NEWARK (CN) - A man claims in court that a New Jersey rabbi had him assaulted, handcuffed and blindfolded and threatened to have him "eaten alive by rats," then forced him to submit to a quickie rabbinical divorce.
Meir Bryskman sued David and Judy Wax, husband and wife, in Federal Court. Bryskman, an Israeli citizen who lives in the United States, also lists his parents, Zalman and Jean Bryskman, as plaintiffs.
Bryskman claims he was involved in "a contested divorce and custody issues in a Rabbinical Court in the State of Israel."
On the advice of his rabbis, Bryskman says, he fled Israel to the United States after his wife refused to grant him any contact or visitation with his children.
Bryskman claims he traveled to Lakewood, N.J., on Oct. 16, 2010, to meet with David Wax, a rabbi, to discuss doing work on Wax's books.
Upon his arrival, the complaint states, Bryskman was led to the second floor, where he believed a meeting was being held, and was jumped by unknown assailants, who punched him in the face, breaking his nose, handcuffed and blindfolded him, then "constrained the victim's [Bryskman] hands even further by wrapping wire all along his right and left arms, from the wrist to the elbow. The victim remained tied in this position for hours while the torture continued. David Wax was present and an active participant throughout the assault laughing at the cries of the victim for his
attackers to stop.
"The attackers spoke of the victim divorcing his wife and told the victim that he will give the divorce without receiving custody or any visitation rights or parenting time vis a vis his children."
The complaint adds: "At one point ... Wax picked up the victim's head, allowing the victim to see Wax from under the blindfold, at which time Wax was wearing a white cowboy hat and asked the victim 'do you like my hat' then started kicking the victim in the ribs. Wax also constantly threatened to urinate on Y.M.B. on several occasions.
"The victim was shown a body bag and told by the defendant David Wax that if he did not comply that he would be buried alive in the Pocono Mountains. The defendants also told the victim that they told him they planned to videotape how he died while he was eaten alive by rats. The defendants told the victim that they had been contracted to kill him and that the video would serve as proof of the killing for their employer. A dark colored body bag was brought into the room and laid on the victim by Wax who stated 'for you to get used to the size' and that the body bag 'fit [him] perfectly.'
"The assault lasted for multiple hours and the victim was threatened repeatedly. During the first half hour of the assault the victim was forced to verbally consent to a 'Get,' a Jewish religious divorce.
