It's Over for Rabbi Chaim Halpern
I don’t believe I ever heard of him. But in London, Rabbi Chaim Halpern is apparently a very prominent Charedi Rav. One of those who has tremendous power and influence in the Charedi world there. He was involved in many community projects and organizations.
Among them: Kedassia, a Charedi rabbinic organization that rivals the more mainstream Orthodox United Synagogue, the Beis Yaacov Primary School, the Hatzolah emergency medical service, and Or Chana - an infertility charity. But according to an article in Times of Israel he has just resigned from all of them. Although he still heads his own Shul, Kehilla Divrei Chaim.
Why did he do this? Well he still maintains his innocence, but he was forced to resign by rabbinic colleagues. This resulted from a meeting at the home of the highly respected former head of the London Beis Din, Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu. He resigned upon the threat of being publicly condemned by all of them.
He may say he is innocent. But I doubt that his colleagues would have made demands using that kind of threat if they did not believe the allegations against him. Allegations of about 30 women that he sexually abused or assaulted them. Or tired to have affairs with them. Most of them in his role as a marriage counselor.
Well his colleagues may not have condemned him publicly - but I have no problem doing so. This fellow is the British equivalent of Rabbi Nechemya Weberman, currently awaiting trial for similar accusations here in America. The only difference is that this fellow seems to have been a more prominent Rav in his religious circles… a leader of sorts.
I must give credit to the rabbis of Golders Green, the main Jewish section of London. They ‘took care of business’ and got this guy out of any possible situation where he could ever again take advantage of troubled young women seeing him for professional help.
The question remains whether he will be indicted. The police are investigating. If he is guilty, as seems likely, I hope he pays for his crimes by doing some serious jail time. His victims deserve no less.
Please write anything about this story... will post anything without censorship.
ReplyDeleteFor the personal attention of the blogger
Deletethere is an entry on shameful kodosh which talks about personal details of a yothom. The writer used to have one of the children in her house, and these children are under a court order not to divulge details about these children. If she has crossed the line it could have serious implications, besides the fact that it is terrible for the child. Please edit or delete her message
expertoo@hotmail.com
Links to other Blogs and sites
ReplyDeletewww.ifyoutickleus.blogspot.co.uk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ledEDsp6Tw
www.timesofisrael.com/prominent-london-rabbi-resigns-in-growing-haredi-sex-scandal/
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteFor those that still have sympathy for him, be in no doubt that you are supporting a tremendous rosho.
ReplyDeleteThe testimony of the poor victims reduced grown adults to tears and the details they knew left no room for doubt. When these women described details about him that only those closest to him could possibly know, some of his biggest supporters were the only people who could in fact confirm these details to be true. Needless to say they were utterly gobsmacked in face of the overwhelming evidence. These people 'changed sides' which led to his downfall.
He planned his attacks on the women. He subtly lured them over many months or even years in some cases. And do not think he merely 'touched' them; the acts he performed were highly sexual in nature and would qualify for an'x' rating.
The number of cases that have come forward is now approaching 20. That means 20 women have had their lives ruined by this man.
He may be a boki in 'kol hatorah kuloh' as well as an inspiring speaker and leader but that does not preclude him from being a roshoh merushah. He has been oiver multiple issurei doraisa be'meizid that involved weeks and months of planning. Oh, and he's also ruined people's lives which is surely also ossur.
For the record when one of the victims testified in front of him and other rabbonim what happened he had no come back. His answer (after she had left) was 'It's all lies and anyway have rachmonus on me - I have shidduchim to make!'
Does this even require a refutation?!?
Could we please have the name of just one of the alleged victims or is the new chareidi method way of bringing down respected leaders anonymous blogs. Just like the inquisition. Most appropriate for Parshas VeYishlach.
DeleteDo you know that both in halocho and English law SIGNED affidavits are not admissible evidence until after full cross-examination by the other side.
EVERYBODY is innocent until proven guilty and the onus of proof is ALWAYS on the prosecution.
What action will be taken if this happens to a politician or police...
DeleteHe would be suspended until further inquires.
So this is what happened!! So what is all the fuss about?
Just stay away from this so called RABBI
Stamford Hiller.
DeleteIn every case where there was a downfall of a politician or policeman etc. there were public named witnesses who were subjuject to intensive questioning.
Can you give the name of just one of RCH's accusers.
All we know is from anonymous blogs and from news articles that copied them from those blogs. I bet you don't even know who Velvel is.
A fundamental rule of justice- innocent until proven guilty BEYOND ALL REASONABLE DOUBT.
Lot's of jockeying for position and quite a bit of nastiness today.
ReplyDeleteR' Padwa is off to 'the land of the free and the home of the brave' but neither of those should be mentioned in conjunction with him. On the one hand he has a prominent GG shul threatening to break away over his mishandling of the CH situation whilst on the other he has the pro-CH side trying to catch him in a complicated stitch up (and he knows it).
He's under immense pressure to reinstate CH (yes - you read correctly) to the BD from some very powerful groups within UOHC who are threatening to leave if he doesn't. Their logic is that he has not had a chance to defend himself and therefore is innocent until proven guilty. (This is utter nonsense as he has had months to comment but has always obfuscated and refused to 'lower himself' by addressing such 'disrespectful' claims.) The idea of this group is that he be reinstated and an investigation launched to examine the evidence. Of course women will not be ne'eman and the investigators will not be independent at all so you can imagine how this investigation will play out....
If Padwa buckles and CH is reinstated UOHC can kiss goodbye to their remaining credibility in GG but he's scared of the power brokers in question.
There has also been some disgraceful behaviour from certain parties that I can't comment on further but I'm sending a message to those responsible: back off or the gloves are off completely. Enough damage has been done, let's keep this civil.
Velvel
DeleteWell Well Well..... If Padwa buckles and CH is reinstated to UOHC he can also kiss goodbye to all of us in Stamford Hill... believe me I have spoken to a lot of people here in Stamford Hill and all are saying if he does that... he is finished!!!
Thanks Velvel for all your comments!! you are a STAR!!
Thanks Velvel,
DeleteI have some questions, this must be going on years. Why did it break out now? Also, was this done in his house? Where was his wife? What was the question a lady had to ask if she is still mutar? Why didn't the Rabonim stop him right then? Did he do anything illegal in English law? Above all, why are the Rabonnim basically quiet?
this blog is a disgrace. the ribono shel olom is sending us one of the biggest nisyones in a long time. how will we look at all this? will we loose our emunas chachomim and speak loshon horo to its fullest degree? or will we adhere to the chofetz chaims halcha to simply turn away when we hear people talking about this? of course we must wait for a clear psak from our dayanim, but untill then, noone should voice their opion whatsoever.
ReplyDelete