CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — After a month long ordeal, two kidnapped children were reunited with their mother in Crown Heights yesterday, Thursday. While their father, who kidnapped them, was arraigned charges and released on $100,000 bail bond today.
Kidnapped Kids Reunited with Mother
CROWN HEIGHTS [CHI] — After a month long ordeal, two kidnapped children were reunited with their mother in Crown Heights yesterday, Thursday. While their father, who kidnapped them, was arraigned charges and released on $100,000 bail bond today.
The story begins after a messy separation, where the mother, Keturah was granted sole custody of their children, two boys. Shalom Yisroel Tzvi who is 2-years-old and Chaim Achiezer aged just 15-months and still nursing. The father, Yochanan was granted visitation rights.
Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 10:00am Yochanan took the boys on an unsupervised visit and didn’t return on the scheduled time. Keturah, faced with the possibility of not seeing her children again was hysterical.
The police were notified and a full scale search started with no results. The father simply disappeared with the children.
On June 21, 2010, Monday evening the NYPD informed Keturah that her children were kidnapped. Yochanan was on an international flight, he fled the country with the boys.
Yochanan, also known by his legal name Sean Braxton Reid was placed on the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL’s most wanted list.
Family and friends of the mother started a Facebook campaign, they plastered the social networking site with pictures of the kids. A website was launched, BringShalomAndChaimHome.com, asking anyone in any country to come forward with any information.
After almost a month long of searching, the boys were found in Tunisia. With the help of Rabbi Tzvi Gluck, the local Shliach and the State Department, Yochanan was extradited to the United States. Three FBI agents escorted him on a direct flight from Tunisia, landing Thursday in JFK.
The children, who were on the same flight, were reunited with their mother at the airport. Yochanan however was rushed on a waiting FBI transport, which took him straight Kings County Central Booking, where he spend the night.
Yochanan was arraigned this morning, Friday on kidnapping and child endangerment charges and was released after his Mashpia posted his $100,000 bail bond. He we will be spending Shabbos in Crown Heights.
CH resident
‘Mashpia’?!? who is th IDIOT that put up money to free this hateful deranged child molester?!? The community should be aware of the dangerous people in our midst. Hashem yishmor.
Esther
Who the heck is his mashpia???!! He’s got to be crazy this guy is a threat to everyone !! He’s violent and dangerous!!
so glad she found them
so happy she got her kids back!!! what a miracle.
why would his “mashpia” post the bail for this lowlife?
anonymous
the last line about his mashpia posting his 100k bond just BLOWS MY MIND!!! it truly is something to think about!
Am I missing something??
A Father who the court determines cannot be trusted WITH HIS OWN CHILDREN ( that’s the reason for “supervised visitation” ) kidnaps those children & simply disappears with them – could there be any worse torture for their mother ?? And then, through miraculous hashgacha protis and the love, prayers, and non-stop work of this young woman’s friends and community, her children are discovered in TUNISIA and are brought safely home. This evil Father was brought back to the US in HANDCUFFS to be arraigned on very serious charges (kidnaping / endangerment of children)- and now the kidnapper’s MASHPIA posts a huge sum so that this rasha can enjoy homemade kugel and cholent this Shabbos out of jail ?? WE’VE LOST OUR MINDS !!! G-d Forbid that this “mashpia” should ever go thru the Gehennom that this young mother did – he may seriously re-think his actions. Unlimited Chesed is NOT always the right action when dealing with a rasha.
Chaim
Being in involved from day 1 there should be a mention to T.G. (he may not want his name mentioned) that without his help, this story would have been unlikely to have been concluded with a happy ending, until his “mashpia” got him out on bail and put the wife and children right back into danger.
Mendy Hecht
People, I know Yochanan Reid personally. I’m not defending what he did, but pain can do terrible things to people and make people do terrible things, especially the pain of divorce. That’s just a fact. I’ll betcha that with the right counseling, this whole thing could have been avoided. In the meantime, let’s not judge–especially not during this period.
Chavah Leah
Keturah is an amazing person and a wonderful mother. BH her kids are back home and safe. Keturah you have amazing betachun in Hashem and its because of all the chesed that you do that Hashem rewarded you with a happy ending. Sorry that your x-husband turned out to be such a monster. I just can’t believe that after all that he did to harm the kids he is free again?! How could this have happened? What monster put up money to get him bail? People in the neighborhood should be made aware of how dangerous Yochanan is. He is a threat to all of us. Zaki Tamir should work with the police to keep him off our streets.
Shocked!
Why should someone like this be allowed to go on bail while someone like Rubashkin sits in Jail? This man is a danger to his children and their mother, and he should be sitting in jail as he deserves; not spending as a free man in Crown Heights! Where is the responsibility of this mashpia to others?
Dan l-Kaf Zchus vs. Ignorance
Maybe all this consternation about his mashpia posting bond, is simply because you DO NOT know the FULL story. You do not have the information his mashpia has – and why he therefore posted the bond.
There are two sides to every story and two sides indeed to this one.
Yochanan, who happens to be a sincere and aidel Yid, has been framed, according to his side. Meaning, the situation as he perceived it, was so terrible, that he was forced to do what he did. All this will come out in court.
So let’s not jump to conclusions, especially where you are missing information and let the Legal process take its course.
Shocked!
Why should someone like this be allowed to go on bail while someone like Rubashkin sits in Jail? This man is a danger to his children and their mother, and he should be sitting in jail as he deserves; not spending as a free man in Crown Heights! Where is the responsibility of this mashpia to others?
another mother
To the mashpia, not enough this poor mother went through a monthlong horrible ordeal every night not having her children next to her wondering when she will see them again and now when finally she could have some peace of mind some rest, you put her and her children’s safety back in danger.what are you thinking? you really need to ask for mechila her and let’s hope you were not involved in helping with the kidnapping.
lies
Why do people say he did such bad things to his own kids.
Sounds like fanatical people spreading lies.
the truth
you guys are all sooooooooooo wrong if you whant to know the real story ask somebody from Texes the know!!!
c.h. resident
The person writing comment number 9 is actually the mashpia who posted bail. I’ve heard him use that exact language in connection to this story. At least you’re the only one that feels this way.. I bless you that you marry your daughters of to tzaddikim like yochanan!
evil is evil
To all those defending kidnapping due to painful divorce sorry that is ridiculous,so defend murder if someone is on pain, taking a mother away from children (not to mention babies) show no heart, many people go through pain, what you do when in anger or hurt, shows your true side there in no defense to his actions, torah does not excuse horrible behavior, you get punished for your actions and this man cannot be trusted. ( you have to be so careful when taking a baby bird from it’s mother…)
shmuel
For now and for obvious reasons I will remain anonymous as I am fear for what ‘Yochanon’ and his handlers are capable of. But he and his ‘camp’ are very aware of his instability, his long history of abuse and criminal record. If he was as he and his handlers would like you believe ‘an innocent party’ with ‘two sides to every story’, the FBI, Interpol, U.S State Department and Department of Homeland Security would not have gone through the extensive and costly exercise of working in cooperation with a terrorist state to seek his extradition. He was extradited to this country at great expensive to the US government in handcuffs due to his long record and ‘evidence of proof’ against him. He is a very dangerous person and all those helping him will be shamed once all these records are made public.
What troubles me even more and should trouble all readers of this post is the danger that people parading around as our fellow neighbors are protecting this heinous person. They in fact are more dangerous than Yochanon and they are disguised as ‘Rabbi’s’ and leaders. I only question what their motives are.
What a Sham
what a sham!! I also know this guy. And he was never a that nice. I’ve seen him hundreds of times yelling at people in shul, at the mikvah and in our local stores. So an Aidel guy? I sincerly beg to differ. His Mashpia has some serious question to ask himself. If you are truely his Mashpia what have you done to help him or for him to help himself ( beside posting his bail). What have you done prior to his to counsel him and his wife? Throwing money around at the last hour does resolve you of being a poor guide in the first place. I agree with “another mother” when she says that you need to ask michila from the mother. And I dare even say, at some point those poor children. G-d forbid that you should ever have to ask yourself the question….. “If I didn’t post Yochanan’s bail……. maybe…… such and such would not have happened!!” kol tov
A shabbos guest
hey I use to know yochanan ANd Keturah. This guy has been spiraling out of control since I met them. I was a frequent shabbos guest of theirs and I always felt so sorry for the crap he would put her through. Even when he started going all Yeminite on her, she still was so pleasant to us as guest. As a bochur you can stomach alot of stuff from peoples shabbos tables, but if it wasnt for his wife i wouldn’t have keep going to eat for so long. eventually i stopped going because he was too out of control even for my taste. I wish ketuarah and her boys well. I know shalom better than the baby. But yochanan or SEAN needs to seriously look into getting some help.
pained
Complete abbuse and rubashkin has to sit sickkk sick sick!
Nebach
wow
WOW!!!. Very sad. If I were the mother I’d pick my kids up and run to a foriegn coutry!!
Truely Sickened!
Just add him to the pile of men in crown heights who beat up their wives, and the “understanding” mashpias who support it all. It sickens me to my core!!
SHAME BORNE IN SILENCE
And this is why EVERYONE in any postion of influence ( mashpiim, raobbonim, etc) must read Rabbi Avraham Twerski’s book on abuse in the frum acommunity titled “Shame Borne in Silence”. Most abusers are fabulous con men – they can EVEN con their own mashpia! The physical and mental health of those whose lives are full of private terror from an abusive spouse / parent must be guaranteed that when they FINALLY are desperate enough to open up to someone else, that someone else will “get it” – We are all mechuyev to educate ourselves to recognize abuse – and to begin to destroy the horrible myth that “it takes 2 to tango” or that “there are 2 sides to every story” – This book is sold many places and online – Rabbi Twerski himself admits that he didn’t believe that there is “frum abuse” at first – just because a man (or woman) behaves like a tzaddik / tzadakes in public doesn’t mean that they don’t have a very dark side that is well-hidden except to those who live with and suffer from them.
Not judging?
Attention Mendy Hecht You may know yochanon Reid Personally but unfortunately in this case you presumably didn’t know of his plans & did nothing to attempt to get him counseling before this incident.There is no excuse or justification for what he did The Alter Rebbe in Tanya Disagrees with you & says we have to rebuke him. The courts are at fault for not providing the supervision.If only supervised visits were allowed then the mother has to take a small portion of the blame for not verifying that there was someone to supervise the visit.As for the Mashpiah Posting bail guilty or not He is A yid who should not have to spend any more time in jail then necessary He felt a obligation of Pidyon Shevuyim & did what was necessary so don’t blame the Mashpiah for that
OUTRAGED!!
How exactly do you FRAME a person to kidnap their children and bring them to Tunisia?
resident
i have watched yochonon with his son in shul for months and he seemed a normal devoted father, so i would not rush to judge until you know the whole story,
crazy
how you bail someone out who kidnapped the kids
it just crazy putting the mother and kids in danger from him he should be in jail for a long time
moshe
to anyone trying to defend such a criminal…try to take all emotions out of this story and base your opinion on the FACTS on the ground.
i first started to follow this story a couple weeks ago when i came across it on facebook. i did my own research and found his name on INTERPOL’S website. (it has since been removed due to the fact that he has been caught)
he had a long criminal history from back in his “old days” along with alias’s and a history of manipulative actions that followed him through his entire adult life.
unfortunatly it seems that after moving to ch he in fact did not start a new life but instead he caught another fish in his long list of victims.
we try to be accepting to everyone but sometimes you come across someone who is a DANGER to society and we must not support them. we must show them they are not wanted near our kids. we must not get fooled by this “tzadik’
ceo
#12: how can you say that? He ran off with two babies, one a nursing infant, and if he has psychiatric / psychological issues, then that is endangerment
Agree with Meny Hecht
There are 2 instances where the mother took the kids to Israel that I know of. Did anyone make a big deal? NO.
He didn’t harm the kids. What is everyone going nuts about.
Women think when they get devorced they won the lotery. Sorry.
girl
Just comes to show in America, with the right amount of money, anything goes.
something missing
i dont get it. he must miss his children terribly. it doesnit say that he hurt them.
Get real people
It seems people here think they are smarter than the judges, the FBI and Interbol. No matter the situation, leaving to TUNISIA with a nursing baby and two year old is a horrible crime.
OH and not all situations can be saved by therapy. Sometimes you just have to run from a marriage for your safety and the safety of the children.
Also, I’m wondering how you would frame a man to get on a plane and travel internationally with children. He is a criminal!!!! Stop defending him and send money to support this mother. Oh and one more thing, make him give her a GET!
Der Chelemer Rebbe in Exile
This is the place. Chelm. The center of wisdom. Mashpiyim. Commentators. Musser zogers. Deyah zoggers.
Now go find a Rov for the great Town Of Chelm.
Such serious issues and everyone jumps in with an opinion. I do not know the facts, but have been involved in helping many a situation like this. Never judge until you hear both sides. (Ve af al pi keyn: I find it hard to imagine why someone who took off to Tunisia secretly, deserves a $100,000 bail for IMMEDIATE release. OK by next week when the dust settles, maybe.)
My hunch is that this mashpiya has been mentioned on the “Let’s Make a Rov” blogs. Always defending the underdog or the transgressor – that is the PC here, and the next generation looks just like the results one could expect from this kind of common-sense-abandonment.”
dunno
hey did this happen to others in CH, when the mother kidnapped the kids??
http://tinyurl.com/3x2b396
Don-t judge!!!
Thank you Mendy for putting your name to that.
People should not be so hateful. Of course Yochanan was wrong and put this ex-wife through terrible pain.
But can you imagine what kind of pain HE was going through? What he did may have been wrong and illegal and punishable, but definitely understandable – especially if he is mentally unstable. Being mentally unstable does not make you “evil”.
What happened to the essential Lubavitcher Midah of NEVER judging others???
thinking caps, please
Regardless of whether this guy did something wrong or not, it is certainly not our place to judge. Have we already forgotten about ahavas Yisroel, ahavas chinam and being dan lekaf zechus? We don’t know what kind of internal challenges he has, etc.
Most importantly, even someone who does something wrong has rights and should be allowed to spend Shabbos kehalocho. The Aleph Institute and the many bochurim who go to prisons every year (as well as other organizations) are all dealing with people who have made bad decisions – some who have done much, much worse than run off with their own kids, yet we are respectful, caring and ever cognizant of their material and especially spiritual well being.
May Hashem protect Keturah and the babies and may she merit to grow them for many happy, productive years. Let’s all not forget that the mizbeyach sheds tears when a family is destroyed. They are not divorced yet and there is no need for the public to aggravate the situation, even while the care and concern surely does not go unnoticed.
Yochanan isn-t welcome
Funny how her friends worked so hArd and couldn’t raise 20,000 and then some “mashpia” comes up with 100,000 to help this Chaya. We shouldn’t feel safe with this monster free to roam the streets of crown heights . I don’t care how messy a divorce is, running away to tunsia with your children isn’t ok. Why do we want someone like this in our community? Tunsia didn’t want him and we don’t either
HE TOOK THEM TO TUNISIA
HE TOOK THEM TO TUNISIA!!!! HE KIDNAPPED THEM!
WHOEVER TAKES HIS SIDE NEEDS A CAT-SCAN! OR BRAIN REPLACEMENT!
A mother
TO NUMBER 9
There are NO two sides of the story , when a father SEPARATES A NURSING BABY FROM ITS MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!
The END
reid guy
He must of been a real loving father to take his nursing baby away from his mother!!!
before commenting...
now, how many of the people leaving comments here, know the true story? HOW MANY OF YOU???????????????????
don’t accuse and take sides if you don;t know the story,
VE HAMAYVIN YOVIN!!!
keep the faith
It disturbs me how quickly some are to call Yochanan a child molester and a rasha. Stop spreading lies and feeding the fire! Whether “you know the whole story” or not, you’re manipulating the truth and spreading gossip, also known as lashon hara. Close your mouths people, unless you have this to say: BARUCH HaSHEM! Keturah has her children back! Yehiyeh tov! Stop judging – that’s not your place! Let the Bet Din and the great State of New York do their job! YOUR JOB is to daven and keep your bitachon…LIKE KETURAH! Never has she said anything other than this simple fact: “My ex-husband has taken my children.” So why do you feel the need to spread such horrible lies about someone you don’t even know?! Even worse is spreading lies about someone you do know! It’s the 9 days!! SHUT UP AND PRAY!
and one more thing: ignorance is damning.
mimi
I’m with Mendy Hecht.
I doubt he is a danger to anyeone else…he was an anguished father who flipped out.
Awful that his ex-wife had to suffer so much, but I think almost everyone is being way too extreme.
The first comment said something about “child molester?” who on Earth alleged that?
It is terrible, regrettable, a chillul hashem, but I hardly think he is a maniac who is a danger to society at large.
He was obviously upset about specific situation, and as Mendy Hecht says, we don’t have all the facts
Whoever called a mashpia a “monster” is out of line!
WhyEm
It’s amazing how quick 100,000 is used for bail for someone like this when people in crown heights can’t pay tuition, rent, electric or put food on their tables. but a man who kidnaps his kid is able to raise 100,000 in less then 24 hours. how sad …
2 sides to every story
There are two sides to every story. I personally know this young man,and he is not crazy or nuts. He did something terrible but is is not a horrible person. He is a bal teshuva who was very worried about his children not being raised the way he would like them to be. Unfortunately he did not have money for lawyers and took the wrong drastic steps and ran away with his children. He felt desperate- he was wrong- but he is not a evil person that you are making him out to be. As lubavitcher chassidim was should understand ahavas yisroel and not judge people so fast.
PLANE AND SIMPLE
To all of the above
I think the story speaks for itself. A father strips his children away from there own mother. cant get any worse than that.
So to # 6 excuses are easy to come by I guess they help YOU sleep at night.
To # 9 like I said the story speaks for itself. Although someone may appear to act a certain way ultimately his or her actions define them
Let us all hope that our core values guide our community to do he right thing and turn our backs to this man who is capable of such drastic and irresponsible actions.
truth
#9 we do know the FULL story!!! If their was another side to this story he would have told it. He had his day in court and was obviuosly running to avoid the reality he created.
Dont understand
1- Since when do shluchim work for the FBI
2- This women is know for her propaganda
a mother
to 12
are you insane?????????????????
Keep crown heights clean
The documents are public record. Find them and read them if you are defending this animal.we don’t need ppl like this in crown heights.
gevald geshriyen
To Mendy Hecht or whoever you are.You are as deranged is Yochanan. It isn’t a matter of judging him.
The idiot kidnapped the children from their loving mother in spite of a court order that they are to be in the sole custody of the mother.
This makes him a criminal. There are no two ways about it. The so called mashpiah who posted his bail also needs to be taken to task. If anyone knows who this mashpiah is then mitzvah lefarseim shmoi so that he can be avoided at all costs.
sadly the truth
#12 they are not lies!!!! wake up and smell the coffee. This is sadly the truth
Observer/Reader
To CH resident (first comment here)I don’t know either the x-wife of the X-husband but as soon as people start saying things like “child molester” and the such, that was not reported in the article and that it doesn’t sound like he was charged for then I start to wonder what is true and what is hysteria.
If you are really a freind of this woman and wish her well then stick to the facts.
The Truth...
Honestly, all people, even to you Crown Heightsers:
I really do not get it. You may not like it, but this is the truth, in one sentence: its none of your business. period. you may think that this yochanan is dangerous. How wrong are you!! out of experience, I personally know that when someone is divorced it leads him to do such things. With a little help, this situation could of tottaly been avoided. Now i have to say: Kol Hakavod to the Mashpia. You did the right thing!
ps. CH’ers – dont worry.
M.
to #12
taking a nursing child away from his mother is a bad thing.
wonderiing
why is this newsworthy for the whole community to have this as table talk?????
Sad for both parents
Yes, I agree with you, Mendy Hecht. There are definitely two sides to this story and vilifying Yochanan is an easy way out for many who just want to find easy and comfortable one-sided solutions. He definitely did something wrong but the question is why. It deserves a deeper look.
someone
wow im so happy for that mother!
shell see so much joy from her children……………and will find her true soul mate in no time;)
NEBACH
OYSH!
star
the courts may deem it kidnapping. but this is a father and his own children. very sad indeed. poor mother, poor children, poor father too. what he did was wrong but let’s not call it kidnapping – he IS their father.
TO NUMBER 8
go whith you!!
if he was was willing to put $100k for that person why wouldnt he put more for rubashkin???!!!
MI SHEBEIRACH AVOSEINU AVROM YITSCHOK V’YAKOVOV…….THAT MASHPIA BEN HIS MOTHER
Wanda Ring
Let the family court work it out, with or without visitations. Will poor Ketura remain an aguna until this jerk (not yet a convicted criminal) does teshuva?
devlld advocate
there are TWO SIDES to every story…….
cle
just because the democracy of the US says that we have the right to free speech does not mean we speak in ways that are not consistent with Torah and Mitzvos. I hold that the father was terribly unstable to take those children, but really fellow yidden, lets think about if the Rebbe was to read this. Have some yiras HaShem.
Yankel in Flatbush
Why are people talking without knowing the details?
I”m not familiar at all with this story, though I think I saw the father in Flatbush the other day if I recognize the pic..
The children are back and let the courts take their course.
Divorce does horrible things, especially to frum Jews.
People think more than twice before you take that step..
Besuros tovos
Flabbergasted!
Sorry, #’s 6,9 & 12- or perhaps you are all 1 person? I know nothing about this story, but the very fact that this man was given “supervised visitation rights,” prooves he was unsafe. According to US law, leaving the country with the kids is called kidnapping. I have also heard that he has a criminal record. There’s a reason why the police, INTERPOL & FBI got involved. It’s pathetic that such dangerous people are even allowed out on bail!!!
been there done that
i donnot know him but if he is such a bad person don’t u think that he would not be able to get bail? There r 2 sides to every story. In these kind of situations where there is divorce with kids and there is fighting for custody of the kids the surcumstances can get really sticky. Sometimes a person does rediculous things out of desperation but not realize that he will bury himself in the long run. “Don’t judge a person till u r in his place!”
m h
TO number 12: i dont know what he did or didnt do to his kids, either before or during the time he ran away. regardless, it is a crime in the us to keep kids from a custodial parent after visiation time and a federal crime, hence the FBI and INTERPOL, to take children accross state lines or out of the US without consent from the other parent. if someone wants to cross the border to canada or mexico they need a signed letter from the other parent. im not sure how he got them all the way to tunisia and im really glad theyre back!
shimmy
No one here knows the real details of the story so keep your mouth shut on the husband i know both of them very well and the wife acted VERY mean to him…. not defending him BUT…
Dont judge till you know what he went threw
why is this a topic of discussion
by people who don’t even know anything about this case?
SInce when do these things get to be decided by and discussed by the general public?
aaa
y r u posing this???????????????????? al todin es chavercho ad shetagia bimkomo. think twice b4 calling him a kidnapper for his love to his kids. y is he a danger to anyone els but his kids who will definitely be guarded. i think his mashpia was 100% right. what do u gain by him sitting in jail
What?!
Why do commenters love to show how stupid and judgmental they are?
and how they can outdo each other in being radical.
I am NOT involved in any of these people’s lives, and have no inside scoop, yet i dont find it so crazy to understand that the mashpia may very well be doing the right thing on his part to post bail, and should not have every idiot here attacking what he did.
who decided he is a child molester? is that a fact?
the same court that decided he should be arrested, also felt he is not a flight risk now, and should be allowed to go out on bail until he is sentenced, so there is obviously something in that defense.
also, the mitzva of pidyon shvuim, that a jew shouldnt spend time in jail still applies, even if you feel he is wrong. if he isnt a danger to the public, his wife and kids, which obviously the judge felt is the case, than its not about homemade kugl and cholent, its about being out of a non jewish prison as much as possible, until he is sentenced for the very wrong things he did.
I would not wish on anyone to go through what the mother went through, and it is extremely horrible what he did, but that does not give me the right to decide he should rot in prison, or that he should not still be treated with some humanity.
would i invite him to my house? probably not, but should everyone just shut him out? no, his mashpia, which will hopefully be able to work with him to understand his wrongs and help fix things up, should at least try to help within the limits.
borcuh hashem she has her children with her, and g-d willing he will be taken care of enough that she shouldnt have to live in fear any more. doesnt mean he needs to be locked up, it means with the right help and therapy he will understand, and move on with his life, and put himself together normally.
and to all the wonderful commenters, get a life.
KEEP THIS IN MIND!
To number 9. Thank you for opening up peoples eyes to the concept of being “dan lkaf zchus”. NONE of us know both sides of the story and I for one know that Yochanan is NOT A MOLESTER but a person that has yirai shamayim and was put in a terrible situation and may have made big mistakes, but would NEVER harm his children. He is a talmid chacham and a serious person who did a very morally and legally wrong thing. His actions were definitely wrong, but from his perspective he was “saving” his children from a life without Yiddiskeit. He was wrong in his assumptions, but it was an act by a desperate father who loved his children.
He is not a criminal or a molester, and should not be judged and hung in the court of public opinion.
Please remember that our Torah instructs us to treat a Ger with kindness. .
YS from Dnepr
I knew Yochanan very well and I believe I was at his older son’s sholom zochor. I am shocked at this and it is obvious that something went wrong for him or between him and his wife since those days.I have a very well tuned “sociopath radar” and not once did Yochanan activate it in the 2 years that I knew him.
I hope that the children are not scarred by this ordeal and that Yochanan gets the help he needs.
Regarding the bond, I do not think the mashpia had to put up the full $100K in cash. Perhaps someone who knows how bail bondsmen work can elaborate.
Community as a whole
Look it is the 9 days. I am not defending the man, but there is no reason to dig in and post on the net. I have a feeling he is no danger to the community.
to #5
Who said he was limited to supervised visitation?
to number thirty
when woman get divorced they usually have won the lottery,, especially in this case. mazel tov keturah!!
One Who Knows
I have known Keturah and her family personally for several decades. She is frum, tsniyusdik,eidel,and a graduate of Bais Rivkah. She keeps strict Cholov Yisroel and wears a sheitel.
Any complaints her husband has about her frumkeit exist only in his head.
to number 48
The shluchim helped organise arresting him with the fbi,
and you obviously dont know this woman at all. shes never hurt a fly in her life!
to 49
you were probably involved
53
it was reported in more important documents then the article. if youre really curious, dig deeper and you shall find!! dont be naive
To #66 - you have no clue...
You have absolutely no idea what happens in divorce cases. Ex spouses can be super vindictive and as soon as one parent raises concerns -rightly or wrongly – about the other spouse, the state must protect the children. Thus a parent can be put in a situation where they can only see their children under supervised conditions, merely b/c the other spouse is wicked and the state needs to protect the child from potential danger…
Disclaimer; I know neither of these people….
alot to say
I have so much to say I dont know where to start. To all of you who believe that pidyon shevuah applies to criminals are incorrect. It applies to those who are wrongfully imprisoned. But when you break the laws of the land other Jews are not obligated to bail you out.
Next, at the same time I do think that as yidden we need to be cautious of how we speak of others. Even of people we think are not worthy of it.
Am I familiar with both keturah and yochanans story. Both sides. And I’ll say this the bottom line is he should give her a get. And if he want to be apart of
his,children’s lives he needs to look for some continued professional help.
Now to his mashpia, I will not mention your name here, but you know what it is you need to do.
abby
Does anyone sit here and think that maybe Keturah doesn’t want this discussed at peoples tables or as a topic in peoples lives that are not directly involved or connected to this terrible time in her life. Why can you all not say Thank g-D her children are home safely and that she was reunited with them. Let her have time to heal with her children before everyone bashes her life and her childrens lives. Remember that there are 2 sides to every story but those sides are for the family to deal with not strangers, neighbors or by standers. Let us all go on with OUR lives while she holds her children near to her and has a few normal days or weeks before her life is consumed with a trial for what her ex did. I hope she is not reading this and that she is surrounded with only good and loving people for she is not the one in the wrong and she should not have to be subject to such judgment on her or his part.
MONEY WAS NOT THE ISSUE
HE DOESNT HAVE MONEY FOR LAWYERS CUZ HE NEEDS TO GET A JOB!!!! ALSO, HE MANAGED TO FIND THE MONEY TO RUN TO TUNISIA!!
#48 HOW DARE YOU SAY THIS WOMAN IS KNOWN FOR HER PROPAGANDA! NOT TRUE AND YOU KNOW THAT! KETURAH IS A TRUE BAS YIROEL!!
A CRIMINAL AMONGST US
TO #73 HE IS A CRIMINAL.
IF HE WERE A YIRAS SHAMAYIM HE WOULD GIVE HER A GET. WHY IS HE HOLDING BACK? IF SHE IS SO TERRIBLE THEN WHY HOLD ONTO HER AS YOUR WIFE?
Boruch Hashem
I have a attorney who represents terrorists like him…
http://www.youtube.com/watc…
I should know, he is my wife’s lawyer!
The realist
Lets put all the gossip aside and look at the story the way it is:
This is a guy that kidnapped his 19 month and his 3 years old children for selfish reasons.. Its a guy that kidnapped his kids and took them into a foreign territories for his own reasons. For that alone he legaly will get punished. Just the fact that he is a “Jew” does not mean that we MUST help him. Especially that we know that some people cannot be helped in a rational way. He MUST sit in jail!!!!!! Put him back where he belongs!!! You are not helping him become a better person. You are helping him learn that he can do harm and get away with it with a little money.
And in regards to all the people saying that there are 2 sides to every story, you are all 100& right!!! The other side is that the wife is a Beis Rickah girl that would not touch chalav akum foods and would not even think abaout giving it to her children. So McDonalds?!?! Come on people, lets get real. Lets help who really needs to get helped.
Questionable!!!
Tunisia is a dangerous place for jews, taking small little kids away from mother and run with them away is dangerous too. If he has criminal record, got FBI – INTERPOL involved why is he out on bail? I guess the system stinks or we missing something!
As to MH remarks unfortunatly you can’t give a honest opinion
there is no justification to take away little children and run to TUNESIA even if they were in danger by beeing with the mother ther is better ways to do this.
Maybe SH his mashpia told him to run away?
CHANI
BS”D
it is very interesting to note how Hashem makes shidduchim
husband and wife are on the same level, similar issues to work on
i.e. in abusive situations – let’s say husband is the aggressor – wife will be the submissive. each one has a learning lesson. aggressor needs to let up and submissive needs to stand up for herself in a healthy way.
they both need help most probably nu.
from the above
there are witnesses to his abuse by a shabbos guest – nu.
and there are more witnesses also as to his aggressive character displayed in shul.
ok, so he is not balanced, needs help.
I am sure he has some nice traits – dah – he is a human being.
brains he could use more of – stupid move to go to tunisia – what on earth was the plan? gee wizz – hope his Mashpia didnt help him on that one :(
she also was not so smart – why were the kids with him if it was unsupervised?
these situations are ALWAYS VERY MESSY,
good luck to anyone who can figure out who did what….
this is an emotional mess big time
and they need professional help – all of them – BIG TIME.
ZEHU.
Sick of the Abuse
You know wh at I think is gross? NOT ONE of the Jewish website published the story when it first happened!!! I dont know this girl or her story…but we have a lot of mutual friends. Where were YOU, CH.info, Yeshiva World News, Vouz es Neyais? If this girl had a fancy shmancy geschadik or ffb last name, you better believe it would be all over the web. But no, the Machon Chana girls had to stick together to defend this girl. All of you should be ashamaed! How many of you look out for the Machon Chana girl when it comes to shiddichum so stories like this DONT HAPPEN? How many of you go to bat for them? PREVENTION! On both Machon Chana’s end and the community ofr CH. We can save ourselves, time, money and and gray hair.
yehuda
Wait a g-ddamned minute, people. What made his actions wrong? Why SHOULDN’T he have taken his children? Just because a court said so? Who gave a court the right to take a person’s children away from him? Everyone knows that the US courts are biased towards women, and often unjustly award custody to mothers. Is that fair? Is that right? Is that in accord with the Torah?
If a man’s children have been torn away from him by some sheigetz judge, operating under a law that EXPLICITLY denies that parents have any rights at all, what is he to do? If he has the ability to take the children somewhere that he hopes the court won’t reach him, where he will be able to raise them properly, why shouldn’t he do so? Why is it worse to take them from their mother than from their father? Where in Torah do you people find such a principle?
What he did was unwise, as is proved by the fact that he was caught and now will have even less contact with his kids than he used to. But nobody has the right to condemn a fellow yid, to call him a monster, let alone to demand that he sit in prison, unless they know the specific facts of the case.
Mayer Nochum wrote
You have to know hat this father is a Jew, and the Rebbe said that sitting in prison is not good for the Neshama!since you can’t do mitzvos and Teshiva.
How dare you defend him!
Excuse me but even without all the details and judging favorably and all that other garbage some of you are preaching the bottom line is:
THIS MAN KIDNAPPED HIS CHILDREN, ONE OF WHOM WAS STILL NURSING!!!
That is not what a loving father does. That is not what a normal person does.
For those of you who are defending him, I’d be scared to know how you would ‘react’ when you have supervised visitation rights.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE.
Mushka
WOW!!! I am so happy, this is great news.
I don’t understand why initially they weren’t allowed to put up a “Code Red” for these kids, but BH they are back and safe with their mom.
MAD
His Mashpia posted the 100k jail bond?
What? Why? He kidnapped his 2 kids and he’s know for abuse!
Is there some details that were left out?
MushPee
I just read some comments and decided that we should really be dan l’kaf zchus, especially during this quintessential time right before tisha b’av.
Let us merit the coming of Moshiach b4 the fast! Only Ahavat Yisrael will make Moshiach come! All our outrage being poured into these comments will not help this family and will not accomplish any goals.
JUDGE YOUR FRIENDS FAVORABLY & LOVE YOUR FELLOW LIKE YOURSELF.
Whats the other side of the story?
everyone keeps saying wait till you hear his side, if you all know his side then post how this is rational behavior, I don’t know either side or either story but if everyone is saying he has justified story then maybe we could hear what that is already. Her just being mean to him is still not enough to take them to TUNISIA please.
Where-d he get the kids- passports?
How does a non-custodial father allowed only supervised visitation have passports for these two children — to take them to Tunisia?
HUH?
One blog poster (#45) said that, “Unfortunately he did not have money for lawyers,”
BUT he had money for three airline tickets to Tunisia?
H
Wishing u all the best Keturah! You deserve nothing but blessings.
Dear #73 -- Does a Ger get a Free Pass
Of course it is true that,“Please remember that our Torah instructs us to treat a Ger with kindness.”
Are you saying that a Ger has a free pass to show behavior beneath that expected of all other Yidden?
(It sure sounds this way!)
After all, we already know some very simple facts — forget the rumors: — we know that
1) He abducted the children and took them to another continent!
2) He is only allowed supervised visitation — a ruling reserved only for a parent who has been proven to have questionable reliability in how he deals with the children.
3) He interrupted, and maybe prematurely weaned, the nursing relationship for his younger child.
Great, he’s a Ger. This means he’s a Yid, and thus expected to follow Torah. He’s also expected to obey the law. There are serious violations of both that this father is KNOWN to have done.
Please don’t give him a free pass just because he’s a Ger, otherwise, no Yiddishe woman should marry a Ger.
Mendy Hecht (my real name!)
To all those rightfully pointing out that what he did was totally wrong, read #12 post again: “I am not defending what he did.” It was just explaining why he did what he did. Unfortunately, this is not the first case heard of in our community where things got really ugly and feelings got totally out of control. Clearly the brother needs help, and a lot of it. He’ll probably have to do some time too.
Miriam
What this “human being” did was atrocious.
In terms of how bail works, the person does not give $100,000. That is not how it works.
It works that you are saying that you put a partial amount of the money down, usually not so much, and you gaurantee he shows up to court dates and the like. You are basically saying he is under your control
When/if he does NOT show up to court or does what he is told to do by the court (ie, takes a plane out to Tunisia again) then you pay the court the full bail money.
Covering bail means you cover responsibility.
This man is a chazar and anyone can try to assume that he is not a danger but I personally would not take my chances with someone who would take 2 children away from their mother to TUNISIA. This is not sane and I will not be taking my chances.
Miriam
And for anyone who thinks he is okay, when he needs a place to stay until his court date, I think it would be nice to post your address so he can stay by you?
I will not be posting my address. I think that states the obvious.
The man took 2 of his children to Tunisia. End of story. He is a chazar.
illigal but not evil
Yes, he did something stupid and illegal.
No, he is not a bad, evil monster for doing what he did.
It is his kids after all. Imagine (if your a father or mother) g-d forbid going though the same thing…It’s your children and you want to be with them.
he took them which he should not have, there are laws in this land and we must follow them BUT he did not hurt HIS children.
You want to discuss how he should have not broken the law etc… go ahead. You want to make him seem like an evil person, sorry, I know plenty of parents (either mother or fathers) who went through a divorce who would snatch their children away from the other party if they could (legally and all). Are they evil for wanting their children?
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
Unfortunately, a divorce often unleashes a ton of loshan hora – some may not be true, and some may be horribly true. My sister’s ex told his wife #2 when they were dating awful lies about my sister to convince the potential new wife that he was really a great guy ( just nebach, a victim of a witch ). Well when wife #2 finally ALSO walked out on this creep, she then actually called my sister to ask mechilah for believing all those lies – because now she realized that this guy is really a manipulative sick abuser !!! Obviously, it is VERY hard to figure out the truth, but please realize that many of these types are very smooth talkers who know how to gain your symapathy. One thing for sure, HaShem knows the 100% truth of what goes on behind closed doors in all marriages & there are punishments worse than jail.
Gabriel
Everyone is innocent till proven guilty
For curiosity I checked a couple of things and find out:
1) The baby is 1 ½ years old he is not nursing.
2) Yochanan had the right for visitation with the kids alone because the court did not find Any evidence to Ketura’s liable that he is a molester.
3) I goggled Yochanan name with his English name Sean Reid and did not find any criminal record from the past.
4) I goggled Ketura Ponce and I was very surprised to find on article by the New York Times from May 22 2005.
So please every one don’t rush to conclusion before finding the facts and let the court (or a Beis din) decide all the facts.
Maybe his Mashpia now all that before and did what every Jew should obligate to do the great Mitzva of “Pidion Shvuim”
to #9
Hear, hear. I agree 100%! Honestly rediculous!
Bail me out too!
I am so happy to see all of these support for Yochanan. I now know that when I beat my wife and strangle her in front of the children and then kidnap the kids, I will have all of this support. I know you’ll give me:
– passports
– airfare
– spending cash
– hospitality
– plus bail money!
I bet you’ll all stand on the witness stand and contest to me being a fit father and award me full custody!
You guys are magnificent!!
Concerned
Reading all these comments leaves me concerned. It appears that there are a lot of unfounded and unproven statements concerning Yochanan floating around here and in the community. What is true is that he did take his children out of the country and so far, that is the only truth that appears to be known here. I know him personally and he is not a child molester, did have unsupervised visitation, does not have a previous criminal record and appears to be THE VICTIM OF A VERY EFFECTIVE SMEAR CAMPAIGN. As far as I can tell, the mother and the children are not now, nor were ever, in danger. It is also my understanding that he asked for but did not receive very much support in the community before all this happened. Let the courts handle this and when the truth comes out, then comment.
You obviously don-t anything...
Thinking of getting a degree in Brain Surgery, so I can give most of you commenters NEW BRAINS!!!
I know both Keturah and Yochanan personally. Yochanan is a known liar. He misconstrues everything to suit himself. I’ve seen the way he treats his children and it is in not safe practices.
Thank G-D
B”H the kids are alive and well back to their mother
Mashpia...come forward, please
I just want to know….who is his Mashpia? Why did he post bail? I’d like to hear from him. Presumably he is not a wacko-crackpot but a respected & respectable man. So why did he think letting him out of jail was the right thing to do?
Rabbi Mashpia…please answer. Maybe it will put a stop to all the speculation. Maybe it won’t. However, we don’t have any real facts. I’d also like to know…why TUNISIA? An Arab country? Red flags there, too.
Chani
It is such a shame that this story was ever printed! It is such lashon hara. Everyone should just get back to their own petty lives and let this couple sort out their differences, w/o help from the peanut gallery
maybe 3 sides?
My wife abandoned me and our beautiful kids for nightlife drugs and men and now has an anti american al quida defending attorney fighting for her kids back who won’t go to her anyway. Court gave me kids and has now ordered supervised visitation for her and I am sure there are those who would say there is two sides…. Young mother, stay strong and don’t read the above garbage. Just look after those kids and say some tehillim when you get the time!
to 110
agree 100% i just want to change your last line a bit
when the truth comes out, then still let everyone mind their own business
CHANI
BS”D
AT LAST SOME YIDDISHE COMMON SENSE
SOME YIRAS SHAMAYIM NOCH!
THANK YOU #117
Rivkah aialon
Two wrongs don’t make a righ
I was unfortunately a divorce attorney and there is no one in the world that knows more than me that there are always 2 sides to a story especially in these cases. However, kidnapping little children from their mother,no matter what the circumstance is wrong and that is why I feel for Keturah here. May hash=m rid us of all discord among jews in ANY situation. Mashiach Now!
your fellow bais rivkah classmates
keturah we love you and are so sorry that your already hard life keeps giving u more nisyonos. we knew how hard it was for you to be the only black girl in our school and u always inspired us with your bitochon and love for Torah. we saw your light go out the second u married this man. We knew he was beating u and yet u kept smilimg. Your constant smile and sense of humor is what makes everyone love you, and u have our support 100%!! Iy’H this will soon be behind u, untill then, keep smiling and daven to hashem that this will soon be over fast.
To #93 Yehuda
Dear #93 (Yehuda),
You are so open-minded that your brains have fallen out!
Even if “all” he did was kidnap the kids to Tunisia, that is against the law of the land!
To my knowledge, this is not a case where the “law of the land” oppressed the father due to his being a Yid. SO, according to Torah, he is supposed to obey the law in this case.
If you’re defending that, your brains have fallen out of your skull!
Get your priorities straight, please!
Michael
To comment #36. The Rebbe asks in a Sicha, Rashi brings on Noach Tzaddik Tomim Hoyo Bedoiroisov-two opinions: 1)He was a tremendous Tzaddik that he was even able to withstand even the corrupt Dor Hamabul
2) He was only a Tzaddik compared to his generation- had he lived in the time of Avrohom he wouldn’t have been anything special.
Q.Why not be Melamed Z’chus on Noach like the first possibility?
A.One must not be Melamed Z’chus on someone at the expense of giving a bad example to others.
cher
i do not know yochanon reid but there are 2 things here that don,t look right to me.
1)if keturah had full custody of the children then what is he doing holding unto the passports?if she has full custody of the children then she is the one that should be holding onto the passports.not him.my question is that what is yochanon reid doing holding onto the passports if she has custody of the children?that,s the part that i don,t understand.plus
2)anytime that you leave the country you have to prove that you have full custody of the children.my question is that since this was an international flight when he went through customs at the airport my question is that how come they were not able to catch him at the airport?that,s the part that i don,t understand.
but yes i agree a person that can take his children overseas without letting the mother know where the children are yes i do agree that such a person does deserve to be punished but the part that i don,t understand is what was he doing holding his children,s passports in the first place to begin with plus how was he able to make it through customs with his children without getting caught there?that,s the part that i don,t understand.
cher.
YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRESSED
wow as a libavitcher i’m embaressed by what i have read here. as a old school mate of keturah’s i’m just extatic that her babys are home and shalom is wearing a keppa on his head!!!!
ITS THE 9 DAYS ISN’T THIS THE REASON THE BET HAMIKDOSH WAS DESTROYED!!!!!!!
DON L’KAF ZECHUT YEAH RIGHT
lets see if im wrong by all of the good ch’s who wrote here
on tuesday i’ll just be thanking hashem for bringing the children back to her. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELFES’
Shoshi
BS”D
I know a woman who cheated on her husband, tried to steal his money and inheritance, and then accused him of being a danger to his children. There are sickos out there and one has to constantly be careful not to fall for them….
to 93
You don’t make sense he did get to see his kids several times a week, of course that’s not what people want but that is the life of divorce something many parents go through so because it is unfair, let’s take them away from the mother and she should NEVER see them, how exactly does that make sense in your head. I don’t know you but sounds like you need some help too.
anonymous
i dont know these people so i dont know if what u r saying is true but yochanan is a parent who wants his kids with him. you cant blame him for that. and if he really has problems than his mashpia should have used the 100,000 to deal with that instead of spending that money so yochanan can do it chas v sholam again.
Truther
Yochanan never beat Keturah end of story. She is the one who beat him and that CAN and WILL be proven. Anyone who says he every laid a hand on her or his children is lying and knows it.
Mushky
It is tragic when mothers don’t realize that children need both parents. When one parent uses the children as a weapon against the other, it is the cruelest form of attack to both the children and the other parent.
I am a child of a mom who falsely accused my dad of being a danger to me and by sisters. Now that I’m grown I live with my dad and have vowed never to talk to my mom again.
To 125
Ever heard of spellcheck? Grammarcheck? I can’t believe you graduated high school without any clue how to write proper English.
Glad to see you support your friend, though!
CHANI
BS”D
WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THEY BOTH NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP
EVERYONE ELSE GO HOME AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Been around the neighborhood...
I wish that Hadar HaTorah would exercise more discretion about who they accept to live in CH. Sadly, by being lax in investigating backgrounds, sicko guys can become “frum” and after a few years they become “Lubavitchers”. Unfortunately these “mentchen” then marry with disasterous results. This is not first time, only the worst in my memory. Unfortunately,there are other terrible stories with unstable guys given haven at Hadar Hatorah.
Unhelpful Publicity
I am deeply, deeply saddened by the plethora of comments above. The fact that this tragic story was published in the first place is the harbinger of people’s expressions of judgement, ignorance and also abuse of freedom of expression to air their own grievances to the public at large. There is so much suffering amongst families why o why do we want to add to the tragedies? Why do we have to know what is going on behind closed doors of total strangers. Do the commenters really believe that is of benefit to the families concerned to be exposed to uninformed, unhelpful, judgemental and mostly unwise comments that not only do not help the situations but cause much added suffering to the already hurting families? At the end of the day, there is no 100% right or wrong………. but the korbonos will be the children because when the dust eventually settles, whether it takes months or even years, the children have been ‘damaged’ whether they stay with the ‘good parent’ or not and will r’l have long term consequences in the future. Please respect people’s right to privacy and that will help the Rabbonim, Mashpi’im and the professionals in the community to help mend the broken lives of the suffering families.
Brachie
sooooooo happy to hear and share the great news. Mazal Tov Keturah!!!
May we all be zoche to be united with the Beis Hamikdosh now!!!
Mother from CH
I think everyone shouldn’t automatically believe the HUGE amount of Lashon Hara being disseminated around Crown Heights about this situation. Nobody knows what really happen and should wait for the details to come out in the trial. We are jews, what ever happen to dan lkaf zechus?
P.S. The fact that he had unsupervised visitation means he couldn’t be a “convicted” child molester.
to 124
the children didn’t have passports, obviously he wouldn’t have been holding onto them if they did, ask him how he obtained passports without the mother’s consent who helped him?
I don-t get it
to all those that defend him, you seriously concern me, I don’t see how you can defend taking children and disappearing to tunsia under any circumstance, what he did is black and white clear. It’s the same as people defending arab terrorist, they have it so hard, how liberal and open minded are you, you can’t tell right from wrong anymore, let’s hope the justice system has their head on right.
CHANI
TRUE THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMMENTS MAKE ME REALLY QUESTION HOW HEALTHY WE ALL ARE.
HADAR HATORAH, PLEASE SCREEN YOUR PPL BETTER.
CAN’T AND SHOULDN’T ASSUME….
AS WELL GIVE PPL BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT
THERE IS A BALANCE
PLEASE USE BETTER JUDGMENT.
HE HAS A RECORD, BLACK, GER….
IT DESERVES SOME DISCERNMENT
dumb move!
he forged keturahs signature… thats how he got passports. good luck to him… thats a BIGGG no no in America!
Our Government
Just a general question..
If an individual is so dangerous that they have multiple agencies chase him around the world why would he be let out by having someone pay 100k?
M.s.
Why are you arguing over something if your just going to call names?!?! I don’t even think this is arguable! because no one really knows expect them! Ok fine, so they told friends, but you really never know! They could lie, anything! And this is why we are fasting now! So you know what, if your just gonna comment and call names here, control your mouth or don’t come on here!
like number 135! Just be positive. Have pleasant conversations! AHAVAS YISROEL!
To #139
I so hope you came back on and read this comment you racist, Ger…. Black ?? amd what about all the unstable ffb? what should we do with them? Are you really one of Hashems children? really? Is this what the Rebbe would have said? Seriously?
thank you g-d
so many people prayed and went to the ohel so these kids should return home safe and sound, thank you hashem and the rebbe for answering our prayers.
M.s.
wow, thats really good to hear # 144
The real concern of lashan hara...
I know people are very frustrated by this lashan hara, but beaware that this story had to come out do to the lashan hara that allowed this story to occur. Keturah is a private chassidish girl who does not play unclean games. Yochanan was very aware of his wife’s virtues and exploited it. He went around claiming complete lies such as she is a convert that changed her mind and wants to convert the boys to Christianity. He got a backing because although Keturah is Jewish from birth and is a strictly observant Jew she is unaware of his lashan hara and would not succumb to disgraceful behavior. Yochanan who is a poor man could not have forged passports, paid for expensive tickets and be set up nicely in the Tunisian community without a backing. He manipulated people through lashan hara. Now it is necessary the truth comes out! It is really unfortunate that he caused all this immense pain to his children and to Keturah. May we all only know goodness and kindness from now on. Keturah you a real bas chabad!