On Sunday this week, local police representatives appeared at an event hall in central Johannesburg, South Africa, and attempted to arrest Rabbi Eliezer Berland, leader of the 'Shuvo Banim' community of Breslov Hasidism.
The drama took place at the wedding of one of his followers, who married the daughter of a member of the Jewish community in Johannesburg, when at the height of the chuppah, police officers entered the premises and one of them, dressed in civilian clothes, grabbed the rabbi's hand and tried to pull him out. The followers, who noticed what was happening, created a commotion around the rabbi and pushed the police out - and managed, in a brilliant diversion, to drive the rabbi away from the scene.
Now it is becoming clear why the police arrived. According to the Jewish Report South Africa newspaper, citing a Johannesburg police spokesman, an international arrest warrant was issued against Rabbi Eliezer Berland, within the framework of which a special police force operated and attempted to arrest the fugitive rabbi during a wedding ceremony on Sunday.
According to the report, the arrest warrant was issued at Israel's request following suspicions against the rabbi of serious offenses.
"Rabbi Berland's name was marked in red," a police spokesman is quoted as saying.
Rabbi Berland is staying in Johannesburg and is wanted for questioning in Israel on suspicion of serious crimes. He fled Israel more than two years ago and after traveling to several countries, including Morocco, he settled in South Africa, and a community has developed around him. About four months ago, the rabbi was arrested in Zimbabwe, after state authorities received information about the crimes he is suspected of in Israel. After a short time, he was released and deported.
One of the Hasidim told the Haredim10 with satisfaction after the rabbi was smuggled out: "The rabbi is already far away, and in a hiding place. This was the most powerful deception and finally a useful deception."
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