The context:
A communal safety alert issued by Montreal rabbinic leadership regarding allegations of grooming and boundary violations within a religious mentorship context.
The comment:
We have a special responsibility to look out for individuals seeking God who apparently instead found themselves on the receiving end of sexual advances. These actions don’t need to rise to the level of a crime to generate our concern.
I was glad to see the letter. It serves as a critical mechanism for communal safeguarding and proactive protection. It shows the victims that we stand with them; they are not imagining things. What was done to them was not halachic.
Predators are selective about their victims. They can be perfectly fine with some people and not fine with others. In fact that is the point. “But he is such a nice guy.” “I’m a religious woman and never had a problem with him.”
The letter’s importance stems from its role as a targeted safety alert designed to disrupt predatory grooming within the specific ecosystem of the Montreal Jewish community.
Yes, predatory grooming is a thing. I have seen this behavior in action. I have watched people countless times dismiss it as “nothing.” It is designed to come across that way, so no surprise.
For example, predators when caught typically call it all a “misunderstanding.” But by detailing the targeting of vulnerable newcomers, the use of “spiritual authority” to bypass consent, and “boundary testing,” the letter strips away the perpetrator’s cover. It specifically highlights the misuse of religious framing—such as claiming “halachic” permission for inappropriate touch—to gaslight victims. SICKENING.
Secondly, the letter distinguishes itself as a communal safety matter rather than a criminal indictment. While the police manage past crimes, community awareness focuses on prevention. By identifying Purim as a high-risk period, the letter provides rabbis with a tactical “red flag” to protect congregants before harm occurs.
In religious settings, where a “duty of care” is paramount, sharing this for awareness is an ethical necessity to ensure the sanctuary remains safe.
Thus, while sharing allegations carries the risk of defamation claims, this document operates under the principle of Qualified Privilege. This legal concept typically applies when a speaker (Rabbi Whitman) has a moral or social duty to share information with parties (fellow rabbis) who have a corresponding interest in receiving it for the sake of public safety.
Further, the letter’s chronological, verified detail supports a defense of truth. And the intent is clearly protective, not spiteful, focusing on safeguarding the community across all Jewish denominations.
(Disclaimer: Not a lawyer or psychologist. We have not heard the other side of the story. AI-researched.)
Writing by Dr. Dannielle Blumenthal 