Fraud Alert

The story of the Bnei Brak husband and wife, parents of nine children, who were required by rabbis to divorce after she was raped, which was widely picked up by wire services the world over, and quoted as a credible source by JTA and the AP – is based on a story that never happened.

An article last week by Yediot Acharonot reporter Moshe Suissa about the “anonymous” couple – which quoted no sources – caused a great uproar, and brought the religious community under attack for its “antiquated and cruel” practices.

However, an in-depth investigation among all the recognized and non-recognized Rabbinical courts in the Bnei Brak region has found that no such case occurred.

In addition, Rabbi Yisrael Busso – who was finally “revealed” by Suissa yesterday to be “a rabbi familiar with the case” – notes that his involvement in the so-called case began only when he called a radio station to respond to a report of the story.

Rabbi Busso, who called to protest the anti-religious attitude being created, said on air that he had once heard rumors of such a case; Suissa then told other reporters that “Rabbi Busso is the source” for the story.

Rabbi Busso said on an Israeli radio program on March 3 that “Suissa finally called me this week and asked me who the couple is. I told him that he’s a wise guy – first he writes two articles on the subject, and then he calls me to ask who the couple is?!” Rabbi Busso said that he was told that several radio commentators are “displeased” with Suissa’s behavior in this case.

In Yediot of March 3, Suissa reported that the couple had decided not to divorce after all.

He wrote that “Kiryat Herzog Rabbi Moshe Deri” is familiar with the case.

No such person exists.

All media who relied on this report are cordially requested to issue a correction.

Anyone who has seen this report should let me know exactly where and when the report was “sighted”.