Rabbi Accused Of Sexual Assault To Perform Wedding With The Blessing Of Britain's Two Major Haredi And Orthodox Rabbinic Organizations
Rabbi Chaim Halpern, who is currently free on bail and under police investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting women who came to him for marriage counseling and for perverting the course of
justice, will conduct a wedding under the auspices of the Orthodox Union
of Hebrew Congregations (Kedassia) and with the permission of United Synagogue later this week at Britain's newly named chief rabbi's former synagogue.
The Times of Israel reports that accused sexual predator Rabbi Chaim Halpern will be officiating at a London wedding:
Rabbi Chaim Halpern, who is currently under police investigation in relation to claims of sexual assault and perverting the course of justice, will conduct a wedding under the auspices of the Orthodox Union of Hebrew Congregations on Wednesday afternoon, The Times of Israel learned.
The father of the bride, Moshe Bunim Meyer, who is a member of Halpern’s synagogue in the Jewish heartland of Golders Green, said he had permission for the arrangement from Rabbi Ephraim Padwa, head of the OUHC.
Halpern, a former religious judge for the organization, was arrested and questioned by the Metropolitan Police in February and is currently out on bail.
He has not been charged and denies all wrongdoing.…
The Times of Israel goes on to add that the synagogue where the wedding is taking place is under the auspices of United Synagogue, another British Orthodox umbrella organization. It claims that it cannot ban someone who has not been convicted of or charged with a crime.
What the Times of Israel characteristically – for this London-based reporter, at least, who has repeatedly stolen reporting from the seminal British blog IfYouTickleUs and less so from me – does not tell you is the following:
1. Halpern allegedly sexually abused women who came to him for marriage counseling.
2. The United Synagogue's own bet din signed a letter saying Halpern is "unfit to serve in any rabbinic capacity."
3. Halpern was questioned by police and is free on bail. He is due back at the police station for more questioning next month.
4. Two men associated with Halpern were arrested for harassing some of Halpern's alleged victims.
5. The United Synagogue would never allow a Reform or Conservative wedding to take place in one of their synagogues.
Knowing those facts the Times of Israel inexplicably failed to report does change a person's grasp of why United Synagogue allowing Halpern to perform this wedding is so mindboggling.
Lastly, when I found out about this on Sunday night, I told my source that I didn't want to publish the wedding invitation or identify the families involved, because I didn't want to (potentially) ruin their wedding.
But now that the Times of Israel has unnecessarily done that, I decided to post it – but I still redacted some of the information in the hope it will give the couple some privacy.
Let's hope that this new couple won't need any marriage counseling. ;-)
Posted by: Kosher Ham | May 21, 2013 at 02:01 PM
that's disgusting.
first time i've used this word on FM
Posted by: ruthie | May 21, 2013 at 02:09 PM
This guy looks to me to go for places were its hairy and furry just look at him with his shtreimel and beard, the only thing left for him to have are 2 horns to make him a complete beast
Posted by: jancsibacsi | May 21, 2013 at 02:19 PM
Kosher Ham - who better to provide sexual counseling than this dude?
Posted by: Sarek | May 21, 2013 at 02:20 PM
Sarek, might I suggest Nechemya Weberman?
Posted by: Mighty Garnel Ironheart | May 21, 2013 at 02:35 PM
Anything is allowed. It's like in New Jersey where in the words of the Traveling Wilburys anything's legal as long as you don't get caught. YL: maybe you can come up with something about this to a Wilburys tune....
Posted by: S M L | May 21, 2013 at 03:21 PM
Well you don't need a Rabbi to get Halachically married.
They should elope,although the food there was pretty good,so they will miss the food.
Possible interesting mix of two rabbinic dynasty's Bunim and Soleveichik.
Posted by: Jake | May 21, 2013 at 03:43 PM
SML: If I have a moment, I'll try to honor your request.
Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | May 21, 2013 at 04:49 PM
SR redacted the date but maybe it is May 21. I just checked the United Synagogue (UK) website. Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks is being feted on his retirement that night. Maybe Halpern was the only rabbi available?
I wonder if they will frame and display the ketubah. The signatures might be quite the conversation starter. "Mommy? Who was the rabbi who married you and Daddy?"
Posted by: Steven W | May 21, 2013 at 05:12 PM
I don't know what perform a wedding means. I am guessing it means "organize," or mesader kiddushin. That is has no halachic consequence. Halpern is not Kasher as a witness, That is the only issue. If the other needed requirements are met, the kiddushin are valid.
Halperin will go to jail for a long time.
Posted by: DSarna | May 22, 2013 at 11:42 AM