Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of the city of Safed and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, who heads a special court that hears serious crimes, gave an interview to Reshet B today (Monday) about the case of Chaim Rotter, chairman of the "HaShomerim" organization in Bnei Brak - suspected of committing serious crimes against minors.
Some of the victims came to complain to Rabbi Eliyahu.
Rabbi Eliyahu is the first rabbi to officially speak out about the Chaim Rotter case. In a statement he published on Friday, he spoke out strongly against Rotter's actions and called on other victims to complain.
In the interview, the head of the court sought to reinforce the messages he had published: "Victims always blame themselves. I am happy for the opportunity I have to speak through you to everyone who will listen to me. To everyone who was harmed, to everyone who was harmed - you are not guilty, you are pure, you are clean, you are not a defiler. The offender is the unclean, the detestable and the abominable, he is the only one to blame, not you. You are commanded to go and complain, to knock on the table - do not be afraid. This is a mitzvah, when you complain you save other people."
During the interview, Rabbi Eliyahu spoke about the harsh testimonies against Rutter: "They tell of a cruel man who simply raped them in the most brutal and painful way possible, and in a continuous manner - not once or twice. He took people and changed their life course because such an injury simply accompanies a person for life, and suddenly he deteriorates and falls into prostitution or drugs."
"If you are afraid to go to the police, come to us at the courthouse, we will accompany you and help you file a complaint. You know, those who complained about Haim Rotter saved dozens or hundreds of others."
Rabbi Eliyahu added: "Those who complained and came to him in a confrontation – left with their backs straight and faces shining afterwards, all the blame was removed from their backs and transferred to the attacker's back. They say they were born again."
Regarding his personal feelings following the stories he heard, he said: "I felt pain in my heart. I met the people who were harmed, someone harmed them or, as the halacha says, murdered their soul. You see one and then another and you see dozens, I hope not hundreds (of victims), you say - this is a mass murderer, you want to destroy him."
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