Rabbi Berland
Rabbi BerlandYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Some of the complainants against Shuvu Banim leader Rabbi Eliezer Berland have filed a civil suit against him amounting to 4 million shekels.

At the same time, they are requesting that Rabbi Berland be barred from leaving the country.

“Words cannot adequately denounce the defendant,” reads the suit, which was revealed to Channel 2. “There is no real way to atone for what he did, and no real amount of money in the world can compensate completely and truly for the indescribable suffering that he caused to the plaintiffs (and others).”

“Let their suit be a small comfort, let the legal recognition for the suffering they went through and the harm they suffered be a final means of support for the plaintiffs, and even a basis for their rehabilitation and return to a functional state,” the suit says.

The Shuvu Banim leader continues to serve his sentence in the form of house arrest to which he was released due to the deteriorating condition of his health. Ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, the parole board granted a request by Rabbi Berland to travel to Ukraine for the annual pilgrimage at the tomb of the founder of the Breslov movement, Rabbi Nachman. Next month, he is expected to finish serving the punishment to which he was sentenced within the framework of a plea bargain.

A few months ago, Rabbi Berland expressed remorse for his actions. In an interview with Channel 10 television channel Amnon Levy, Rabbi Berland said, "I take responsibility for what happened, I am willing to accept any punishment in the world, including burning me and stoning me because that is Torah law. The punishment that was meted out to me was perhaps too light, and I am willing to accept a greater punishment."

"In every hearing that took place, I told the judge that I wanted to be brought to trial. I want to take the opportunity to ask forgiveness from the complainants," he ended.