Orthodox schools’ board distances itself from accused Rabbi Halpern

A leading Jewish businessman listed as running Pardes House and Beis Yaacov Primary Schools Foundation alongside a rabbi who is at the centre of a sexual-assault investigation claims that the accused man is no longer involved with the organisation.

Billionaire investor Benzion Freshwater attempted to distance the group from Rabbi Chaim Halpern, who is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police over claims he assaulted a women who came to him for spiritual guidance.

The rabbi, under the name Aaron Halpern, has had an unbroken 27-year role as a director of the Foundation, which owns the school buildings and controls £16million of assets.

Under corporate law, directors have a legal responsibility for the day-to-day management of a company and can only be removed by a boardroom vote.

Rabbi Halpern is still listed as a member of the board, which says it can appoint the governors of Pardes House Grammar School and Pardes House Primary School (both for boys) in Finchley, and the Beis Yaakov girls’ Primary School in Colindale.

Despite this, Mr Freshwater, the director who signed off the foundation’s latest accounts, claimed the rabbi no longer played a role.

Mr Freshwater, chairman of a £2 billion property firm and a trustee of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, which oversees Rabbi Halpern’s synagogue, told the JC: “Rabbi Halpern has not had any active role… for approximately the last 10 years.”

The move, not recorded in corporate documents, appears to coincide with an earlier probe which saw the rabbi arrested for sexual assault which was dropped after nine-months. Rabbi Halpern, who has denied all the allegations, has been approached for comment.