The penalty phase of the trial of convicted sexual abuser Rabbi Mordechai Elon began this morning with prosecutors asking the judge for a prison sentence of 8 to 18 months.
Imprison Rabbi Mordechai Elon, Prosecution Tells Court
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The penalty phase of the trial of convicted sexual abuser Rabbi Mordechai Elon began this morning with prosecutors asking the judge for a prison sentence of 8 to 18 months, Israeli media reported.
Elon was convicted of two counts of indecent assault late this summer.
As late as yesterday, the prosecution was allegedly undecided on whether to ask for a prison sentence time or to settle for community service.
But Elon was professionally evaluated to determine his potential to reoffend. That evaluation found that his threat level is “low to medium” and the evaluators wrote that Elon should not be left alone with potential victims, Channel 10 reported.
Elon was the leading Zionist Orthodox rabbi of his generation. He served as the rosh yeshiva of Zionist Orthodoxy’s flagship yeshiva, Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem’s Old City. He also taught classes for the public that drew hundreds of rapt students.
He resigned from Yeshivat HaKotel after allegations of sex abuse against teenage male students were brought to the Modern Orthodox Takana Forum whose rabbis and lay leaders attempt to deal with clergy sexual abuse in the Modern Orthodox community.
But Elon retained the support of the leading Zionist Orthodox rabbi worldwide, Chaim Druckman, who allowed Elon to teach in his yeshiva and demonized Elon’s victims.
After Elon was convicted late this summer, Druckman made a point to publicly invite Elon to continue teaching there.
Elon’s politically powerful and well-connected family has also intimidated alleged victims and harassed some of those few Zionist Orthodox community members and rabbis who have spoken out against Elon.