300:
918:
462:
29:
448:
214:
241:
as a sideline. He was approached by the wife's family to see if anything could be done to convince Masri to grant her a divorce, since by this point she had been waiting 10 years for the document. Liebowitz turned to Aharon
Goldberg, a Satmar affiliated Israeli rabbi prominent in the Kiryas Joel
357:
On
September 2, 2016, Levin met Liebowitz at Woodbury Commons, and from the conversation they had he appeared to know exactly what Goldberg had planned, even though Liebowitz did not understand the Modern Hebrew language. Liebowitz opined that Masri, a taxi driver who occasionally traveled to
386:
On
September 6, 2016 Goldberg and Liebowitz met with Levin at a hotel in Central Valley. Levin told the two that "Masri was half dead already," and they agreed to "do the bullet." Goldberg said he would need proof of death to present to the
395:
So there's going to be a video and you are going to give it around to the world or what? Are you prepared that if the government knocks at a Rabbi's home he will say that Aharon
Goldberg is the witness?
293:, narrowed down the plot to Ukraine. During a meeting of the three held 3 days later, the venue was changed back to the United States, and the two men gave Levin an additional $ 20,000 for planning.
995:
841:
836:
403:
378:
Although
Liebowitz later questioned the need to kill the victim instead of merely torturing him, Levin suggested they change the operation from a kidnapping to a murder.
636:
1005:
965:
1010:
670:
733:
269:
community was later described by defense attorneys as a "small-time fraudster" who disliked members of the Satmar sect. The three held a meeting in
197:
had been living there with his wife and children when his marriage started to have problems. At one point he separated from his family, moving to
975:
59:
546:
353:
This is my order. Don't involve anyone else...nothing has happened, but this is my agreement, no other rabbi will agree to what I've agreed on.
525:
970:
285:, in order to torture him there into giving the get. Gottlieb delivered the payment, and discussed the possibility of luring the victim to
399:
As Levin promised to give
Goldberg a video of the victim with a bullet in his head, the FBI burst in and arrested Goldberg and Liebowitz.
620:
940:
375:
Liebowitz then laughed and said he would carry on as if he knew nothing, letting the blame fall to
Goldberg and the wife's family.
315:
to pay him an additional $ 12,000 that he had demanded. Levin called
Goldberg, who was in Israel at the time, and spoke to him in
296:
Goldberg subsequently met Levin in Israel, where the former expressed his desire to not only kidnap Masri but also to kill him.
663:
506:
323:
about the "wedding in
America," understood by the FBI to be a reference to the kidnapping that was to take place in the U.S.:
154:, and Binyamin Gottlieb. A fourth conspirator, operating under the pseudonym Joe Levin, turned out to be an informant for the
1015:
960:
413:
180:, a married woman who wishes to remarry cannot do so until her husband first provides her with a divorce document known as a
637:"Three Men Sentenced in Connection with Plot to Kidnap and Murder Husband Who Refused to Grant his Wife a Religious Divorce"
588:
171:
289:. On August 9, 2016, a second meeting of the three near Zenta Road in Kiryas Joel that was recorded by Levin for the
1000:
921:
656:
565:
308:
290:
155:
990:
605:"Rabbi and Orthodox Jewish Man Plotted to Kidnap and Murder Husband to Get Divorce for his Wife, Officials Say"
483:
985:
604:
52:
980:
770:
429:
On
September 28, 2017, Goldberg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder-for-hire.
739:
707:
270:
945:
679:
436:
sentenced Goldberg to 3 years in prison, Liebowitz to 2 years, and Gottlieb to 1 year's probation.
335:
using a Hebrew term that refers to caring for the dead. After a brief silence, Goldberg responded,
312:
222:
177:
900:
745:
467:
45:
366:
I can tell you in the back of my mind, it looks like his parents will be happy when it happens.
808:
198:
182:
139:
362:
could "miss a night, or even two or three" before his family grew concerned. Liebowitz added:
162:
before the crime could be committed. The trio were convicted and sentenced in 2017 to prison.
955:
813:
234:
194:
135:
33:
412:
On September 11, 2016, Binyamin Gottlieb was arrested as he boarded a flight to Ukraine at
262:
8:
818:
780:
775:
526:"Orthodox Orange County Rabbi, Woman Plotted to Kill Man Who Wouldn't Grant Her Divorce"
273:
where a payment of $ 25,000 was discussed, and the possibilities of kidnapping Masri in
253:
man and father of 5 named Binyamin Gottlieb, alleged to having had a history of forcing
186:, or otherwise upon his death. A woman who lacks the ability to remarry is known as an
712:
250:
238:
750:
717:
328:
266:
950:
702:
433:
159:
131:
142:. The plot was hatched during the summer of 2016 by Shimen Liebowitz, a divorce
453:
423:
On July 27, 2017, Liebowitz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion.
934:
406:
316:
299:
282:
74:
61:
862:
648:
320:
274:
246:
in Israel, he hasn't any "soldiers" for this purpose in the United States.
883:
286:
261:
whose real name was Avraham Lehrer. Levin, who advertised himself as a
426:
On September 15, 2017, Gottlieb pleaded guilty to concealing a felony.
905:
876:
803:
547:"KJ Man, 2 Others to be Sentenced in Alleged Kidnapping, Murder Plot"
258:
226:
151:
143:
388:
359:
229:, Australia who came to Kiryas Joel at the age of 16 to attend the
28:
201:
to live with his father. His wife began to reach out to prominent
869:
391:
in order to declare the marriage over. Liebowitz asked Goldberg:
278:
242:
community who stated that while he is "very strong" in obtaining
230:
507:"Hitman told FBI about Rabbi's Plot to Kill Member of his Sect"
417:
187:
621:"Kiryas Joel Man Faces Prison in Alleged Murder-For-Hire Plot"
327:
Yes, the wedding is in America, but we've also spoken about...
694:
202:
147:
589:"Murder-for-Divorce Plot Ensnares Hasidic Rabbi in New York"
138:
in a troubled marriage who had refused to give his wife a
842:
Congregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Rodney Street, Brooklyn)
837:
Congregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Hooper Street, Brooklyn)
130:
was the planned kidnapping and murder of Joseph Masri, a
213:
566:"Divorce Mediator Busted for Husband Kidnapping Plot"
443:
120:
Aharon Goldberg, Shimen Liebowitz, Binyamin Gottlieb
996:
Religiously motivated violence in the United States
307:On August 25, 2016, Liebowitz met up with Levin at
560:
558:
281:, a country that Masri intended to travel to for
932:
205:of the community seeking permission to remarry.
172:New York divorce coercion gang § Background
555:
520:
518:
597:
583:
581:
579:
577:
146:from Kiryas Joel, Aharon Goldberg, an Israeli
664:
208:
678:
515:
574:
1006:September 2016 crimes in the United States
966:Federal Bureau of Investigation operations
671:
657:
501:
499:
497:
495:
432:On November 30, 2017, U.S. District Judge
381:
158:, whose agents arrested the suspects in a
112:Conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder
27:
1011:Violence against men in the United States
524:Bekiempis, Victoria (September 7, 2016).
339:Yes, yes, yes, this is between you and me
541:
539:
537:
402:At a news conference the following day,
298:
212:
564:Whitehouse, Kaja (September 13, 2016).
492:
257:, introduced the pair to Joe Levin, an
976:Jewish-American organized crime events
933:
652:
619:McKenna, Chris (September 25, 2017).
603:Gajanan, Mahita (September 7, 2016).
587:Zavadski, Katie (September 7, 2016).
534:
414:John F. Kennedy International Airport
348:Oh, but Shimen doesn't know anything?
16:Murder plot caused by divorce refusal
545:McKenna, Chris (November 24, 2017).
505:Golding, Bruce (September 7, 2016).
409:referred to the plot as "chilling."
971:Hasidic Judaism in New York (state)
641:United States Department of Justice
13:
14:
1027:
217:The main synagogue in Kiryas Joel
193:Joseph Masri, a taxi driver from
917:
916:
460:
446:
941:2016 crimes in New York (state)
309:Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
156:Federal Bureau of Investigation
629:
613:
476:
265:and divorce consultant to the
1:
439:
165:
128:Kiryas Joel murder conspiracy
22:Kiryas Joel murder conspiracy
1016:Violence in New York (state)
961:Divorce in the United States
7:
771:Central Rabbinical Congress
371:If he's fucking dead? Okay.
134:resident of the village of
10:
1032:
303:Woodbury Commons promenade
209:Kidnapping and murder plot
169:
914:
893:
854:
829:
796:
789:
763:
726:
693:
686:
271:Rockland County, New York
116:
106:
98:
90:
51:
41:
26:
21:
1001:Satmar (Hasidic dynasty)
742:(Satmar Rebbe of Monsey)
680:Satmar (Hasidic dynasty)
313:Central Valley, New York
901:Siget (Hasidic dynasty)
746:Eliezer David Greenwald
713:Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum
468:New York (state) portal
404:Manhattan U.S. Attorney
382:Arrests and convictions
46:Orange County, New York
855:Books and publications
809:Williamsburg, Brooklyn
718:Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum
708:Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum
397:
373:
368:
355:
350:
345:
333:
304:
218:
199:Williamsburg, Brooklyn
140:get (divorce document)
991:Kiryas Joel, New York
740:Chaim Shia Halberstam
703:Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum
635:(November 30, 2017).
393:
369:
364:
351:
346:
337:
325:
302:
235:internet entrepreneur
216:
195:Kiryas Joel, New York
136:Kiryas Joel, New York
75:41.34000°N 74.16722°W
34:Kiryas Joel, New York
986:Judaism and violence
482:Silberberg, Naftali
263:private investigator
221:Shimen Liebowitz, a
819:Palm Tree, New York
781:Satmar Bikur Cholim
776:Mosad Keren Hatzole
625:Times Herald-Record
551:Times Herald-Record
80:41.34000; -74.16722
71: /
981:Jewish marital law
305:
231:rabbinical college
219:
178:Jewish marital law
928:
927:
850:
849:
759:
758:
251:Airmont, New York
249:In July 2016, an
239:divorce mediation
124:
123:
1023:
920:
919:
794:
793:
751:Faige Teitelbaum
691:
690:
673:
666:
659:
650:
649:
643:
633:
627:
617:
611:
601:
595:
585:
572:
562:
553:
543:
532:
522:
513:
503:
490:
480:
470:
465:
464:
463:
456:
451:
450:
449:
342:
329:chesed shel emet
86:
85:
83:
82:
81:
76:
72:
69:
68:
67:
64:
31:
19:
18:
1031:
1030:
1026:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1021:
1020:
946:2016 in Judaism
931:
930:
929:
924:
910:
889:
846:
825:
785:
755:
734:Lipa Teitelbaum
722:
682:
677:
647:
646:
634:
630:
618:
614:
602:
598:
586:
575:
563:
556:
544:
535:
523:
516:
504:
493:
481:
477:
466:
461:
459:
452:
447:
445:
442:
434:Sidney H. Stein
384:
340:
237:who dabbled in
211:
174:
168:
160:sting operation
109:
79:
77:
73:
70:
65:
62:
60:
58:
57:
37:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1029:
1019:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
926:
925:
915:
912:
911:
909:
908:
903:
897:
895:
894:Related groups
891:
890:
888:
887:
880:
873:
866:
858:
856:
852:
851:
848:
847:
845:
844:
839:
833:
831:
827:
826:
824:
823:
822:
821:
811:
806:
800:
798:
791:
787:
786:
784:
783:
778:
773:
767:
765:
761:
760:
757:
756:
754:
753:
748:
743:
737:
730:
728:
724:
723:
721:
720:
715:
710:
705:
699:
697:
688:
684:
683:
676:
675:
668:
661:
653:
645:
644:
628:
612:
596:
573:
554:
533:
514:
491:
474:
473:
472:
471:
457:
454:Judaism portal
441:
438:
383:
380:
233:there, was an
210:
207:
167:
164:
122:
121:
118:
114:
113:
110:
107:
104:
103:
100:
96:
95:
92:
88:
87:
55:
49:
48:
43:
39:
38:
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1028:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
938:
936:
923:
913:
907:
904:
902:
899:
898:
896:
892:
886:
885:
881:
879:
878:
874:
872:
871:
867:
865:
864:
860:
859:
857:
853:
843:
840:
838:
835:
834:
832:
828:
820:
817:
816:
815:
812:
810:
807:
805:
802:
801:
799:
795:
792:
788:
782:
779:
777:
774:
772:
769:
768:
766:
764:Organizations
762:
752:
749:
747:
744:
741:
738:
736:(Zenta Rebbe)
735:
732:
731:
729:
727:Other leaders
725:
719:
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
700:
698:
696:
692:
689:
685:
681:
674:
669:
667:
662:
660:
655:
654:
651:
642:
638:
632:
626:
622:
616:
610:
606:
600:
594:
590:
584:
582:
580:
578:
571:
570:New York Post
567:
561:
559:
552:
548:
542:
540:
538:
531:
527:
521:
519:
512:
511:New York Post
508:
502:
500:
498:
496:
489:
485:
479:
475:
469:
458:
455:
444:
437:
435:
430:
427:
424:
421:
419:
415:
410:
408:
407:Preet Bharara
405:
400:
396:
392:
390:
379:
376:
372:
367:
363:
361:
354:
349:
344:
336:
332:
330:
324:
322:
318:
317:Modern Hebrew
314:
310:
301:
297:
294:
292:
288:
284:
283:Rosh Hashanah
280:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
247:
245:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
215:
206:
204:
200:
196:
191:
189:
185:
184:
179:
173:
163:
161:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
119:
115:
111:
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
84:
56:
54:
50:
47:
44:
40:
35:
30:
25:
20:
956:Conspiracies
882:
875:
868:
863:Vayoel Moshe
861:
640:
631:
624:
615:
608:
599:
592:
569:
550:
529:
510:
487:
484:"The Agunah"
478:
431:
428:
425:
422:
420:, New York.
411:
401:
398:
394:
385:
377:
374:
370:
365:
356:
352:
347:
338:
334:
326:
321:speakerphone
306:
295:
275:Pennsylvania
254:
248:
243:
223:Satmar Hasid
220:
192:
181:
175:
127:
125:
117:Perpetrators
102:Joseph Masri
884:Di Tzeitung
814:Kiryas Joel
797:Communities
593:Daily Beast
287:Puerto Rico
108:Attack type
78: /
53:Coordinates
935:Categories
830:Synagogues
687:Leadership
530:Daily News
488:Chabad.org
440:References
225:raised in
170:See also:
166:Background
63:41°20′24″N
906:Bnei Yoel
877:Der Blatt
804:Satu Mare
259:informant
227:Melbourne
152:Bnei Brak
66:74°10′2″W
922:Category
389:beth din
360:Montreal
267:Orthodox
144:mediator
42:Location
870:Der Yid
279:Ukraine
132:Hasidic
36:in 2006
951:Agunot
790:Places
695:Rebbes
418:Queens
341:
203:rabbis
188:agunah
176:Under
99:Target
319:over
150:from
148:rabbi
609:Time
255:gets
244:gets
126:The
94:2016
91:Date
416:in
343:...
311:in
291:FBI
277:or
183:get
937::
639:,
623:,
607:,
591:,
576:^
568:,
557:^
549:,
536:^
528:,
517:^
509:,
494:^
486:,
190:.
672:e
665:t
658:v
331:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
