Hasidic Rabbi on the Run from the Law Holes up in Zimbabwe

By Shmarya Rosenberg
The Failed Messiah
November 13, 2013

http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2013/11/hasidic-rabbi-on-the-run-from-the-law-holes-up-in-zimbabwe-456.html

Rabbi Eliezer Berland

Rabbi Eliezer Berland lived in Morocco for seven months and Zurich and Miami for several months before that after fleeing Israel pending arrest for allegedly sexually abusing female followers, some of who were allegedly minors at the time the abuse took place.

Hasidic Rabbi On The Run From The Law Holes Up In Zimbabwe

Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

After abruptly leaving Morocco last week, Rabbi Eliezer Berland has reportedly relocated to Zimbabwe.

Berland lived in Morocco for seven months and Zurich and Miami for several months before that after fleeing Israel pending arrest for allegedly sexually abusing female followers, some of who were allegedly minors at the time the abuse took place.

Although Moroccan and Israeli media reports and reports on FailedMessiah.com said Berland was expelled from Morocco by the country’s king immediately after the king read a local media report detailing Berland’s alleged crimes, Moroccan media is now reporting that the king has now said that Berland is welcome back in Morocco at any time. Berland was allegedly forced to leave Morocco only because of the growing number of hasidim who followed him there and were trying to set up a community.

A follower has reportedly rented a private home in Zimbabwe for Berland to use. It is unclear how many hasidim are with him.

Berland’s son and grandson are under criminal investigation in Israel for embezzlement and money laundering. Their alleged crimes involved Berland’s Shuvu Banim institution’s bank accounts.