DejaVu in Israel: Orthodox Rabbi & Father of 9 Accused of Sexually Exploiting Women

Several months ago, we learned Chaim Walder, the popular author of books for Orthodox Jewish children who was based in Israel was charged by a litany of women of sexual abuse and unethical professional practices. Walder was not only an author or children’s books but he was a respected and esteemed psychologist. Rather than treating his clients in a manner in which they had the tools to resolve the trauma they were going through, Walder sexually exploited and abused them when they were children.

As adults, these women finally came forth and provided damning testimony against Walder. As such his formerly stellar reputation was shot, damaged beyond repair.  The pressure catapulted on the child psychologist and author and as a result of accusations against him, he made the decision to end his life while visiting a family member’s grave at a cemetery.

Walder, however, is not alone. A recent story on Israeli media focuses on a rabbinic lawyer who also happens to be a 40-year-old father of nine children. He resides in Mod’in Illit and maintains an office in Bnei Brak.

Meir Itzik Wind is accused of raping and exploiting religious Jewish women at the point in their lives when they are the most desperate. As a rabbinic lawyer, Wind often represents women seeking a divorce from their abusive husbands. Many of these men are recalcitrant as it pertains to giving their spouses the key to their freedom once again.

Testimony from women who dealt with Wind say that when they were at their lowest ebb, emotionally and otherwise, Wind would swoop in for the proverbial kill. As is the case quite often in Israel, women are left destitute and sometimes poverty stricken while in the throes of a divorce. Many lack familial and community support during the arduous divorce process and many are left with no one to turn to.

Initially give the appearance of a compassionate and professional religious attorney who was supremely qualified to go before the Beth Din as a representative of these women in their divorce and child custody matters, Wind soon gained their confidence and trust. It was when they had no money left, were on the verge of becoming homeless, did Wind sexually exploit them, thus causing further trauma to them.

The report indicated that years ago, well founded suspicions about Wind and his motives came to the surface and he was ordered to seek psychological counseling by a court. Wind did not keep his appointments and jettisoned the court ordered therapy.

In Israel, however, there is a media gag order on Wind, which essentially means that his name is legally prohibited from being published in any media outlet in Israel. The question is why would Israel not publish the name of an accused rapist and sexual molester? Why would the government be covering for a dangerous criminal?

In the United States however, where there are legal boundaries in place preventing government control of the media, such a case of hiding the identity of a rapist would never be tolerated.

The question that must be collectively grappled with is how do we deal with sexual predators, deviants and rapists?  How do we seek true justice for victims while protecting the rights of the accused? What kind of investigations must be conducted to uncover the specifics of the covert power of the Ultra-Orthodox parties in Israel and the hefty influence that they wield?