A congregation in shock

The daughter of Elisha Ben-Abuyah (a first century rabbi and Jewish religious authority who adopted a worldview considered heretical by his fellow Tannaim) surprisingly stood before Judah the Prince (a second century rabbi and chief redactor and editor of the Mishnah) and asked for his help. The editor of the Mishnah wondered: how could Elisha the heretic still have surviving offspring? After all, he was one of the proverbial four who entered the pardes (orchard), and, as legend has it, came out a Christian convert. He was nicknamed "Ha'acher" or "the other" and became an outcast. But his daughter, looking straight into Judah the Prince's eyes, said "remember his teachings, not his actions."

As Jerusalem Magistrate's Court Deputy President Judge Hagit Mack-Kalmanovitz's issued her verdict on Wednesday, convicting Rabbi Mordechai Elon of two counts of forcible indecent acts against a 17-year-old boy, similar sentiments began to emerge. Journalist Yoav Sorek noted in an article in the daily Maariv that excluding one instance, Jewish law does not regard Torah students or teachers as pure angels, entirely free of sin. The Bible, too, does not gloss over the weaknesses of the nation's greatest leaders. This sentiment will only gain traction from here.

Elon was not just another rabbi or teacher. He certainly is not a backward clergyman who took advantage of some poor married woman by offering her a "love nest." He was an icon, a role model, a shining beacon. Therefore, the crisis within the national-religious community is so deep that it cannot be covered up with words of comfort. Not only that, but he also enjoyed an unusual amount of consideration and extensive understanding.

The Takana forum -- an organization comprising prominent members of the religious community committed to ending sexual abuse and harassment by persons in leadership positions within that community -- is a controversial body. To a certain extent, it serves as a kind of internal judicial authority in place of the state's rule of law, and it was the first to accuse Elon of wrongdoing. As someone who believes in the forum's enormous contribution, and in the justness and mercy of its members, I felt that they went above and beyond the call of duty with Elon, and abided entirely by the law. They gave him the opportunity to mend his ways; to distance himself from the situations in which his urges could get the better of him; to move away and promise never to commit such sins again. But he was unable to comply.

Anyone who saw the video produced by the Takana forum's Rabbi Yaakov Ariel realized that the court that convicted Elon had been privy only to a fraction of the allegations against him. I myself felt slightly uncomfortable with the fact that the video came out 48 hours before the verdict was issued. A more appropriate timing would have been back when the affair became public, or after the conviction.

Elon wrapped himself in a tallit, read from the Book of Psalms and refrained from lashing out at the court, posing as an example to some senior Shas members who behaved differently when they were convicted. While Elon awaits the results of his appeal, his congregation needs to do some serious soul-searching. Not to undo the merit of their values and principles or their faith in their leaders, but to infuse every heart with a tiny crack of doubt; to prompt them to actually examine the facts. They need to be willing to look the people whom they hold in high esteem directly in the eye and wonder if their esteem is really warranted. Casting doubt is a human value, and it is extremely necessary in the modern world, even when it comes to religious experience.

Elon's conviction marks a sad day, but it is also an opportunity for the public to mature -- to continue to love but know when to cast doubt. This duality is the type of maturity that every typical national religious Jew truly needs.

טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו