ISRAEL
Arutz Sheva
Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran
The trespass so clear, so disturbing, so defiling that no caring member of the Jewish community can help but feel a deep sense of humiliation and disgust. Whether in Los Angeles or Jerusalem, the behavior of the Washington, D.C. rabbi, caused every Jew to feel a physical revulsion, no less than if they had been members of his particular congregation.
What was his trespass that it brings about such a harsh reaction? A prominent rabbinic leader and scholar desecrated the trust of young Jews and the holiness of the mikvah by videotaping female congregants and converts as they prepared for and immersed themselves in the mikvah.
A transgression of this nature would be profoundly troubling no matter who was responsible. But to discover that a rabbi undermined the trust in his office and his person in such a fundamental way is almost beyond belief. Sadly, as we have come to appreciate only too often when we’ve heard stories of abusive priests and other predatory religious leaders, the damage done to individuals and institutions when religious leaders behave so atrociously is devastating.
By virtue of their learning and leadership, rabbis hold an incredibly powerful position in shuls and Jewish communities. This rabbi acknowledged as much when he stated arrogantly to one of his congregants in the context of a conversation about establishing a mikvah, “I’m the rabbi! You’re just a layman.” (As reported by a Washington Post column written by Michelle Boorstein on November 8th).
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