Arutz 7 A rabbi from the north of
Israel, who was distanced from his city due to sexual abuse complaints
filed against him by several women, was arrested on Thursday morning as
he was on his way to Ben-Gurion International Airport.
The rabbi, who was the dean of a yeshiva and whose
identity has not been revealed, was taken in for investigation by the
northern district police. A request to extend his detention will be
heard on Thursday.
Women who arrived to consult with the rabbi have complained to
police, with one claiming he sexually abused her several years ago and
another charging him with rape.
A number of high-ranking rabbis had requested that the rabbi step
down due to the complaints against him, and he recently gave in to the
demands and stepped down as dean of the yeshiva that he founded, and
likewise distanced himself from its associated institutions.
The rabbi also was a community rabbi, and distanced himself from his
city until the accusations against him were resolved in response to the
request of the rabbis.
A group of rabbis consisting of Tzfat (Safed) Chief Rabbi Shmuel
Eliyahu, Rabbi Avraham Engel and Rabbi Gad Cohen investigated the
complaints filed against the rabbi accusing him of improper conduct.
After thoroughly examining the issue and meeting with additional
sources, psychologists and professional advisers, the rabbis asked him
to suspend himself. He has been forbidden from coming in contact with the public, including his students. [...]
Is this going to go the same way as Chaim Halpern in London. Despite many allegations and Rabbis calling for his suspension, he managed to evade all attempts to bring him to justice.
ReplyDeleteThis can be seen as yet another challenge to show whether batei dinim are capable of true investigations and protecting the public.
Unfortunately, I am not hopeful.