Jerusalem Woman Breaks Silence to Secure 12.5-Year Sentence for Family Member's Sexual Abuse

Yael, a 24-year-old woman from Jerusalem, revealed in an interview with N12 how she was sexually abused by a family member starting at age 11. The abuser, Shimon Adiel Hadari, now 67, was convicted last week by the Jerusalem District Court for serious sexual offenses committed against her between ages 11 and 13. Hadari had previously served two years for abusing another child in a Jerusalem synagogue.

Yael remained silent for years, burdened by shame, until she saw a news report about Hadari abusing a young girl in a synagogue in the Beit HaKerem neighborhood. This prompted her to come forward and file a complaint, initiating a legal battle that ended with Hadari’s sentencing to 12.5 years in prison, a suspended sentence, and a compensation payment of 100,000 shekels to Yael.

During the investigation, Hadari denied the allegations, but multiple witnesses including Yael’s friends and school teacher testified on her behalf. Yael also preserved diaries and sexual communications with Hadari, which were key evidence in court. She described suffering from complex post-traumatic stress disorder and the long-lasting impact on her life and relationships.

Prosecutor Miriam Ben-Gal from the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office emphasized the courage required to report such crimes and the importance of publicizing offenders’ names to prevent further abuse. She noted that Yael’s decision to speak out after learning of Hadari’s continued offenses was crucial to achieving justice.

Yael concluded that exposing the truth and holding Hadari accountable was essential for her healing and to stop him from harming others. She called on victims to report abuse, describing it as a vital mission to protect children from ongoing sexual predators.