Mordecai Tendler

Rabbi Mordecai Tendler is the former rabbi of an Orthodox Jewish community which he founded in New Hempstead, New York. He was known among Orthodox Jews "as a scholar, educator, and community leader".cite web
url = http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1187859736882
title = Divided Panel Rules 'Seduction' Claims Against Rabbi Are Barred by N.Y. Law
accessdate = 2007-12-02
last = Wise
first = David
date = August 24, 2007
work = New York Law Journal]

Family

Tendler was born into a prominent American Orthodox family. He is the son of Rabbi Moshe Tendler, an expert in Jewish medical ethics, and his maternal grandfather is Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one the leading 20th Century American rabbinic decisors ("posek"). As the posek's grandson and disciple, Mordecai Tendler worked closely with R. Feinstein in administering his efforts to promulgate responsa on many matters of Jewish law (halakhah). Moreover, Tendler helped prepare and edit various volumes of Feinstein's responsa for publication in the "Igrot Moshe" series.

His brother, Aron Tendler, is a rabbi living in Los Angeles.

Allegations of misconduct

Due to allegations of sexual misconduct and his non-cooperation with an investigation, his membership in the Rabbinical Council of America was revoked in 2005,cite web
url = http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100606
title = Open Letter to the Jewish Community
accessdate = 2007-12-02
date = June 27, 2005
publisher = Rabbinical Council of America] [cite web
url = http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100637
title = Clarification Regarding Rabbi M. Tendler and Bet Din
accessdate = 2007-12-02
date = December 30, 2005
publisher = Rabbinical Council of America ] and in 2006, he was removed from his Rabbinical position.cite news
first = Jeane
last = Macintosh
coauthors = David Hafetz
title = Rabbi Expelled from Shul
url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/access/995446381.html?dids=995446381:995446381&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+1%2C+2006&author=JEANE+MacINTOSH+and+DAVID+HAFETZ&pub=New+York+Post&edition=&startpage=007&desc=RABBI+EXPELLED+FROM+SHUL+-+CLAIMS+CONSPIRACY+IN+SHOCKING+SEX+SCANDAL
format = Internet Archive
work = News
publisher = New York Post
page = 7
date = March 1, 2006
accessdate = 2007-11-29
archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060525194745/http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/64418.htm
archivedate = Unknown ] Tendler has continued to deny the allegations of both the plaintiffs and anonymous bloggers.cite web
url = http://www.forward.com/articles/452/
title = Rabbi Challenges Right to Anonymity on Internet
accessdate = 2007-12-02
last = Spence
first = Rebecca
date = July 14, 2006
publisher = The Forward] In 2007, the Appellate Division, 1st Department, of the New York State Supreme Court affirmed the lower court ruling that dismissed the lawsuit brought by one of the plaintiffs against Tendler.

Legal proceedings between Tendler and the bloggers are still ongoing as of 2008.cite web
url= http://www.citmedialaw.org/threats/tendler-v-does
title= Tendler v. Does
accessdate= 2008-08-29
last= Bright
first= Arthur
date= July 30th 2008
work=
publisher= Citizen Media Law Project of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School]

References