Prime nationwide spiritual rabbi calls rape allegations towards Rabbi Zvi Tau ‘gossip’
A number one national-religious rabbi on Wednesday appeared to dismiss rape allegations towards one other distinguished spiritual chief from the group, whereas additionally suggesting he ought to be “hanged” if the accusations show to be true.
Rabbi Zvi Tau, 85, has been accused by a number of ladies of sexual abuse and rape relationship again many years, with two going public to this point.
Tau heads the influential Har Hamor Yeshiva in Jerusalem and can also be the non secular chief of the anti-LGBT Noam political get together, which gained a single seat within the new Knesset as a part of the far-right Spiritual Zionism slate.
Rabbi Chaim Druckman, the non secular adviser for Spiritual Zionism chief Bezalel Smotrich, referred to as the allegations towards Tau “gossip” in an interview with Kan public radio.
“Folks wish to gossip. They search for issues from the earlier century,” Druckman mentioned, referring to when a few of the alleged assaults have been mentioned to have occurred.
Requested if he believes the ladies who’ve spoken with police, he responded, “What am I, the police?”
“Go to the police. The police will deal with it,” he added.
He was then pressed on what ought to occur if the accusations have benefit.
“He ought to be hanged,” Druckman mentioned. “It is advisable act like one does in such a actuality.”
Nehama Te’ena speaks to Channel 12 information about allegations that Zvi Tau, a distinguished ultra-conservative rabbi, sexually abused her since she was a 10-year-old woman (Screencapture/Channel 12)
The remarks got here as police look into the allegations towards Tau, with a particular workforce shaped to deal with the case after a number of distinguished rabbis final month referred to as for him to be investigated.
Tau’s first accuser, Nechama Te’ena, went public in August, however her allegations have been largely ignored on the time by the police and the media. She later staged small protests outdoors the Knesset, accusing Tau of raping her and others, and demanding to know why police had refused to analyze.
The second girl, who has been named in media solely as Dorit, has claimed that some 40 years in the past, she was serving to Tau’s spouse at their house when the rabbi cornered her within the kitchen and assaulted her. She mentioned she was capable of struggle him off and escape the ground-floor house by way of a porch.
Although the statute of limitations for the incident has expired, prosecutors see worth in Dorit talking to police to make clear Te’ena’s allegations, Kan has reported.
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