Jerusalem Rabbi Sentenced to 18 Years for Sexual Exploitation

Jerusalem's Magistrate Court has sentenced Rabbi Moshe Yazdi to 18 years in prison and ordered him to pay 150,000 shekels in compensation to his victims. Yazdi, who led the "Amudei Ha'Shalom" religious community, was found guilty of numerous severe sexual offenses against two women. He had convinced them that sexual relations with him were necessary for their "spiritual correction."

According to court documents, Yazdi headed the "Amudei Ha'Shalom" religious community and its associated non-profit organization since 1997. He managed a soup kitchen, assisted the needy, and taught Torah classes. He presented himself to followers as one of the "36 hidden righteous ones" and claimed to possess a "holy spirit."

Yazdi instructed his followers to abandon their own reasoning and feelings in favor of "the opinion of the Torah," believing that sins created "sparks of impurity" and that he could perform "corrections" for believers. The court determined that Yazdi committed multiple sexual crimes against women who trusted him, deceiving them into believing that sexual acts were required for "spiritual correction," aligned with "the opinion of the Torah," or were divinely ordained by a "holy spirit."

The rabbi was convicted of numerous counts of rape by deception, indecent acts by deception, and incitement to rape by deception. He was also found guilty of financial crimes, including money laundering, obstruction of reporting, and defrauding creditors.