Jerusalem – Charedi Mixed Concert Conflict Takes Bizarre Twist: Bnei Brak Man Arrested Over Alleged Extortion

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    Jerusalem – The conflict within haredi society between over whether or not to allow concerts before mixed-gender audiences has reached new heights. On Monday, the police arrested Shlomo Saklersky, a 40-year-old resident of Bnei Brak, on suspicions of extortion.

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    Saklersky is suspected of having shown nude pictures of the attorney associated with Rabbi Amnon Yitzhak in order to coerce him to withdraw his opposition to concerts before concerts with both men and women in attendance.

    Saklersky allegedly sent the lawyer nude pictures of him and threatened to spread them should he not capitulate to his demand to cease pressuring haredi artists not to perform for mixed audiences. Saklersky denied the allegations, but admitted to speaking with a third suspect in the affair who was also arrested on Monday.

    Tel Aviv Magistrates’ Court extended Saklersky’s remand by two days.

    Saklersky has an existing criminal record that includes violent offenses. He said during his investigation that he was merely trying to mediate between the two sides because of his previous acquaintance with Rabbi Yitzhak.

    Though the lawyer only recently filed a complaint with the police, the alleged incident occurred a number of weeks ago.

    The investigation material reveals that Saklersky arrived at the offices of the Shofar organization headed by Rabbi Yitzhak where he presented the compromising photographs while noting that the rabbi is associated with people who are not mindful of modesty standards.

    The organization’s clerk tore up the pictures. The police are in possession of a number of transcripts from telephone conversations that allegedly corroborate suspicions against Saklersky.

    Attorney Yossi Freidman from the Public Defender’s Office explained in a hearing held on Monday in court, “He has no interest in influencing or extorting any one of the sides to the conflict. He tried to do some mediation work and when he saw that the matter went wrong said, ‘Leave me alone.’

    The judge who presided over hearing on the extension of Saklersky’s remand explained that some of the evidence supports the suspect’s version of the events.


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    9 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Rab Yitzchak is an ehrliche yid and a real tzadkik. Its hard to believe that there are these lewd photographs floating around showing the rav with others naked….how can this happen just before yom kippur? Such a shanda.

    lamdan
    lamdan
    13 years ago

    This whole story is weird who was with not tzniuyosdike ladies Rabbi Yitzchack or the attorney & if Rabbi Yitzchack is hanging around with not tzniyusdike ladies then maybe he wants to be them mekarev to the torah?

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    13 years ago

    Poster # 1 (Anonymous); You misread the article. The (alleged) extortionist is alleged to have nude pictures of Rabbi Yitzhak’s attorney. Also, he has a criminal record.

    anon1
    anon1
    13 years ago

    agree with three anyone can photo shop plus its talking about the attorney not the Rabbi

    cowfy
    cowfy
    13 years ago

    a storm in a teacup.i’ll throw out perhaps the lawyer had these pics taken before rebbe amnon helped him to do tshuva.

    TorahTruth
    TorahTruth
    13 years ago

    I respect Rav Amnon Yitzchok but I don’t understand his stance on this at all. He himself has mixed audiances and plays music at the events. What makes him think that his method of attracting people to Torah is any better than a singer who is doing the same?

    MazelKGH
    MazelKGH
    13 years ago

    Forget the photos or what is halachically right or wrong. I am old enough to know that unfortunately in ALL these cases – just follow the money trail.

    Shmuel
    Shmuel
    13 years ago

    Just goes to show the people in favor of mixed sitting are of the highest moral character, real yosharim, would only use impeccable means to achieve their objectives.