The rabbi at the centre of a police investigation into an alleged historic sexual assault was accused of having “no boundaries” when “vulnerable people” were sent to him for advice, according to evidence given to an official government inquiry.
A witness statement to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse said Rabbi Chaim Halpern, 64, made “women feel extremely uncomfortable”.
Last week the Metropolitan Police told the JC that it had launched an inquiry after an alleged abuse victim publicly accused Rabbi Halpern of touching her inappropriately during a counselling session.
Now the JC can reveal that the rabbi was named in evidence to the government inquiry in formal testimony from a Jewish charity, Migdal Emunah, which provides support to sexual abuse victims.
The inquiry’s report, which was published by Parliament in October, recommended the introduction of a new law making the reporting of child sexual abuse mandatory.
The Jewish charity’s then-chief executive, Yehudis Goldsobel, had told the inquiry that many within the Orthodox community “don’t even entertain the idea of reporting abuse to the police” and that allegations were usually dealt with by rabbinical Beth Din hearings which did not allow women or those under the age of 13 to give testimony.
Ms Goldsobel said: “Chaim Halpern has become something of an expert at handling situations of sexual abuse and marriage/relationship issues.”
She added: “It has been reported that he made women feel extremely uncomfortable and he was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct.
“It is vital to point out that some of these women did not have the language to describe what was happening but they knew that he was crossing multiple boundaries, particularly in a community where extreme and absolute segregation of the sexes is universally enforced.”
In 2012, Rabbi Halpern was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and perverting the course of justice in connection with allegations around a marital advice service he was involved in running.
The case was dropped after a nine-month probe.
In its statement to the child abuse inquiry, the charity added that after the decision by the prosecution authorities to drop the investigation against him, the rabbi was honoured at a major community event.
The charity said: “Rabbi Halpern was honoured with a top table seat… This event hosted thousands of men from across the Orthodox community and completely disregards any criminal investigation or allegations made against him.
“It also enforces a message of aligning with perpetrators, by default this continues to silence victims.”
In separate evidence, senior Crown Prosecution Service officials told the inquiry that it faced particular hurdles bringing cases involving the Charedi community where, it said, those reporting abuse to the police were regarded a “Moiser” — an informant — and risked being shunned, due to “centuries of persecution and unfairness… [which led to] fear of those authorities’ response”.
Accusing the rabbi of being “sick and dangerous”, his alleged victim told the JC last week:
“Reb Chaim thinks that because he’s a rabbi, he can do whatever he wishes.”
The 21-year-old claimed her touched her “private parts”, and added: “He tricked me into trusting him by acting charming, nice and likeable, giving attention and compliments.
“He invests time into communication such as phone calls and emails, but it’s all just grooming.”
The strictly-Orthodox rabbi, who leads the Divrei Chaim Synagogue in Golders Green, north London, denies the allegations and his lawyer said he would co-operate with the police investigation.
Speaking to the JC this week, the rabbi’s lawyer dismissed the testimony given to the inquiry about his client as “hearsay evidence”.
He said it concerned allegations that were fully investigated by the police in 2013 and “no charges were brought against Rabbi Halpern”.
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