Rabbi Aron Tendler of LA - Resigns from Shaarey Zedek Congregation
From The Awareness Center's Daily NewsletterCase of Rabbi Aron Tendler (Los Angeles, CA)
(AKA: Rabbi Aron Boruch Tendler)
Many of you may or may not know that over the last several years there have been serious allegations of professional sexual misconduct (with minors) made that Rabbi Aron Tendler of North Hollywood, CA. Last night I was informed that Rabbi Aron Tendler was offered the opportunity to resign from his position as rabbi at Shaarey Zedek Congregation, instead of being fired. He chose to resign.
Please follow the is link to read an article (When A Family Member Molests: Reality, Conflict, and The Need For Support) that may be helpful to the friends and extended family members of both Rabbis Aron and Mordecai Tendler.
If you or anyone you know has been abused by Rabbi Aron Tendler, and need resources please do not hesitate to contact The Awareness Center, Inc. or your local rape crisis center.
The Awareness Center, Inc.
443-857-5560
This link may also be helpful to understanding the dynamics of someone who sexually offends:
Sex Offenders: Problems Our Parents Wouldn't Speak
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Please Note: There is more then one Rabbi Aron Tendler. We are talking about Rabbi Aron Boruch Tendler, who was born on January 15, 1955. He is the son of Moshe Tendler.
posted by Jewish Survivors at Sunday, January 22, 2006
2 Comments:
Certainly the talmudic statement quoted below applies in this case. (Excerpted from Rabbi Dratch's article "Let Them Talk: The Mitzvah to Speak Lashon Hara" available at http://jsafe.org/resources.htm)
When a rabbi’s integrity is called into question by persistent rumors, he can no longer function in a rabbinic capacity. Thus, Mo’ed Katan 17a:
"There was once a certain rabbi about whom rumors of impropriety were being circulated. Said Rav Yehudah, “How is one to act? To put the shammeta (excommunicative ban) on him [we cannot], as the Rabbis have need of him [as an able teacher]. Not to put the shammeta on him [we cannot tolerate] as the Name of Heaven is being profaned.” Said he to Rabbah b. Bar Hana, “Have you heard a teaching on that point?” He replied, “Thus said R. Yohanan: What means the text, ‘For the priest's lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is an angel of the Lord of Hosts (Malakhi 2:7)’? [It means, that] if a rabbi is like an angel of the Lord of Hosts, they should seek the law at his mouth; but if not, they should not seek the law at his mouth.” [Thereupon] Rav Yehudah pronounced the shammeta on him."
Even if a certain individual performs invaluable service for the community and is deemed “indispensable” by some, he may not continue in his position if his character or behavior is not above reproach. And only “if a rabbi is like an angel of the Lord of Hosts, should they seek the law at his mouth” because the teaching of Torah is more than just an intellectual experience, the passing on of information and insights into the text. Torah is also a spiritual and moral encounter. No matter how brilliant and insightful, if the rabbi is not a moral exemplar and spiritual role model, his Torah is deficient and one should not learn from him
This is from the Canonist Blog:
# jewishwhistleblower Says:
January 22nd, 2006 at 9:02 am
The following has been confirmed to me by multiple sources:
Letters were sent out last week, to Shaaray Zedek members, informing them that Aron Tendler, after much soul searching, had resigned. Aron is staying on until after Rosh Hashanah and will continue living in the community.
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