On the website of Shuvu Banim, the strain of Breslav led by convicted molester and rapist Eliezer Berland, Berland has announced that every person, every boy and girl, must give a 1000nis pidyon (redemption fee) to him directly before Rosh Hashana. In exchange Berland grants his bracha for success and salvation, successful shidduchim, homes in Jerusalem and apartment si Uman with cheap flights for Rosh Hashana, seeing the arrival of Mashiach and the coming doown of the Third Temple in fire from heaven. He gives instructions to send the money so that it will arrive directly in his hands and not end up in anyone else's.
Shuls sell membership and High Holiday seats before the holidays. Country clubs sell memberships. All sorts of social clubs and networks have some sort of buy-in, membership fee or whatnot. It is normally ok. When a criminal does it, it is more of a shakedown then a membership fee, even though the people following him consider him a martyr or wrongly convicted than a criminal. He doesnt say anywhere that the money is going to communal needs or to support struggling families in the community or anything like that - it is just going to his hands. It is possible that Berland plans to do good with this money without publicizing the info, but a criminal like him is probably more likely to just be pocketing at least the bulk of the money if not all of it.
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Isn't he still in jail in Israel? If not, when did he get out, and are there any restrictions on him?
ReplyDeleteI do not know about restrictions on him but he was released on parole. his sentence was originally 18 months and eventually the parole board shortened it to a year, including a period of house arrest (in a hotel by Hadassa hospital). I think the parole was granted because of his health issues. that was lifted in October 2017. I dont think there were any restrictions placed on him after that, but I dont know for sure.
ReplyDeleteHis talmid, Arush, is undercutting him on price:
ReplyDeletehttp://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2018/08/protect-yourself-and-protect-israel-pidyon-nefesh.html
"Any amount is acceptable with a recommended $180 per family or equivalent; for a Pidyon to be especially effective, one should give with dedication. One cannot hope for a major salvation without giving to the limits of one's capability."
Could be, though, that Berland is offering better Yeshuos, so you're getting more for your money.
Arush is offering Divine compassion and protection, but no apartments and no Uman.
The Berland deal sounds like more fun, but the Arush deal is supposed to keep you from getting zapped by HASHEM.
Tough choice, if one only has the money for one of them.
At least he is being honest and clearly stating that the money is for him, and not some poor orphans or Yeshiva or anything
ReplyDelete