Man Indicted for Sexually Abusing Minors in Jerusalem Court

An indictment was filed Tuesday against Yechiel Yehoshua Brand, 33, a resident of Beit Shemesh, for committing indecent acts against four minors aged 13-16. The alleged offenses occurred in a mikveh, synagogues, and a public place within Beit Shemesh. According to the indictment, submitted to the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court by prosecutor Adv. Bracha Ben Adar-Zerachia, Brand exploited opportunities when the minors were present in the mikveh and synagogues to commit the acts. These incidents reportedly took place between 2024 and 2026.

In one instance described in the indictment, Brand allegedly pressed against a minor during prayers at a Beit Shemesh synagogue and touched the minor's genitals multiple times. Despite the minor's attempts to move away and prevent the contact, Brand reportedly continued for several minutes, even following the minor to another prayer location and touching him again.

Further details in the indictment state that Brand committed indecent acts against minors in the city's mikveh. This included touching a minor's genitals as they exited the immersion pool and touching another minor's buttocks twice in the changing area. The indictment also details Brand committing indecent acts against another minor in a mikveh and a supermarket.

Brand faces charges including indecent acts, indecent acts against a minor under 14, and attempted indecent acts. The investigation was conducted by the Israel Police Beit Shemesh station.