Israel - Rabbi charged with abusing wife, kids

A rabbi from the south was indicted on Tuesday for violence against his wife and children. According to the indictment filed in Magistrate’s Court in Kiryat Gat, the rabbi, who is brother of a well-known rabbi from the area, would hit his wife and children, aged two and five, and abused them for a prolonged period of time.

The rabbi, it was charged, would hold a burning match to his wife’s legs, pushed her on the stairs of their home, hit her with his fists and with a hanger. In another instance listed in the indictment, he relieved himself on her and forced her to drink his urine.

The woman arrived a few days ago at the Ashdod police station and filed a complaint of violence against her husband.

Officers from the station, under Chief Superintendent Noam Shekel, arrested the man who is to be held through the end of proceedings, and he was charged with assault and causing injury.