After a prior conviction by a religious tribunal, a state court has now ruled against a Berlin rabbi who sexually abused women under the pretext of providing spiritual guidance. During the trial, a witness provided shocking testimony, alleging he prescribed an “infusion“ with his semen to supposedly “cure” her.

The proceedings at the Tiergarten District Court concluded late last week against 49-year-old Rabbi Reuven Y. for sexual assault and sexual harassment. The court sentenced him to a 10-month suspended prison sentence. This follows a labor court ruling that confirmed his termination by the Jewish community was legal based on these allegations.

The joint plaintiff, whose testimony formed the backbone of the Public Prosecutor’s case, detailed an attack that occurred inside a synagogue. According to her account, the rabbi ordered her to close her eyes and then kissed her against her will.

“32 women who had reported sexual assaults”

Throughout the trial, numerous other witnesses came forward with similar stories. They described how the rabbi approached them under the guise of resolving psychological or religious blockages, using “pseudo-religious statements” to manipulate their trust.

One witness testified that she had discovered “32 women who had reported sexual assaults,” noting that for a long time, many victims lived in isolation, believing “they were the only ones affected.”

According to Bild newspaper, witnesses stated that the rabbi systematically targeted women who were Russian-speaking, lived alone in Germany, and had “little information about Judaism.” For many, these encounters were their first interaction with the Jewish faith, leading them to believe the rabbi’s actions were “religiously based.”

Suggestive remarks targeting a.12-year-old

The testimony revealed disturbing methods of manipulation. One victim reported that the rabbi told her he had to give her an “infusion“ with his semen in her mouth to “cure“ her.

Another witness testified that he made “suggestive remarks” about her daughter, who was only 12 at the time, following sexual acts.

The secular court ruling follows a summer 2023 decision by a “Beit Din“ (a Jewish religious court) in Berlin. The religious court ruled that his actions were fundamentally “incompatible with Jewish law, Halacha,” and barred him from performing any religious duties.

The Orthodox Rabbinical Conference of Germany issued a statement emphasizing that the community “should not remain silent” when sexual assault or abuse of office is committed “under the guise of religious authority.”