Israel – Rabbis Coming Out In Public to Denounce Rabbi Motti Elon as Dangerous, Others Flock to Support Him

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    Dozens of supporters, students, and rabbis from around country flood into northern town of Migdal to show support for Rabbi Mordechai Elon  Photo: Gili EliyahuIsrael – A rabbinical forum dedicated to preventing sexual harassment within the national-religious sector issued an announcement Monday warning the public of prominent national-religious Rabbi Mordechai (Motti) Elon, who allegedly committed “acts in contradiction to the values of sanctity and morals.”

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    According to Takana, after receiving complaints about Elon’s implicit sexual misconduct, the forum demanded of Elon to end all public activity, step down from any educational and managerial positions and cease conducting one-on-one counseling.

    The forum, composed of prominent national-religious rabbis and legal experts, refrained from making the affair pubic till this point in time in order to preserve the dignity of the complainants and the alleged perpetrator, the announcement said.

    The rabbi had relocated from Jerusalem to the northern Moshava Migdal some four years ago, citing health reasons as the reason for the unexpected move.

    However, the forum recently learned that Elon didn’t uphold all of the terms he committed to, the announcement said, and therefore was forced to air the story in order to “safeguard the public and prevent transgression.”

    The announcement shocked the national-religious public. On Monday night, some of Elon’s former students flocked to the rabbis home in the North in a show of support. Elon himself reportedly flatly denied all of the allegations, and explained that one “seriously disturbed” student was behind the charge. “This is a blood libel, but I am happy that the truth is beginning to emerge,” he reportedly said.

    Speaking on Army Radio this morning, Elon’s brother, former MK Rabbi Benny Elon, slammed the forum and questioned its self-proclaimed quasi-legal status. If crimes were committed, they would have been investigated, he ascertained.

    Also dozens of supporters from around the country, including well-known rabbis and students, have been flowing into the northern town of Migdal in a show of support for Rabbi Elon. They all speak of two earth-shattering issues, “both from the perspective of Rabbi Elon, who is considered among the most important rabbis in Religious Zionism and from the perspective of the well-known rabbis who are members of the forum and signed the document.”

    The rabbi entered the house of study on Tuesday and was received with warm welcomes and hugs from his supporters all around.

    Rabbi Elon, surrounded by his students, will give an open lesson to the media representatives later today. He will not answer journalists’ questions, but is slated to present his students with his interpretation of the suspicions raised against him by the Takana forum rabbis.

    Alongside him are his family members, including Rabbi Benny Elon and Rabbi Emunah Elon.

    Among the rabbis who came to show their support was the son of Israel’s chief rabbi. Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu said, “We are like a family that needs to be reconnected. We must not let the rabbi be alone right now. We can come out stronger, or we can be crushed. I felt last night like my flesh was being cut.”

    “Rabbi Motty is a rabbi full of love and warmth. Every part of him wants to give to others, and this is why the crisis is so large – from this perspective and from the perspectives of those rabbis. They are well-known rabbis and leaders for all of us,” said Yerucham Shimovitz, who came all the way from Herzliya.

    “From my acquaintance with the rabbi, I have no doubt that he did not do the things ascribed to him. I can say as a teacher that it is very easy to smear a teacher with having done things of a sexual nature, in all manner of contact, pats on the back. When a student has a problem, you give a fatherly hug. And this is precisely what Rabbi Elon did,” his student continued.

    Rabbi Elon’s childhood friend who came from the Jerusalem area said with eyes red from tears that he did not sleep all night: “I am not a child. I know that life is complex; it is hard and painful. If, Heaven forbid, it is true, I say this is a disease. I very much hope that it is not true, but it is hard for me to ignore the rabbinical figures who signed the document. I am ripped apart inside. Friendship is measured at a time a difficulty, and if it is true, I will remain his friend.”


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    38 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Wow! People look! They did the right thing! Maybe we can all learn a lesson about how to handle such cases. Our rug has way too many bumps already; let’s stop this now!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Can you imagine if this would have happened by chareidim what would Mizrachi scream,& what would all these holier than thou hate chareidim(who are plain mad on judiasim) posters going to say now

    formally
    formally
    14 years ago

    well it took them 4 years to figure out that just firing a guy and warning him does not stop such people.

    you think they would have learned from the church how not to handle this matters. But they finally got it and that is a major step.

    Now,only if the robonum back here can think like that, many abuses could have been prevented. But we all know that is not their major concern.

    as far as the brothers comment, if it where true an investigation would have been done, is he for real, does he think people are stupid, we all know the frum do not go to the secular authorities

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This is not transparency when he hides behind his talimidim and refuses to answer legitimate questions from the media. When he ran away several years ago to hide from these charges, no one followed him. In this day of open media and internet he will never be able to run fast enough to escape the spotlight until he comes clean and answer all the lingering questions.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I am a chasidishe yingerman I work in a yeshiva in boro park, recently one of my talmidim confessed to me that he had “done it” with the gaba of his shul, I know that gaba guy very well!!

    People this is real!! The rannonim have to stop it! These people should be put behind bars!!!

    And only the big leaders and rabbonim will be able to do it.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This is 100 percent Sheker! Rav Elon was a Rebbe of mine, and he had nothing but compassion and love for all his Talmidim. He knew when to draw the line and being Misbayesh such a Talmid Chacham is such a big Aveirah. When did it become okay to speak Lashon Hara about Gedolim like Rav Motti.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    So The Modern Orthadox Are Not Perfect! What A Surprise

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    As an American “chutznik”, I have no clue who or what this rabbi is, nor do I have any reason to believe or disbelieve the accusations. What is important to keep in mind is that there are many people with rabbinical positions who are fine talmidei chachomim, great at transmitting Torah to their talmidim, and deserve all the accolades we can find. On the other hand, there are a few who are decrepid and embarrassing specimens who give the rest a bad name. Can someone accuse a rebbe of committing such lewd acts? The painful answer is, yes. Such crimes and aveiros do happen. Could this case be one of innocence and completely fabricated charges, also yes. But we American readers, without getting caught up in the frenzy of the situation, must realize that we have a chiyuv to do something substantial to regain the trust and faith in our leaders. Cases of guilt must be prosecuted severely, and the innocent must be similarly exonerated and restored their dignity.

    Milhouse
    Milhouse
    14 years ago

    What a sloppy article. Not only is Emunah Elon called a rabbi, which shows that the writer has no idea who she is, but who are these accusers? They are not named, no hint is given as to who they might be, so why should the reader even entertain the possibility that the accusations might have some substance to them?

    Phoneix
    Phoneix
    14 years ago

    #5 , what are YOU going to do to stop this. The information you have has now put you in a postition where you need to stick your neck out and do something. You have an achrayus to talk to this child’s parents immediately and take action. If even one more innocent human being is molested by this so called “Gabbai” then you are guilty by association. The child who was molested needs medical/emotional attention immediately. how can you sleep at night?

    Lawrence Doc
    Lawrence Doc
    14 years ago

    these accusations are total sheker. First of all, no one has a clue of what Rav Elon is being accused of. There are no criminal charges, only moral misdeeds (whatever that means). He is not being accused by any court or police, but by a group of very resectable Rabbonim. There is a lot more to the story, I would advise all to hear it out before making wild accusations or destroying a great Tzadik’s reputation.

    AmYisroelChai
    AmYisroelChai
    14 years ago

    wow, this is very disturbing.. not the article, but the comments. The frum community needs to open their eyes and stop living in a bubble! Open your eyes everyone, do something about the situation instead of covering it up with excuses. I do not know if this rabbi did what he was accused of doing, but if he did he needs to be put in charim and than jail, for life! I cant believe we have come to sucha low level that when our rabbanim sexually molest our children we make up every excuse in the book why that cannot be true and name that child “confused” or “messed up” COMMON people take action and open your eyes!

    PHONEIX
    PHONEIX
    14 years ago

    I beg of you, #23 to be strong. Please speak to this boy and ask him how you can help him. I am not a professional but I think what I would do in this case is ask the boy if he needs help and if he would like to talk to someone privately. Then maybe call ohel if he agrees? are there any porfessionals who can advise this young rebbe as to what to do to help this child? although he is 16, he is still suffering of that I am sure. No. 23, you are ready to point the finger at Rabbanim. What about you? I point my shaking finger at you and I yell at the top of my lungs ” are you an Ish?” are you a man who is going to take responsibilty for a crime that happened right under your nose? these pedophiles don’t stop until caught. Where is that gabbai right now? is he molesting another innocent boy at this very moment in a dark room in the shul?
    STAND UP AND BE A MAN! don’t be a “maalim Ayin”.

    kol mevaser
    kol mevaser
    14 years ago

    very sad… i know rav elon personally as i attended yeshivat hakotel, this is a disaster and i find it hard to believe true, this will be evident pretty soon… hopefully

    Godol HaDor
    Godol HaDor
    14 years ago

    Although I don’t know Rav Motty personally, I did attend some of his shiurim wed nite at yeshurun years ago and learned thru his amazing Tcheles Mordechai. He is a rarely unique person who has been out of contact for a while. I have spoken to people close to him and they describe him as a very special apiritual sweet person. That he is very learned and talented is clear to see and hear.
    Here is the issue.
    Is it POSSIBLE that this odom godol fell down and did something very wrong? Yes. It is possible. But to make a vague statement in a public forum without much back up and thereby FOREVER ruining this talmid chochoms life is simply inexcusable.
    If he did something to warrant this, then by all means call him to task but to be vague? Is wrong.
    Let’s assume he hugged or kissed a female student chas vsholom, that is morally wrong and below what such a talmid chochom should act, but it is way way different than qa more serious abusive act. Let the public judge.
    I would wish that nothing of this sort come out publicly in a one sided way, but if it does we need to be fair to him and his family and the public and call it like it is.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    not for a second do i believe Rav Elon is guilty! not everyone has the ability to have their heads on straight, and i do believe that this one student who accused him may be someone with some issues. the fact that Rav Elon has hundreds of students and one person is accusing him… come one!! Taking time out to speak lashon hara does not make any of you better! we daven every day for moshiach but clearly you dont really care because if you did you would stop and realize that noones better because they are chareidi, or modern orthodox, we are all the children of Hashem and by you putting someone else down doesnt make you any better!

    Z
    Z
    14 years ago

    I was a student at Yeshivat Hakotel under Rav Elon. I travelled to Poland with Rav Elon as well. Rav Elon is probably one of the most special people on this earth. Rav Elon is the type of guy that is busy 24/7 with everything under the sun- from shiurim, to chinuch, to kiruv, to gov’t affairs- but if you have a problem, he’ll give you all the time in the world and make you feel like he is your father.

    The reason he moved up north and retired from hakotel was because he was getting 2 hrs of sleep a night and it was killing him.

    Rav Elon treats each and every one of his talmidim liek a son. I WISH that I had more time to spend with him. He is truly a special rav that no one could ever compare to- just ask anyone who’s met him.

    This article makes me so sad to even accuse Rav Elon of something so terrible.

    I don’t know the story behind it, but I do know the man. A man who, after being to poland dozens of times, still has tears streaming down his face as he walks into a forest where Jews were killed. A man who sits and talks to you about your problems. A man who would do anything in the world for another yid.

    (Rav Elon runs a national kiruv orginazation called Mibereishit as well)

    Yerachmiel Lopin, FrumFollies blogger
    Yerachmiel Lopin, FrumFollies blogger
    14 years ago

    1. Great personalities and talmidei chachamim fall down at times in one or more areas. Enough of this perfect narishkeit.
    2. In a system that covers up for leaders, the first act leads to many more, because they know that in its heart, the frum community does not care that much. If it did it would act.
    3. Kol hakavod to the forum for taking on the unpleasant task which they would rather not have of condemning one of their own. This is achrayis.