Court Hears Contempt Charges Against Rabbi Who Refuses To Testify Before Grand Jury

The Los Angeles Times reports that a hearing was held in federal district court in Los Angeles yesterday at which prosecutors asked the court to hold 64-year old Rabbi Moshe Zigelman in contempt for refusing to testify before a grand jury in a tax evasion case involving his Hasidic Spinka sect.  The case involves charges that the sect helped wealthy donors claim fraudulent tax deductions by soliciting charitable contributions and then secretly funneling 80% to 95% of the contribution back to the donors. Zigelman is invoking the religious doctrine of mesira, which prevents him from informing on a fellow-Jew to civil authorities. In 2008, Zigelman plead guilty to participating in the tax scheme, but on similar grounds refused to cooperate with authorities or testify at trial. He was sentenced to two years in prison. (See prior posting.)  Zigelman's attorney yesterday argued that holding his client in contempt would be futile because he will not change his mind and testify merely because he is jailed.