yisroel is like a ship adrift at sea without a captain. We are being piloted by bottom tier seaman, who instead of looking for a real captain are busy fighting amongst themselves about who gets to sit at the Captain’s table, who has the nicest uniform.

    Bans on books and music, condemnation of more modern institutions, and non-stop warnings about the internet.

    Mekav
    Mekav
    10 years ago

    I personally know of a case where the wife used the child as leverage and refused to accept the get unless her husband agreed to her outrageous terms. When she didn’t receive what she wanted, she screamed she was an Agunah and that Beis Din should force the issue. Luckily, Beis Din knew the facts (they had the court records from the civil proceedings and knew both sides) and told her she was in the wrong. She still has not gotten the Get and she keeps jumping from one Beis Din to another.

    It is not always about trying to keep the husband from “chaining” his wife. Sometimes it is about the wife “chaining” her husband so he can not move on and get remarried.