A Brooklyn rabbi, who spent a decade on the run in Israel when he was accused of molesting two underage female relatives in 2010, appears in court in NYC after being extradited
- Gershon Kranczer, a Brooklyn rabbi and former Yeshiva school principal, was accused in 2010 of sexually assaulting at least two of his underage female relatives
- The father of 14, married to his cousin, was accused along with three of his sons: he fled to Israel with one of the three and went on the run
- In February 2020 he was arrested in Israel: in March 2021 he appeared in court in Brooklyn, and on Monday he faced a judge in Brooklyn
A Brooklyn rabbi and former Yeshiva school principal appeared in court in New York Monday on charges of sexually abusing his underage female relatives after a decade on the run in Israel.
Gershon Kranczer, 67, appeared before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser handcuffed around his waist.
He did not speak during the brief hearing and appeared frail.
A father of 14 children who is married to his cousin is accused of molesting 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. Reuters reported.
He was charged with sexual abuse along with three of his sons, including one aged 15. The boys are accused of abusing other female relatives.
Gershon Kranczer, 67, is pictured in court in New York on Monday. He was initially charged in 2010, fled to Israel and was on the run until his capture by Israeli forces in January 2020
Kranczer was handcuffed on Monday, handcuffed 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 the 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 went on the run, evading capture until January 2020, when Israeli authorities tracked him down and arrested him.
He was extradited and appeared before the Brooklyn Supreme Court in March 2021 charged with sexual conduct against a child, criminal sex acts and sexual assault.
He has been in prison ever since.
Kranczer is photographed after being formally charged in New York City in March 2021
The rabbi will be seen on his extradition to the United States in March 2021
Jewish Community Watch, a watchdog organization dedicated to combating 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 has taken to get justice.
“We are shocked by the horrific, lengthy process the victims have endured, all the while facing denial and ambivalence from so many in their communities,” Jewish Community Watch said in a statement.
“The authorities in both the US and Israel have a lot to answer for in allowing this case to drag on for so long.”