08.05.2026 04:55
In Israel, 54-year-old rabbi Yosef Shoveli was arrested on charges of sexual abuse against men. According to Israeli media, the rabbi allegedly used his religious authority to gain the trust of his followers and abused them with rhetoric such as 'spiritual purification.' A non-governmental organization reported that 16 complaints from men have been collected against Shoveli since 2011. The rabbi denied the allegations.
Rabbi Yosef Shoveli, 54, living in the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel, was arrested on charges of sexual abuse against men. The incident, which sparked widespread response in the Israeli press, led to a police investigation.
According to a report by Israel-based Ynet, Shoveli was taken into custody for questioning following numerous complaints against him.
“PRESENTED AS A SAINT AND GAINED TRUST” CLAIM
The report alleged that the rabbi presented himself as a “saint” to his surroundings, gaining the trust of his followers, and then abused some individuals. The Israeli Center for Cult Victims, an organization combating abuse cases in Jewish sects and groups, also made striking statements.
The organization announced that since 2011, 16 complaints have been collected from men regarding a group allegedly led by Shoveli in the Safed and Meron region.
ALLEGED ABUSE UNDER THE GUISE OF “SPIRITUAL PURIFICATION”
The statement indicated that the rabbi used his religious authority to sexually abuse at least 4 men through rhetoric such as “spiritual process,” “cleansing from sin,” and “special intimacy.” The collected testimonies alleged a systematic oppression structure in the group, where individuals were separated from their families, forced to work without pay, and kept under fear and control.
DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS
Rabbi Yosef Shoveli is reported to have denied all allegations through his lawyer. It was stated that the Israeli police investigation into the incident is ongoing.