Rabbi Edry
Jerusalem District Court judge Rafi Carmel ruled Sunday in a
case involving a violent clash between a criminal kingpin-turned-rabbi and an
escaped convict who assaulted his students. The rabbi, Rabbi Menachem (Manny)
Edry, was sentenced to 5 years in prison, and his friend and accomplice
Yitzchak Zohar was sentenced to 4.5 years.
His yeshiva was known for welcoming students with a criminal
past who were attempting to change their ways.
In early 2010, a man who was on the run from the law came to
learn at the yeshiva. The would-be student was expelled after a fellow student
informed Rabbi Edry that he was still involved in crime.
The escaped criminal was outraged by his expulsion, and
returned to the yeshiva along with friends with the goal of hurting the student
who had revealed his criminal activity. While there, he violently attacked
other students who he encountered.
Several days later, Rabbi Edry called the expelled student
to the yeshiva for a meeting. When he arrived, Rabbi Edry and Yitzchak Zohar
were waiting for him on a motorcycle, armed with a gun.
The three exchanged harsh words, and the incident ended with
Rabbi Edry firing at the former student’s legs, injuring him. He then hit the
man multiple times and threatened him.
Rabbi Edry and Zohar both denied involvement in the
shooting, and said they never met with the student as he reported. However, the
court found their alibis faulty and convicted them of the shooting.
They were
convicted of conspiracy to commit a crime, assault with aggravating
circumstances, illegal weapons possession, and firing a gun in a residential
area.
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