Members of north London’s Orthodox community have demanded the removal of a rabbi who is the subject of a local authority child safeguarding alert, after the JC revealed that he was guest of honour at a Purim celebration.

Leaders of the Golders Green congregation have been criticised for allegedly continuing to back Rabbi Chaim Halpern despite a rabbinical inquiry into sexual assault claims against him.

Halpern has regularly been involved in providing counselling to women in London’s Charedi community and is a trustee of local school charities.

Last year, a 21-year-old woman branded him “dangerous and sick”, claiming he used his position to groom and assault her when she went to him for spiritual guidance.

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Rabbi Halpern

Halpern, who leads the area’s Divrei Chaim synagogue, was also the subject of a police investigation into sexual assault a decade ago but was cleared after a nine-month probe. He denies the allegations.

The JC has learnt that the community is now deeply divided over Halpern’s continued rabbinical role after he was guest of honour during Purim celebrations at Beis Shmuel synagogue, which is run by his brother Moshe.

Hackney council has issued a letter to community youth leaders and schools “strongly advising” them to keep children in their care away from the rabbi.

The Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC), which oversees Halpern’s synagogue, has also launched an investigation into the allegations.

One community figure told the JC: “We know that many members of Beis Shmuel would like him banned.

"How can we possibly have any trust in these institutions’ approach to safeguarding, when they are run by allies and devoted followers of a man who is under investigation and is the subject of a safeguarding notice?”

Another added: “Some people are not prepared to see the truth and won’t believe it. This issue is chillul Hashem [against God] and has ripped the community apart.”

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Rabbi Chaim Halpern

And a father of a pupil at Pardes House primary school, Finchley, said parents were questioning the actions of its governing body. Halpern is a member of a charity behind the school.

The father said: “When you have multiple people who are responsible for the care and safeguarding of children, they should be absolutely robust in how they deal with those sorts of issues. There doesn’t seem to be an ability within the communal leadership to censure him.”

Pardes House primary school governors has been contacted for comment. Halpern’s lawyer, David Sonn, declined to comment.