BishopAccountability.org

Following Elon Conviction, Sexual Abuse Hotline Much Busier

Israel Hayom
August 9, 2013

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=11253

Rabbi Mordechai Elon

Rabbi Mordechai Elon said to be exploring legal options after conviction • "The court's ruling is immensely important for breaking the silence around the phenomenon of sex crimes in the religious community," says Association of Rape Crisis Centers head.

Friends and associates of Rabbi Mordechai Elon are still struggling to come to terms with his conviction Wednesday on two counts of indecent acts against a minor.

"Naturally, spirits are low, but the rabbi is the king of Migdal," said one of Elon's associates. "We are reviewing the legal options the rabbi has before him."

After Elon's associates and family read the court's decision, one said that "the judge has a very clear world view, which stipulates what is legitimate and what is illegitimate. In her view, if a person behind closed doors hugs someone it is illegitimate, and you must prove that if a person comes to you for consultation and that person is in distress, that such a situation is truly called for."

Those in Elon's circle understand that his conviction will lead many of his critics and those skeptic of his teachings in the national-religious community to believe the rabbi is guilty.

"Obviously many people are confused, but we have heard a lot of questions and criticism regarding the conduct of Forum Takana," one of the rabbi's associates said, referring to the group which seeks to prevent sexual abuse in the national-religious community.

Forum Takana chose not to issue an official comment on the conviction. A senior Forum Takana official, however, was quoted as saying, "We do not revel in this [verdict]. The most important thing is to focus on the fact that one brave person complained and withstood the difficulties that come along with it, so that the rest will not be afraid to come forward."

Reactions in the national-religious community to the court's ruling have been mixed. The national-religious haredi newspaper Besheva ran a front-page headline saying: "The rabbi is convicted, the debate will continue." According to the article, "the fact that the harsher testimonies were never presented in court reinforces the need for an outlet such as Forum Takana."

Meanwhile, Forum Takana noted a significant increase in the number of calls to its crisis hotline for religious men and women in the past 24 hours.

"The court's ruling is immensely important for breaking the silence around the phenomenon of sex crimes in the religious community," said Orit Soliciano, chairwoman of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel.




.


Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.