Yehuda Meshi Zahav
Yehuda Meshi Zahav | |
|---|---|
יהודה משי זהב | |
Zahav in 2017 | |
| Born | Avraham Zvi Yehuda 19 July 1959 Mea Shearim, Israel |
| Died | 29 June 2022 (aged 62) |
| Occupation(s) | Founder and chairman of search and rescue organisation ZAKA |
| Years active | 1989–2021 |
Avraham Zvi Yehuda Meshi Zahav (Hebrew: יהודה משי זהב, Yiddish: יהודה משי זהב; 19 July 1959 – 29 June 2022) was an Israeli social activist, a member of the Haredi Jewish community, and founder and chairman of ZAKA.
In March 2021, it was revealed that Zahav was a prolific sex offender who had been abusing boys and girls throughout his career. Following these reports Meshi Zahav attempted to take his own life. He remained in a coma for over a year until he died on 29 June 2022.
Later investigations revealed Zahav had abused hundreds of people over decades on a nearly daily occurrence. At the same time he was carrying out financial fraud and repeated violent crimes including attempted murder. The journalist who first exposed his abuse said these crimes were fascilitated by a widespread coverup that amounted to institutional complicity.