todah chaver! if we enter into dialogue with our hearts and ahavat yisroel but dialogue with our heads on the basis of a shared tradition and texts...then there is hope.

I am not coming to excuse him but between me and you he doesn't even look like a Rabbi. I'm sure you can admit to that. If so then any non Haredi can claim he's a rabbi, even without his kipa being the worst of society. Talula you out of anyone who is so critical of the orthodox should be critical as to say there is a very big difference between him and any other Rabbi. chow

B"H Your title is "Rabbi Gafni accused of sexual assault". Sexual assault is a totally difficult matter than "Three women file complaint with Haifa police against modern-Orthodox rabbi, claiming he sexually harassed them during Torah lessons, promised to marry them". Assault is a physical issue. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault It would be very embarrasing if YNET fires him without legal council and he sues YNET in the United States for libel. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libel It seems to me an attempt to incriminate him in the press for something he is not even charged with at the police station according to the report. No charge is listed. Only a complaint has been filed according to the article. Sensationalism has its limits. Be careful what you do with your employee relationships, because I see the current title as an entirely inappropriate comment on his current condition. In other words, if you perceive that this man is acting improperly in what he has to say or do, do not do something similar and publish bad words, here inaccuracies that make YNET look bad. Following such a path is not a wise way to lead your readership and those who submit responses to you.

Your complaints about this "news" story are completely appropriate. The only "source" offered seems to be an attorney for the complainants. But Ynet (Ahiya Raved & Avi Cohen) can't be bothered with actually investigating anything. Some Talkbacks, which on Ynet are often better than the stories themselves (excluding the usual lefty wackos), link to a web site of an organization that I presume is run, as it would be in the US, by man-hating lesbians claiming to be rape "survivors." I make no claims about great religious knowledge, but it did seem to me that the one column of his that I read had little to do with Judaism. It is unfortunate that Ynet has removed his columns, because everyone should be able to assess his religious teaching for himself.

Seems the "Rebbe" is in trouble again....He is charismatic by the way...attended one of his retreats few years ago in Poriya...I wonder how his wife puts up with him...are they still together do you know?...So, he's in the US; he will probably wind up as Rebbe at B'nai Jeshurun in NYC...another outcast rebel Beit-Knesset with flamboyant Rebbes and misguided loco "spiritual" leaders...

Whatever Gafni may be accused of, the "Awareness Center" is not a reliable source of information on rabbinic sexual harrassment. The leader of the "Awareness Center" Vickie Polin, has a long history of psychotic behavior, and was a guest on the Oprah show where she accused the Jewish community of Chicago of COMMITTING RITUAL MURDER. Oprah smiled and said, "oh, so this ritual murder, you were there and you witnessed it?" Google "Oprah" "Rachel" "Ritual Murder" http://usajewish.com/

Ynet, you owe an apologies to modern orthodoxy. Gafni is rather the creation of chassidut that dabbles with the hocus pocus of idolatrous kabbala. While he was ordained as an orthodox rabbi it is long since he has left orthodoxy and joined the likes of shalomi shecter to a "renewal" judaism thru the prism of "love" , kabbala and in some cases chemical substances. Yes Avremale(above no.1), the Gra z'l could read thru those chassidim shoytim and their rotten fruits long long long ago!

Please Alan could you please give me the meaning and, if possible, the etymology of " rumbum ". Thank you in advance !

Probably " suspected " would have been more appropriate as long as there is no evidence of the contrary.

Did anyone really checked, or everyone is just having a good time humilating the rabbi?? If he never had sex with these ladies anyways, these were probably setting him up How much money and popularity their attorney and themselves are going to get now???

I saw through Rabbi Gafni the first time I read his articles on Ynet. Then a certain "Rabbi" Ruth Gan Kagan started posting emails on the Janglo and other email lists. I warned people to be aware of false Kabbal rabbis, Missionaries, Reform and Conservative rabbis. There was such an outroar from the Reform and Conservative people. I was banned from Surviving in Hard Times and all the list owners apologised for my bigotted views. Now this I feel sorry for the women who were abused. But this is my whole point, people who are so far removed from Torah are sitting ducks for these people. BH Rabbi Gafni has been exposed. All people who are sexually abused should be tested for Aids. Unfortunately there is sexual abuse in every strata of society, Jew, non-Jew, religious irreligious. Its a disease a twisted mind, even the best of people can be afflicted with it. Paedaphilia is on the increase because people are scared of catching Aids from adults so they use children instead. Its a very sick world we live in so be on your guard. The Shulchan aruch says that in hot countries 2 men should never be alone together. So watch out, educate your children. Beware of teachers, never send your son to the mikvah by himself. Report any strange behaviour. Trust no one. Rabbi Mendel Weinback wrote by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/2611 “If one fails to study Torah this leads to neglect of observing its commandments. This is followed by disgust for those who are observant and then by a hatred of Torah scholars. The inevitable results are preventing others from observance, denying the validity of the commandments and totally abandoning the faith…” These “seven steps to disaster”, which Rashi quotes from our Talmudic Sages, are based on passages in Parshat Bechukotai which will be read this Shabbat in synagogues throughout Israel and the world. When we reflect on the polarization that exists in Israel between the religious and secular communities, we see how the above-mentioned seven steps explain the root of the problem. One of the big challenges facing the new government is how to deal with education in Israel, both in the religious and secular schools. It is to be hoped that an initiative will be taken to eliminate the ignorance of Torah, which is the first of the seven steps, and thus secure Israel forever.

Of course he's a rabbi. Ynet said so. Didn't you all know that they've been handing out rabbinic diplomas for years. The person who tests prospective candidates is a LADY !! Good ol' Ynet. Keep it up!

Rabbi? Kabbalist? Hassid? Please , give me a break, has this man ever displayed his brand of learning to an authentic Rabbi Kabbalist or Hassid? The man is obviously none of the above rather a boor, am haaretz and sinner who merits none of these titles. Your allegations that he became corrupted through Chassidus is nonesense. Which Chassidic group do you allege he was affilated with? He is no different than christian cult leaders who have succumbed to the sins of the flesh the kikes of Jim Bakker, Jim Jones, Bob Tilton etc.

you know what. ... I really enjoyed his insight and perspective on Judaism. He WAS a Rabbi to me because he was a teacher. He wanted people to feel the warmth of Judaism in a new way, which is why he created Bayt Chadash. I met the guy a couple times and I admit he had me under his spell. He was not just charismatic, he was thought provoking; offering insight on jewish thought that I had never heard nor thought about before. Its such a shame... But whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Looks like Ynet has already convicted him..

I wanted to correct her before you did but you beat me to it. However I had another thought, would not SoixantNeuf du Pape go down better for this particular purpose. Good vintage. Forgive me, I just could not resist.

Ohhh Yakov! you cheeky thing you!

Like I said, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....

Apologies.

this guy had no finess, he went straight for the you know what, if he were even a good fake kabalist he could have told the women that he needed them to help him perform a kabalistic ceremony hahahaha

Absolutely NO apology was necessary. Nice to know you can get a little vulgar. It's good for you Yakov! AND it's fun!

Marc Gafni is an amazing human being who helped alot of people , and if you believe these witches , or even if they are right about what he did they should be grateful at least that he gave them some attention! hala!!!!!!! :)

in june 2008 the catalyst magazine published an analysis with additional information and debunked many of the charges against him. the question remains i think of what he is really like, but much of the fervor in 2004 and 2006 is called into question by that article and analysis. worth reading.