Brooklyn rabbi who spent a decade on the run to Israel when he was accused of assaulting two underage female relatives in 2010 appears in New York court after being extradited
- Gershon Kranczer, a Brooklyn rabbi and former Yeshiva school principal, was accused in 2010 of sexually assaulting at least two underage relatives of his.
- Father of 14, married to his first cousin, was charged with three of his sons: he fled to Israel with one of the three and fled
- In February 2020 he was arrested in Israel: in March 2021 he appeared in court in Brooklyn, and on Monday he was back before a judge in Brooklyn
A Brooklyn rabbi and former Yeshiva school principal appeared in New York court Monday on charges of sexually assaulting his underage relative, after spending a decade on the run in Israel.
Gershon Kranczer, 67, appeared before Judge Jill Konviser in Brooklyn Supreme Court in handcuffs belted at the waist.
He did not speak during the brief hearing and appeared frail.
Father of 14 children and married to his first cousin, he is accused of assaulting one of the girls from the age of eight, in August 1996 to February 2003.
A second girl was allegedly sexually assaulted from March 2001 to September 2002, when she was 11 years old, Reuters reported.
He was accused of sexual abuse with three of his sons, including a 15-year-old. The boys are accused of abusing other women in their family.
Gershon Kranczer, 67, is pictured in court Monday in New York. He was originally charged in 2010, fled to Israel and was on the run until his arrest by Israeli forces in January 2020.
Kranczer was handcuffed on Monday, the handcuffs attached to a belt
The 67-year-old has been in prison since his extradition to the United States in March 2021
Kranczer was founder and director of Yeshiva Tehila L’Dovid in Brooklyn – but resigned when the allegations emerged in 2010.
He then fled to Israel with one of his sons, Asher, who is legally blind.
Kranczer changed his name and fled, avoiding capture until January 2020, when Israeli authorities located and arrested him.
He was extradited and appeared in Brooklyn Supreme Court in March 2021, charged with sexual conduct against a child, criminal sexual act and sexual abuse.
He has since been held in prison.
Kranczer is pictured after being formally charged in New York in March 2021
The rabbi is seen in March 2021, during his extradition to the United States
Jewish Community Watch, a watchdog organization that combats child sexual abuse within the Orthodox Jewish community, told Forward at the time of his arrest that the group was appalled at how long it took to seek justice. .
“We were shocked by the gruesome and drawn-out process that victims were forced to endure, while facing denial and ambivalence from so many in their community,” Jewish Community Watch said in a statement.
“The American and Israeli authorities have a lot to answer for, allowing this matter to drag on for so long.”
