With access to one of Israel's most orthodox Hasidic communities, a look at the scandal that erupted the rabbi who established and led the community died.
Eliezer Schik was a great Rabbi in the Satmar Hassidic community inBrooklyn. Known widely as Mohorosh he was deeply controversial, butrevered, with the following of many thousands. In the 1980s, rejected bythe religious establishment, Mohorosh decided to form his own community ina remote part of Israel, far from the authorities, where he would be King.Today this is a closed community-based in both Israel and the USA. Behindthe façade of Orthodox Jewish belief lies what amount to a secret criminalorganization, extorting millions of dollars. And within the community,violence, sexual abuse, and underage marriage are allegedly the norm. Humanrights are violated daily.The reason we are able to tell the story is that, following Mohorosh'sdeath four years ago, the community had fractured. His 40-year-old son,Moishi, who was expecting to inherit his father's mantel (and millions) feels likea Prince whose legacy was stolen from him.And now he and his supporters want to tell the extraordinary inside story todirector Bat-dor Ojalvo who has spent years building their trust. Uniquelythough, she has secured both sides of this vicious dispute. As important as
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this story, more runaway members of the community have come forward, andare sharing with us the secretive day-to-day life of Mohorosh community.From dressing and behavioral codes to any life-important decision.The authorities in New York and in Israel have long turned a blind eye to theactivities of this organization.
