Bail Set For Rabbis Accused Of Torturing Men Into Religious Divorces

MONSEY - A federal judge today set a $1 million bail for two prominent rabbis accused of torturing Orthodox Jewish men into giving their wives a religious divorce.

Sources say Rabbi Martin Wolmark, of Monsey, and Rabbi Mendel Epstein, of Brooklyn, could be released from a federal detention center in Philadelphia as early as Thursday morning if they meet all the conditions of their bail.

Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Monsey, where Wolmark is dean, was the site of a massive FBI raid last week. Agents arrested Wolmark, Epstein and eight others on felony charges of torture, kidnapping and extortion.

According to prosecutors, the rabbis charged women up to $70,000 to use cattle prods, handcuffs and martial arts to force unrelenting husbands into giving their wives a divorce.

Students at the school told News 12 off camera that they expect their dean to return Thursday.