Tensions mount at Golders Green shul over how to handle claims against Rabbi Halpern
Rabbi Yisroel Meir Greenberg reportedly threatened to resign unless a motion asking the synagogue to clarify its position on to the delay into investigating Halpern is withdrawn.
Jenni Frazer is a freelance journalist
A row has broken out at Golders Green Beth Hamedrash — the strictly-Orthodox synagogue better known by its nickname, Munk’s — highlighting the tension over allegations of sexual impropriety against Rabbi Chaim Halpern, who heads the neighbouring Divrei Chaim congregation.
The row concerns a motion put forward for the congregation’s forthcoming AGM on May 17 — which so infuriated the Munk’s rabbi, Yisroel Meir Greenberg, that he threatened to resign unless the motion was withdrawn.
The motion submitted asked the synagogue to clarify its position relating to the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC), in light of the time lag on the investigation into allegations of sexual impropriety made by another Golders Green rabbi, Chaim Halpern.
Reports say that the resolution asked for an undertaking that the synagogue would not draw any closer to the UOHC without endorsement from the Munk’s members.
Munk’s is not a formal member of the UOHC, but it is a constituent of the Kedassia kashrut authority, which is the UOHC’s kashrut arm, and Rabbi Greenberg is part of the UOHC senior rabbinate.
A member of Munk’s board of management confirmed to Jewish News that a motion had been put forward — “but it was then withdrawn”. Social media accounts, widely circulated in Golders Green and Stamford Hill, claim that the resolution was indeed withdrawn, only after a furious Rabbi Greenberg threatened to resign if it were discussed at the AGM next week.
The board member refused to say who had tabled the original resolution, insisting that it had been submitted “as a way to open dialogue. It has been withdrawn and the matter has been resolved internally.”
The row is an illustration of the impasse which has been reached over the allegations against Rabbi Halpern, which he has repeatedly denied. Five months ago the UOHC announced an investigation into the claims made against him, but due to the illness of the wife of the judge first appointed to lead that inquiry, nothing happened.
Police inquiries remain ongoing, but material is unlikely to be submitted to the UOHC which could prejudice any future action.
It is understood that many strictly-Orthodox people in Golders Green wanted the UOHC to suspend Rabbi Halpern, who leads the Divrei Chaim congregation, but that has not happened.
There was particular concern after Hackney Council issued a warning in March to people to cease sending young people to Rabbi Halpern for “spiritual counselling”; it remains unclear whether he is still acting in that capacity.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
