Rabbi Sentenced to 18 Years for Sex Crimes Against Students

The Jerusalem District Court has sentenced Rabbi Moshe Yizdi to 18 years in prison for committing sex offenses against his students. The sentence also includes a suspended sentence and compensation for the victims. The court's decision aligns with the prosecution's request for a 20-year sentence, along with other penalties.

In her ruling, Judge Chagit Mak-Kalmanovitch noted that Yizdi never accepted responsibility for his actions, even blaming the complainants. She stated that Yizdi admitted to sinning but not against the complainants, whom he believed were responsible for his actions. The judge described the offenses as extensive, potentially numbering in the dozens or hundreds against each victim, spanning approximately 12 years for one charge and 3-4 years for another.

The prosecution characterized the case as a prolonged series of sexual and financial offenses committed by Yizdi, who exploited his position as a rabbi, his religious authority, and the trust and dependency he fostered with his female students. Yizdi was convicted on some or all counts in four out of nine charges brought against him.

One of the victims expressed hope that justice would be served and that the sentence would prevent him from harming others in the future. The prosecution emphasized the severity of the crimes, Yizdi's systematic and ongoing pattern of behavior, and his use of religious manipulation to present the acts as 'spiritual corrections.' They highlighted the multiple rape and indecent assault charges, the severe harm inflicted on the victims, and the lasting damage they continue to suffer.