Rabbi Eliezer Berland, leader of Breslovs’ Shuvu Banim
community, has left Morocco after a seven-month stay. As was reported by T.O.T,
as more families affiliated with the rav relocated to Morocco to be with their
rebbe, authorities became uncomfortable with the situation and the rabbi was
instructed to leave the country.
Rabbi Berland, a Haifa-born Breslov Hassid who headed the
Shuvu Banim yeshiva in Jerusalem, fled to Morocco, in April after being accused
of sex crimes. Israel has no extradition agreement with that country. Berland
reportedly settled in Marrakesh and began working to build a community there.
However, a Moroccan newspaper recently published an article
profiling him and detailing the circumstances in which he fled Israel.
According to reports, Morocco's King Mohammed VI read the article and ordered
the rabbi's expulsion.
Associates of the rabbi claimed that the king's decision had
nothing to do with Berland's alleged crimes. They said that dozens of the
rabbis' followers had already flocked to Morocco in the rabbi's wake, and the
king was concerned for their safety.
"This is a Muslim country after all; the hundreds of
Hassids who have reached Morocco are in danger," said one of the rabbi's
confidants.
Berland's alleged activities came to light about a year ago.
At the time, Israel Hayom published details of an incident in which one of the
rabbi's disciples allegedly happened upon his teacher at home standing beside a
naked woman. The rabbi's supporters expressed anger, including taking violent
actions, against the person who had relayed the story to the press.
When police intervened and launched an investigation,
Berland fled the country. Following a brief stint in the U.S., he traveled to
Morocco, where he was welcomed by the local Jewish community. His followers
began gravitating to the rabbi in Morocco, with thousands arriving to celebrate
holidays and commemorate various events with him, and some opting to stay in
Morocco.
According to a Channel 2 news report, Berland began to build
up a community in Marrakesh mirroring the Shuvu Banim yeshiva, and sought to
establish a community center and education institutions there. He also wanted
to build apartments there for his followers.
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