Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Jersey Couple Allegedly Kidnapped, Beat A Man For Religious Divorce Papers
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 18, 2011
Modified Jul 18, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
played to perfection by Fred Melamed
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jul 18, 2011
Modified Jul 18, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
David and Judy Wax, a New Jersey rabbi and his wife, are being released on $500,000 bond each after they were charged with "abducting an Israeli man, beating him and threatening to bury him alive if he didn't give his wife a religious divorce." The couple surrendered to the FBI earlier this morning.
The victim, who has not been identified, apparently fled Israel after refusing to grant a "get," an Orthodox Jewish divorce document. Then, according to the FBI's complaint, the victim was lured to the Wax home to discuss a book he was writing. "Once in the home, the victim was allegedly bound, robbed, shown a body bag and told he'd be buried alive in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains if he didn't agree to the divorce."
David Wax is also accused of threatening to have the victim's father killed if he didn't pay $100,000, but his lawyer strongly denies the charges. "He has no history of any type of criminal behaviors or violent behaviors. He's the father of eight children," Mitchell Ansell, David Wax's attorney, told The Associated Press. "We're confident that when all the facts are made public, he'll be cleared of these charges and his good and honorable name will be restored."
Both Wax and his wife have plead not guilty. Between this and the rabbi caught on camera schtupping a prostitute on the sabbath, maybe rabbis with secrets might want to be extra careful this week? Three is a trend and all.
Tagged
david wax
divorce
fbi
israel
judy wax
new jersey
religious divorce
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .