By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Ezra Zafrani, a Syrian rabbi in Lakewood, NJ, has taken responsibility and apologized to the family of the bride whose husband Ali Hassan Haliwa is suspected to be a Muslim.
Haliwa, who reportedly was born in Beirut, Lebanon, shocked the Jewish world when it was discovered that he married Sally, a young Jewish woman from Brooklyn, while posing as a Jewish man.
The wedding in Brooklyn was officiated by Rabbi Zafrani’s son Rabbi David Zafrani of New York.
Rabbis have criticized both rabbis for not conducting a birur yuchsin background check to verify Haliwa’s Jewish genealogy. Directors of Beis Dins called for stricter checks.
In an apology letter obtained by the Instagram account community.news, Rabbi Ezra Zafrani apologized to the bride, her family, and to the Rabbis and members of his community.
“I admit that I was completely fooled by this man, as well as others, to his Jewishness,” Rabbi Zafrani wrote. “To explain all of the details involved in permitting this non-Jew to marry are irrelevant. This was a mistake on my part to investigate his authenticity and not permit this man to get married.”
Rabbi Zafrani also said that while he was fooled into believing Haliwa is Jewish, he admitted that he is to blame for the terrible occurrence.
“I am utterly shocked at myself for letting this happen and there is no one else to blame. To make it worse I caused harm to the Kredi family and to this young lady. There are no words to describe how distraught at the pain that has been caused to our Rabbis and to our community. An apology does not heal the wounds but it must be done,” he wrote.
“I beg forgiveness from the Kredi family, from our Rabbis and from our community. I will definitely be more cautious in all my dealings in the Kehila and pray to Hashem to give me strength to serve our community properly.”
On Tuesday, police said that they do not believe there was a criminal element to Haliwa’s deception. Rather, “he was lonely and just wanted to be part of the Jewish community,” according to one source.
NYPD Deputy Inspector Richie Taylor, Commanding Officer of Community Affairs, Office of the Chief of Community Affairs, told COLlive.com: “Regarding the male who impersonated a Jewish individual to a female and then married her in a religious Jewish ceremony in Brooklyn, there is no credible threat to New York City’s Jewish community and there are no ties between this situation and terrorism.”
” This was a mistake on my part to investigate his authenticity and not permit this man to get married.”
He should rather write:
“This was a mistake on my part NOT to investigate his authenticity and (not) permit this man to get married.”
I would NEVER write such a comment about another yid. Everyone does mistakes! Especially now he admits he deserves more respect because admitting to something so serious this man deserves much respect!!
I think it’s rude and disrespectful to write such a comment about a Rabbi or anyone else who does such a mistake and then admits in public!
A good start. Now let him recompense the poor young lady and her family for the damage he caused them.
Not nice to say such a thing.
Everyone does mistakes in life! Me, you & everyone else!!
Be a Mench!
Please be kind and don’t beat this Rabbi up too much. He is beating himself up enough already. We all come away smarter from this story and many more safeguards will be in place going forward.
Why would an Arab go that far? He was “lonely”? There arent enough non-Jewish
ladies out there? After all the lies, why is he trusted that it is not tied to terrorism?
Who is behind this act?
This “Arab” guy as you call him has been involved with a Jewish community for quite sometime and knows quite a bit about Judaism. Maybe he was looking to convert earlier on and just got carried away and couldn’t turn back. Maybe he was afraid of being judged and rejected if he “came out” with the truth. What about giving the benefit of the doubt – no he’s an Arab, a terrorist!! What about the pintele yid? Let me tell you their a quite a few marriages here in my community that are suspect among Russian men (Jewish) and their… Read more »
Don’t be naive. This may very well be terrorism taken to the next level! Up till now, there are unfortunately plenty of Jewish girls fooled by Arabs and taken to Arab villages. Who ever said Russians and non Jewish wives are ok. Such Rabbis are NOT Chabad because the REBBE made it very clear not to allow such marriages!
Credit should be given to this Rabbi for accepting the blame, and not throwing the blame on other involved people. A great man is one who can admit that he messed up.
What credit ?!?! He have no choice this is
100% a part of a Rabai to check !!!
responsibility !!! this is a job !!! If it’s happened to your child I promise you that you will blame And not feel bed at all !!! you understand how bad and “ogmat nefesh” this family especially the “kalah” need to do with his apologise ?! absolutely nothing !!!!
Chill out, I’m sure you’ve made many more mistakes in your life that you never took the blame for. Look at yourself before looking to blame others.
In the end, it turns out that the man’s mother is from the Doueck family. Not only is he halachicly Jewish, his mother is from Kohanim. The Rav did not ultimately make a mistake – and in a bizarre and perhaps prophetic irony, the man inadvertently did not deceive on the very core of what his deception was based on. Hashem protects his sadikim!
You have heard her story. You have seen the headlines “Lebanese Man fools world and marries Jewish Woman” “Shock in Brooklyn Jewish Community as Muslim Man Marries Woman Under False Pretenses” Eliyah, posing as Jew married Sara and broke her heart and soul. You have probably also heard the Muslim Man’s story – Eliyah has told his story over to many. However, you have never heard Sara’s story. She needs your help and this is her story. All funds will be earmarked to help Sara get the help she so desperately needs to rebuild her life from the ashes of… Read more »