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We have seen in this forum regular reference to sexual misbehaviour by Roman Catholic clerics ('men of the cloth') in general and in Ireland in particular. We have noted on many occasions how the ruling echelons of that Church - locally, nationally and internationally - have dealt in an entirely inadequate manner with such disclosures. Several times I have asked myself how other churches and other faiths would deal with such a situation - Protestants, Latter Day Saints, Jews, Moslems and so forth. Smugly, I told myself that they would all behave in the same way, that being the 'nature of the beast'.
Over the past few days Israel has been rocked by disclosures concerning one of the country's most respected and beloved clerics. These disclosures did not come from the gutter press, nor from the police nor from any unreliable or disreputable source: they came from the highest leadership of the man's colleagues.
Rabbi Mordechai (Motti) Elon was a TV personality, the head of a very prestigious rabbinical seminary and a renowned religious authority. His students adored him and his colleagues were in many ways in respectful awe of him. (Elon's late father was a justice of Israel's supreme court, he has a brother who was a member of the Knesset, so in addition he comes from a prestigious family.) The whole of Israel's "modern orthodox" camp is shocked beyond words and in a kind of deep mourning because of these revelations.
The "modern orthodox" leadership has a voluntary forum which consists of some of the most respected men and women in their camp. The task of this forum is to deal with complaints of a moral or ethical nature that, for one reason or another, cannot be dealt with by the police - for example, too many years have elapsed between the incident and the complaint.
The work of this forum is done with the greatest discretion and with legal advisers present. When the forum confronted Motti Elon with a complaint from a former student concerning what politely might be called 'sexual harassment' he did not deny the matter but said that in all the years (about 25) since it happened he had matured and grown out of his youthful sinfulness. He noted that this was one single incident in a long and truly glorious career. During the weeks that the forum agonized over what to do another complaint arrived, much more recent, thus Elon's defence was shattered.
The forum decreed that Elon must resign his position as head of the rabbinical seminary, he must cease all his educational activity, he must never be secluded in a room with another man, and he must move as far as possible from Jerusalem. If he accepted these conditions he would be left with his good name intact. Elon accepted these conditions and moved to a small settlement in the north of the country.
All this happened about four years ago. A few days ago the forum announced that Motti Elon was not living up to all these conditions (he was still teaching, attracting students, advising them in privacy) and therefore the matter must be published.
Now that the matter has hit the press, radio and TV, further disclosures are coming almost hourly. It seems that these incidents were not momentary lapses but ongoing sexual relationships with male students.
To my mind, of course, the man's sin is not his obvious homosexuality but what he has done to his family and the fact that has abused the moral relationship between teacher and student: he pulled rank, as it were. I am really sad about what has happened to this man because he is truly charismatic. But I am also proud of the way that his colleagues have dealt with the situation and decided that if the man cannot abide by the limitations he took upon himself the world must know. In all probability, now that the matter has been made public more recent incidents will come to light, incidents that the police will be able to deal with.
I do not belong to the "modern orthodox" camp in Judaism, but I do feel very sad. Please, friends, I would be very glad if you would relate to what I have written - either positively or negatively.
J F R
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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