Bais Din and Toy'anim

 Synopsis of the Article: "Regarding Shlomo Halpern – Grave Concerns Regarding Halachic Integrity"

The article, authored by Rabbi M. F., issues a serious and detailed warning to the Torah community about the alleged misconduct of Mr. Shlomo Halpern, who operates under the title toien (halachic legal advocate), primarily in Monsey, Brooklyn, and surrounding areas. The letter outlines a pattern of behavior that the author claims severely undermines the halachic judicial system (Batei Din) and the integrity of Dinei Torah.

Key Allegations:

1. Filing in Secular Court Without Heter Arka’os: Halpern allegedly filed lawsuits involving religious disputes in secular courts without rabbinic permission and falsely claimed he had a heter from Rav Daniel Geldzahler, who unequivocally denied giving such authorization.

2. Enforcing Ribbis (Interest) Contracts: He is accused of initiating legal actions to enforce contracts with prohibited interest clauses, without using a heter iska, thereby violating Torah laws of ribbis.

3. Documented Deception and Manipulation:

   • Alleged forgery and use of fraudulent documents.

   • Switching sides in cases for personal gain.

   • Sending proxies to Batei Din to conceal conflicts of interest.

   • Reviving settled cases for strategic advantage.

4. Bribery and Betrayal: Specific cases are cited where Halpern allegedly accepted bribes to switch sides mid-case, used fronts to avoid scrutiny, and sabotaged existing psak din (rabbinic rulings).

5. Use of a Nonprofit for Private Gain: The article asserts that Halpern used a nonprofit entity (Mechon Rav Shalom) to:

   • Collect client retainers without refund.

   • Issue interest-bearing loans without heter iska.

   • Funnel all proceeds into an account he personally controlled.

6. Matrimonial Manipulation: He is accused of obstructing gittin (Jewish divorces), playing both sides in divorce cases for financial gain, and prolonging disputes to extract more money.

7. Encouraging Arka’os (Civil Court): Halpern allegedly advised clients to abandon Beis Din and instead pursue civil litigation, sometimes without halachic permission, further undermining the Torah system.

Call to Action:

Rabbi M.F. calls on Rabbanim, Dayanim, and communal leaders to:

• Disqualify Halpern from any role in Batei Din until full accountability is achieved.

• Institute stricter arbitration terms to prevent similar abuses.

• Investigate the alleged misuse of nonprofit funds.

• Publicly inform the community to avoid engaging his services.

Tone and Purpose:

The letter is passionate, urgent, and framed as a defense of the sanctity of halacha and Torah justice. It includes a blend of documented allegations and personal experiences, appealing to rabbinic authorities to act decisively and restore public trust.