Senior rabbi, 55, is caught having an 'inappropriate association' with a married woman by a private eye hired by her multi-millionaire husband after he became suspicious of his 'frequent pastoral visits'
- Yonason Abraham, 55, had an 'inappropriate association with a married woman'
- He was forced to quit Toras Chaim synagogue and his position at Beth Din court
- He said he had 'fallen short of the standards expected' and he was 'deeply sorry'
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| Forbidden sexual behaviors, known as gilui arayot, are viewed so negatively that a Jew is obliged to sacrifice one's life before committing them, only 3 transgressions out of 613 fall into this category. |
Yonason Abraham, 55, was caught
having an 'inappropriate relationship with a married woman'. He was
forced to quit as rabbi at Toras Chaim synagogue and resigned from his
position as a judge at Beth Din court.
A senior rabbi has been forced to quit his synagogue after an ‘inappropriate association with a married woman’.
Yonason Abraham, 55, said he had ‘fallen short of the standards expected’, adding he was ‘deeply sorry I have let you down’.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis issued a statement saying the ‘shameful episode ... has shaken us to the core’.
He
added: ‘When one of us fails in this manner, we are all greatly
diminished.’ The disgraced rabbi is said to have quit over his links
with the wife of a millionaire, to whom he gave ‘pastoral support’ in
her marital home.
The marriages of both
the rabbi and the millionaire were said to have been rocked by the
scandal – although it is understood that neither couple has split.
Rabbi
Abraham had founded the Toras Chaim synagogue near Golders Green in
north London, and had long been respected as one of the four judges in
the London Beth Din court. He has also resigned from this latter role.
His
reputation as a devout leader of the Jewish community was questioned
last month when he sent his sudden resignation letter to his
congregation.
The rabbi said he had
been under ‘exceptional strain and stress for some time which has taken
its inevitable toll’, adding: ‘I now need to help myself and my family.’
A source close to the community told the Daily Mail: ‘He had got far
too close to the glamorous wife of a multi-millionaire and senior figure
in the community.
They have children.
She suddenly started receiving a lot of pastoral support from [Rabbi]
Abraham at her marital home. It’s said it wasn’t long before he crossed
personal and religious boundaries.
‘The husband became so
concerned at the rabbi’s frequent visits that he hired a private eye to
find out what exactly was going on.
What he told the husband was enough for him and his wife to face possible divorce – and for the rabbi to resign.’
The
source went on: ‘The husband’s hackles were first raised when his wife
said she wanted the family to “embrace their faith” more. They attend
synagogue like any other family so this seemed to him an odd thing to
say.
‘Then there were all the visits
from the rabbi, including his using the swimming pool, which on
reflection was odd as well as he was supposed to be there to give
pastoral support.
His worst fears were
realised when the private eye produced evidence that left him in no
doubt the rabbi was behaving inappropriately.
‘It was assumed they were divorcing but somehow they are holding it together. The rabbi’s reputation however has been ruined.
‘I
don’t know how his marriage has survived. The fact that he is a judge
in the religious court makes this even more embarrassing and
hypocritical.’
The millionaire and his
wife declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail with the
allegations. Rabbi Abraham also declined to comment.
Chief
Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis told rabbis in his statement: ‘A Beth Din
[religious judge] must be unimpeachable – anything less is entirely
unacceptable.
‘It was for this reason that I, together with the United Synagogue, ensured that the matter was dealt with so swiftly.
‘This shameful episode has been met by many with disbelief and has caused great pain.
‘In addition, there are innocent family members who have been directly affected and whose lives have been devastated by it.’
A
spokesman for the Chief Rabbi refused to elaborate on the details of
the scandal, but dismissed concerns that the Jewish court could face
appeals in cases heard by Rabbi Abraham going back years.
The spokesman said: ‘There is no concern about the validity of any previous judgements.’