Rabbi Mendel Epstein, 70, of Brooklyn was convicted this week in a bizarre series of crimes where he and others kidnapped and beat Orthodox Jewish men who refused to grant their wives religious divorces or “gets.” He was to 10 years in prison, a relatively light sentence given multiple kidnapping and beatings ordered by Epstein. The attackers were paid by women to force “gets” out of their husbands. That makes this a religious-based form of organized crime.
Epstein is the father of nine, grandfather of 45 and great-grandfather of five. He is a prominent rabbi who specializes in divorce proceedings, is heard on secretly recorded conversations bragging about using a cattle prod and other violent means to force recalcitrant husbands to agree to the religious divorces. Epstein provided the undercover agents with details of how the target husband would be taken to a warehouse in Edison where he would be kidnapped and beaten until he agreed to the get. That sounds actually like what a mobster would do for money. In such a case, however, the sentence would have likely been longer. Indeed, Epstein was called the “prodfather” for his claimed preference for using a cattle prod on kidnap victims.
Epstein was contrite at trial and said that he was “embarrassed and ashamed” by the tapes and that “Over the years, I guess, I got caught up in my tough guy image.” He said that his clients knew his reputation as the rabbi who goes and gets into all crazy places and he doesn’t give up He gets you the get.”
While Epstein said it was not the money that he was motivated by, he is caught on tape demanding $60,000 from the undercover agent and prosecutors said that only a small portion of that payment went to the “muscle men” who were there to rough up the husband.
Epstein’s attorney, Robert Stahl, argued that Epstein’s sentence should be less than that for the traditional kidnapping cases because those cases usually involve murder, terrorism or child abduction.
However, the pictures of husbands tied by ropes and admitted to hospitals belies the defense claims that these were relatively mild kidnappings . . . even if one accepts such a questionable notion.
Two other rabbis were also convicted with Epstein including Rabbi Martin Wolmark, 57. The other men in the warehouse also received remarkably good deals given the kidnapping charges. Arrested were Jay Goldstein, 61, Moshe Goldstein, 32, Avrohom Goldstein, 36, Simcha Bulmash, 32, Binyamin Stimler, 40, David Hellman, 33, and Sholom Shuchat, 31, all of Brooklyn, and Ariel Potash, 42, of Monsey, N.Y.
Putting aside these sentences, it is astonishing that these Orthodox Jewish individuals — both the wives and the kidnappers — would be appalled at the thought of a divorce without a “get” as a sin but not view kidnapping and beatings as a sin. Call me a bit confused on that point.
Source: NJ
Great article, features more info about this case too. http://narrative.ly/the-working-life/oy-the-things-she-hears-in-court/?utm_source=Narratively+email+list&utm_campaign=79be3d594f-Narratively_Update12_24_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f944cd8d3b-79be3d594f-66512241
Featured on This American Life – http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/516/stuck-in-the-middle
I like to read the articles on this feature, the responses not so much. The Commentary is often
beyond me. It usually starts out germain to the article, then diverges, radically, into new trains
of thought. Take the present one. What in the heck are the latter posters talking about? Keep
to the subject folks and don’t try to make points by going so deep. And for heaven’s sake, do
not mention he who is not to be named, or blamed, or praised, or whatever?
Marriage is an agreement between two chumps.
Any human who grows a beard and wears a beanie on the head is suspect. Be careful out there.
For these wives there is an open door through which they can walk to freedom. Leave the religious sect in which you are trapped. There are plenty of partners out there for you who are infinitely more humane.
Even when the husband agrees to a get there is still a possible hitch. Both husband and wife must appear before the Rabbi when their religious marriage is to be dissolved. When the woman refuses to meet her former legal husband there is no get. In the Netherlands that was affirmed in a court case brought by a woman who did not want to meet her husband ever again.
There is actually another even nastier kind of get. After WW2 couples of mixed marriages (Jewish and, say, Christian) from pre-war times migrated to Israel. To their astonishment some non-Jewish partners found out that they were no longer married because their partner had secretly obtained both a legal and religious divorce.
Let me “get” this straight – no pun intended: the guy does NOT want a divorce and he is kidnapped and beaten up in order to get his consent for the divorce. In what kind of alternate universe are we living?
Beldar:
“Did you folks know that a boat can not have its name changed without a ceremony wherein a priest, rabbi, preacher and imam all participate? This is to cover all bases.”
No! You can never change a boat’s name. Fishermen claim it’s bad luck. I don’t think installing shag carpeting made from (un)lucky rabbits’ feet would help.
Oracle does have some sun rise or sunset sort of religious based analogy but the Oracle which we are familiar is computer driven not God given. So the boaters who fear God but won’t let their meat loaf need to get the blessing on that boat which Beldar is talking about. A new name on a boat can cause the boat to sink if it is not blessed in various ways. In our marina the whole dogpac teams up and gives the new boat with the new name a serious of dog squirts. If ya know what I mean jelly bean.
There is a new boat here with the name Oracle. Non of the above preachers from those various religions would participate in the blessing. One priest said that the name originated on a Cloud. I think he was confusing things with Bill Gates or something.
Oh, the different strokers for different folkers do not show up for one ceremony but have a succession of blessings of the new boat name.
I am staying in New Orleans this week. Did you folks know that a boat can not have its name changed without a ceremony wherein a priest, rabbi, preacher and imam all participate? This is to cover all bases.
There are some humans who blame Planet Remulak for the infusion of religion onto Planet Earth. There may be something to that. We on Remulak want Planet Earth to be self absorbed so that you do not come out and compete in the universe. So please keep your priests, preachers, imams, rabbis and holy rollers.
bam, where are you?
You left some questions undigested…
—————————
If these rabbis have no right to claim jewish law as cover for their claim, why do you offer muslim criminals the right to claim islamic law as cover for their acts?
what islamic law condones what you claim? Not the quran, the highest authority!
What is jewish law? Are you saying the torah offers no justification for “” violence against infidels and other jews “” and that it is not “”encouraged, condoned and demanded…””
What about with women and non jews as 3rd class citizens?
Do you really wanna go there?
This relevant:
THE DOORS LYRICS
“Light My Fire”
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higher
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higher
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
By the way, karen, the people arrested for lighting that family on fire, killing the mother (yes, a woman), the father, the baby…? The same people feted by orthodox jews and rabbis..?
The ones who showed no remorse for their terrorist act?
Yes? Freed…lack of evidence!
They now joined the few israelis ever arrested for committing acts of terrorism against palestinians… (not convicted…arrested…)
Based on your many non-replies to my question above, you, karen, supporter of the welfare of women and children, support the lighting on fire of a woman and her babies….
Glad you made it clear.