Since accusations publicized, 10 more students file complaints.
By JERUALEM POST STAFFRabbi Mordechai Elon 311(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski )
Police recently reopened criminal investigations based on sexual abuse allegations made against Rabbi Mordechai “Motti” Elon, it was reported Wednesday.A former student of the charismatic rabbi accused him of sexual abuse, which sparked the new scrutiny. Police expect to present their findings to the state attorney within a few weeks.An investigation had been opened against Elon about six months ago, but officers could not determine whether he had consensual relations with adult students or had committed a criminal act, Channel 10 reported.The allegations first came to light in February after Takana, a rabbinical forum that investigates sexual abuse in the religious community, posted a message on its Web site demanding that Elon step down from all rabbinical, teaching and community responsibilities, and warned that he was a threat to the public.Takana also posted a statement that Elon had been accused of having sexual relations with male students in the past.Also in February, Takana member Rabbi Yuval Cherlow told Army Radio that Elon had admitted to the acts during an emergency meeting, adding that the rabbi’s confession had been documented in the forum’s protocol.Cherlow said that since the accusations against Elon had been made public, 10 additional former students filed complaints against him to the forum.Ben Hartman contributed to this report.
