Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo is Dean of the David Cardozo Academy in Jerusalem (
www.cardozoschool.org), and author of highly regarded books and articles. This essay is reprinted on our website with his permission.
I will teach transgressors Your ways
that sinners may return to You
[Tehilim 51: 15]
Despite everything, I have great hopes for Rabbi Elon and believe he will deliver. I do not know what really happened, what is true and what is not. Surely something awful seems to have taken place. Nevertheless, though he may have seriously erred, caused people suffering, and damaged the honor of Judaism, and though he deserves to take responsibility and pay for his actions, I believe that it is in his power to teach us an important lesson.
I am neither a member of Rabbi Elon's camp nor a follower of his. I do not believe in the idolization of people, even great rabbis. And I am not going to defend him.