Jerusalem Rabbi Sentenced to 18 Years for Sexual Abuse of Followers

A Jerusalem District Court has sentenced 63-year-old Rabbi Moshe Yazdi to 18 years in prison and one year of probation for sexual offenses and financial crimes against his female students. The verdict, announced on Sunday, September 6, also mandates Yazdi to pay 150,000 shekels in compensation to each victim. In March 2026, Yazdi was convicted on two counts of sexual offenses and two counts of financial crimes concerning his students, though he was acquitted on six similar charges. The judges stated they were convinced Yazdi engaged in sexual relations with women who were his students or members of the "Amudei HaShalom" community he led, exploiting his religious and social status, age, and the deep respect they held for him. He also leveraged their difficult family, economic, or emotional situations.

Yazdi led the "Amudei HaShalom" public organization in Jerusalem's Bucharim neighborhood since the 1990s, serving as a rabbi and community leader. The organization provided a soup kitchen and distributed food packages to the needy. The indictment, filed in 2022, accused him of numerous instances of sexual abuse against women attending his Torah classes. Yazdi convinced followers to subordinate their own views to the "greatness of the Torah" and claimed to be one of the 36 hidden righteous individuals, demanding their unquestioning obedience. He was found guilty of both sexual offenses and money laundering.

The court found Yazdi's testimony untrustworthy, noting his denial of guilt, manipulative behavior, and inconsistent accounts. His defense of mental disorder was refuted. Prosecutors argued the crimes were exceptionally severe, representing a systematic pattern of behavior where Yazdi exploited his students' trust and dependency, framing his actions as "spiritual corrections." The charges included multiple cases of rape and indecent acts causing lasting harm. Regarding money laundering, prosecutors alleged Yazdi, facing bankruptcy, used his students' bank accounts to hide funds from creditors. The prosecution emphasized Yazdi's lack of accountability and the burden placed on victims.

Yazdi has been in custody since April 2022. Seven women were identified as victims, and the total sum obtained through fraudulent means was reported to be hundreds of thousands of shekels. Yazdi had previously denied all charges, claiming all encounters were consensual.