Eliezer Berland (born December 26, 1937) is an Israeli Orthodox Jewish rabbi, convicted sex offender[1] and fraudster[2] affiliated with the Breslov Hasidic movement in Israel.
[12] The assaults came to light in 2012 when the newspaper Israel Hayom reported an incident in which one of Berland's students encountered him at home standing beside a naked woman.
[13] After the police opened an investigation, Berland fled Israel, and spent time in the United States, Italy, and Switzerland.
In November 2013, Berland and his students were ordered to leave Morocco by King Mohammed VI after a Moroccan newspaper published an article about the circumstances in which he fled Israel.
Berland's followers claimed that the king was merely concerned for their safety, as they were Hasidic Jews living in a Muslim country.
In an interview with Israeli media shortly after his release, Berland claimed that the police had told him the charges were nonsense.
[26][27] After the court ruling, 300 supporters came to see him, and Berland hosted a reception for them on a Jewish-owned camping site on the island of Texel.
250 people lodged in a vacant youth hostel in Oldebroek until the mayor ordered them to leave on May 3, 2015, because of inhumane conditions and fire hazards.
Their entry without security clearance required their rescue by the Israeli Army and was followed by arson of the Tomb by Palestinians.
On March 22, 2016, facing arrest, Berland asked his followers to hold an all-night prayer vigil at the cave of the patriarchs in Hebron.
[48][49] On November 18, 2016, Berland was convicted by the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court after admitting to two counts of indecent acts and one assault.
[51] Berland has expressed remorse over his acts and said that he takes responsibility for what happened: "I am willing to accept any punishment in the world, including burning me and stoning me because that is Torah law.
[8][52] At the request of many, a special Beth din (religious court) was convened to investigate the rumors that had come out against Berland, the leader of the Shuvu Bonim community.
On June 24, 2019, this special court issued the following order regarding Berland: "To stop immediately all hatred, persecution, arguments and slander, in writing and in speech, and in all form of media and publication."
It described the content of the testimonies that they had heard as “untoward acts” and “very serious behaviors,” and they concluded that, “It is clear that according to the opinion of our holy teachings, anyone who violates the three cardinal sins and their derivatives, someone who values his soul must stay away from him [the violator] and one is obligated to act in this way.” The ruling also contained a paragraph warning that this is a serious issue since defenders of Berland have excused his behavior, even publishing books, claiming it is permitted for a Tzaddik to perform sins.
"[55] In February 2020, Berland was arrested for fraud after hundreds of people filed police complaints alleging that he had sold prayers and pills to desperate members of his community, promised to cure disabilities, and promised the family members of imprisoned people that their relatives would be freed soon.
The sentence included time served; he had spent a year in detention prior to being released to house arrest in February 2021.