Rabbi defrocked for alleged sex offences is still practicing — report
Shimon Garelick of Nahariya continues to present himself as a community rabbi and counselor, Channel 2 reveals
Former rabbi Shimon Garelick
A rabbi who was defrocked by the
Chief Rabbinate after accusations of sexual assault still presents
himself as a rabbi and counselor, according to a Channel 2 investigative
report aired Sunday.
Rabbi
Shimon Garelick had his rabbinic license revoked in August at the
recommendation of the rabbinic disciplinary committee after accusations
that he committed a spate of sexual crimes over many years.
Garelick served as a neighborhood rabbi in the
northern city of Nahariya, as a kashrut supervisor, and as a chaplain
at the city’s hospital.
Accusations against Garelick have come from
girls, boys, women and men, according to Channel 2. Some date back many
years, while some are recent.
Police have closed all cases against him
because the complainants were minors and there was not sufficient
corroborating evidence to prosecute him.
Channel 2 found that he still serves as the
head of a synagogue in his neighborhood. A reporter also went to the
rabbi for counseling and secretly filmed him.
In response, Garelick’s lawyer told Channel 2
that “the complaints were investigated by the correct authorities. The
claims are malicious rumors put about by people with vested interests.
There are no criminal or disciplinary investigations against the rabbi
at this time.”
Claims against the rabbi first surfaced in
2007 when he was detained for several days with many accusations against
him. However, police closed all the cases against him due to lack of
evidence, and Garelick, a father of 11, was released.
The matter was referred to the Takana Forum,
which specializes in dealing discreetly with sexual abuse cases within
the Orthodox community. In 2011, the body ruled that despite not having
been convicted, Garelick should not serve in a public role. They warned
the community to keep their distance from him, the religious website
Kipa reported.
“Since we first heard of complaints against
[Garelick] and without any connection to disciplinary court,” a
statement on the website reads, “the Forum has heard other complaints
against that rabbi, of serious claims of sexual attacks. Some of the
male and female complainants have turned to the disciplinary committee
of the Chief Rabbinate.”
Fliers were circulated in Nahariya against
Garelick, warning people to be particularly careful not to be alone with
the rabbi and to be particularly vigilant not to let young girls speak
with him or be secluded with him.