Orthodox resident of New York suburb claims rabbi runs illegal yeshiva from home – NBC New York

It is almost unprecedented for members of Rockland County's ultra-Orthodox community to speak out against their community. But Airmont neighbors say they've had enough of the man they call the rogue rabbi.

Several people sent letters to town building officials and the Rockland County Health Department complaining that Rabbi Nissan Arash Kakakian was operating an illegal yeshiva and boarding house out of two homes zoned as single-family homes. Ta.

“It's clearly a yeshiva. All day long. People are sleeping there,” one resident said.

Another resident said: “This man is trying to take over the whole neighborhood. When we speak out, he sends his men to intimidate and bully us.” “He's bought a lot of houses, he's brought his family in, and that's his subject matter, and he's blackmailing everyone else.”

Airmont's building inspector confirmed that Kakakian did not have change-of-use permits for either property, adding there was a breakdown in code enforcement within the village.

“The board fired the code enforcement officer and fire inspector last April,” Lu Zunmo told the I-Team.

He said 630 businesses that should undergo fire safety inspections every year have not been properly inspected for the past seven years.

When the I-Team asked Ravi Kakakian questions, he left without answering and did not respond to subsequent inquiries.

The county health department said it issued an eviction order against one of the homes in August 2023 after inspectors were repeatedly denied entry, but no follow-up investigation was conducted because there were no additional complaints. Residents say that's not the case.

The county said it is now beginning a re-investigation following the I-Team's report.