ISRAEL
The Jerusalem Post
Several senior national-religious rabbis who sit on the Takana Forum, which fights against sexual abuse in the community, issued a letter on Sunday giving public backing for the work of Yehudit Shilat, who founded Takana in 2003.
The most high-profile case Takana has dealt with concerned national-religious superstar Rabbi Moti Elon, who was convicted on two counts of indecent assault by force against a minor by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court in 2013.
During the legal process against Elon, close associates and devotees of the rabbi sought to discredit Takana and Shilat. Her campaign team has alleged that her current candidacy for a spot on the Bayit Yehudi electoral list has reawakened those same voices.
Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, one of the most senior rabbis in the national-religious world and president of the Takana Forum, signed a letter together with forum members Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon and Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, as well as Prof. Yedidya Stern of the Israel Democracy Institute, saying that Shilat’s work for Takana had been carried out professionally and with their backing.
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