22 Ultra-Orthodox Men Charged With Sex Crimes In Israel
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
([JTA](http://www.jta.org ” “JTA”)) — Police arrested 22 haredi Orthodox men in four Israeli cities who are suspected of sex crimes against women and minors over the past two years, but were sheltered by religious leaders.
The men ages 20-60 were arrested on Monday morning in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Betar Illit and Beni Brak, all cities with large haredi Orthodox populations.
Residents of the communities tried to prevent the arrests, throwing rocks and other projectiles, damaging some police cars.
The police posted a video depicting the arrests on social media.
פרשת עבירות המין שהושתקו בחברה החרדית: כך התנהלה ההסתרה, שהסתיימה בגל מעצרים pic.twitter.com/tULHeeVkEA
— משטרת ישראל (@IL_police) March 27, 2017
Police believe haredi Orthodox leaders helped conceal the men’s crimes and deal with them themselves instead of reporting them, according to reports. Their investigation revealed that haredi leaders kept written records of the attacks; the perpetrators were required to get therapy within the haredi community. They also were punished internally.
Police reportedly have seized some of those records, which were kept by a person charged with the task by a special committee of the haredi community.
Police reportedly plan to bring the men to justice.
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
