A special Beth Din set up to examine complaints against
Golders Green Rabbi Chaim Halpern is expected to resume its inquiries shortly.
The rabbinic court, which was convened by the Union of
Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC), the main umbrella for strictly Orthodox
communities in London, suspended operations after Rabbi Halpern was arrested
last February by police investigating alleged sexual abuse of women.
But in December, police said that no charges would be
brought after they had “fully investigated” the matter.
The Beth Din, consisting of two rabbis from Israel and one
from the United States, began its hearing a year ago.
Rabbi David Cohn, of the North Hendon Adath Yisroel
Synagogue in London, who has helped the Beth Din collect evidence, said this
week that the rabbis are “expected back soon. I am working hard to make sure it
happens.”
He added: “We have had a message from the police to say they
have no objection.”
Rabbi Halpern, who is considered one of the most influential
strictly Orthodox rabbis in London, is the head of the UOHC-affiliated Divrei
Chaim community and the son of the president of the UOHC, Rabbi Elchonon
Halpern.
Chaim Halpern resigned his seat on the Union’s rabbinate
following the emergence of complaints about his counselling sessions for women
but has insisted that he was “innocent of all allegations”.
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