Case of Ya'akov Ha'elyon
(AKA: Ya'akov Haelyon, Jacob Haelyon)
Former Journalist - Ma'ariv, Tel Aviv Israel
Husband of the Principal - Tel Aviv Arts School, Tel Aviv, Israel
Convicted on charges of sexually assaulting two teenage girls. Ya'akov Ha'elyon met the two girls over the Internet and invited then to theater plays where he committed the offenses.
In October 2002, the body of his wife, Yael Ha'elyon, was found outside the window of her Tel Aviv apartment. Family members said that she likely overdosed on painkillers she was taking for back pains, but police suspected she committed suicide over the allegations against her husband.
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Table of Contents:
2002
2008
2009
2002
- Yael Ha'elyon, founder of TA Arts School, falls to her death (10/14/2002)
- Police checking new info in death of TA arts school principal (10/21/2002)
- Complaint filed against widower of TA Arts School principal (10/22/2002)
- It's not the midriff, stupid (10/29/2002)
- Widower of TA Arts School principal held over sex charges (11/03/2002)
2008
- Journalist Yaakov Ha'elyon convicted of having sex with minor (11/11/2008)
2009
- Former journalist Haelyon jailed for statutory rape (04/20/2009)
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Yael Ha'elyon, founder of TA Arts School, falls to her death
By Relly Sa’ar
Haaretz - October 14, 2002
Yael Ha'elyon, 64, founder and principal of the Tel Aviv Arts School, was found dead at dawn Saturday at the foot of her 13th floor apartment on Shaul Hamelech Boulevard in Tel Aviv.
Her husband, former Ma'ariv journalist Ya'akov Ha'elyon, said she had been speaking on the telephone early in the morning, "and apparently fell out of the window." He noted that his wife "had been suffering severe backaches and was on medication." Yael Ha'elyon left two children and three grandchildren. Her funeral will take place today.
Rumors that Ha'elyon had committed suicide presented the city's educational psychologists with a difficult dilemma. "On one hand, we had the family's formal version, that the principal tripped and fell from the window. But this version alone would undermine the teachers' credibility as far as the pupils are concerned," said Rahel Tusman, head of the municipal psychological services yesterday, on the first day of mourning at the Arts School.
"As long as no suicide letter has been seen, it's not our job to be coroners but to take care of the children," she said.
Tusman said both pupils and teachers were grief stricken, but some also expressed anger. "Why did she do it, why did she leave us," they asked. After the seven mourning days of shiva, a team of psychologists will set up counseling workshops in the school to help pupils deal with mental distress.
A mother of a ninth grade painting pupil said: "It's important the adults send an unequivocal message: suicide is wrong. Teenagers have a frightening tendency to take life lightly. The matter must be dealt with."
Founded by Ha'elyon 18 years ago, the Arts School was the first in Israel to combine elementary school studies with an emphasis on music, dance, theater, plastic arts and cinema. She served as the school's principal since then. The Arts School accepts only gifted pupils after strict selection exams and charges an annual NIS 7,000 for tuition.
"Her death is a huge loss to education in Tel Aviv," said former mayor Shlomo Lahat, who first allowed the charismatic woman to open the school. "Ha'elyon was an authoritative figure who knew how to impose her authority on teachers and pupils in pleasant ways. The school has a strong culture of firm discipline, standards were very high and there were no incidents of violence in it, thanks to the principal," Lahat said.
Two years ago, the Arts School moved to a spacious campus, following a $6 million donation by the Arison family, matched by the municipality, a member of the school's parents committee said. He added that Ha'elyon used the parents committee to raise funds for projects the city would not finance. For example, the parents contributed $300,000 to open a cinema studies department, and helped purchase musical instruments and computer equipment.
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Police checking new info in death of TA arts school principal
By Haim Shadmi, Relly Sa'ar and Ronnie Zinger
Haaretz - October 21, 2002
The Yarkon District Police are investigating new information they have received regarding the circumstances of the death last week of Yael Ha'elyon, the founder and principal of the prestigious Tel Aviv Arts School. Ha'elyon was found dead at dawn two Saturdays ago at the foot of her 8th floor apartment building on Shaul Hamelech Boulevard in Tel Aviv after police believed that she jumped to her death.
On the Friday preceding her death, Ha'elyon received information that the police were looking into accusations by two sisters regarding their relationship with her husband, Ya'akov.
On Sunday, one of the sisters, 20, and her parents, testified that the relationship with Ya'akov Ha'elyon started via the Internet, and ultimately resulted in intimate sexual relations.
The second sister, 14, is currently undergoing treatment at an institute for the sexually abused. The two sisters have yet to file a complaint, but police sources said Sunday night that it seems as if the mother and her two daughters are interested, "in turning their testimony into a complaint."
Preliminary reports into the cause of Ha'elyon's death show that she was not suffering from any serious diseases and was not taking sedatives or other drugs.
Responding to the family's claims that her death was not a suicide, police sources said that for now they do not suspect a criminal motive.
So far, police have not made any connection between the new information that has come to light and the suspected suicide. However, if a complaint is lodged with the police and an investigation begins, then police will check all possible avenues.
Ya'akov Ha'elyon was hospitalized over the weekend after falling ill. His attorney, Ronel Fischer, told Israel Radio that his client was in "very serious condition and that his life was in danger." Fischer added that people were in too much of a hurry to draw conclusions in the case. "This is real tragedy, and so far there are only words and not facts," he said.
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Complaint filed against widower of TA Arts School principal
By Haim Shadmi, Relly Sa'ar and Roni Singer-Heruti
Haaretz - October 22, 2002
A 14-year-old girl has filed an official police complaint against Ya'akov Ha'elyon - the widower of Yael Ha'elyon, founder and principal of the prestigious Tel Aviv Arts School - for sexual assault. Yael Ha'elyon was found dead at the foot of her apartment building on Shaul Hamelech Boulevard in Tel Aviv last week, and police believe she jumped to her death from the eighth story. Her family claims she fell off the balcony while talking on the phone.
As a result of the complaint, police will start an investigation of Ha'elyon, who will be summoned to the Yarkon district police headquarters for questioning.
After Yael Ha'elyon's death, details emerged suggesting that on the day before her death, Ha'elyon received information that police were looking into accusations made by two sisters regarding their relationship with her husband, Ya'akov.
One of the sisters, aged 22, came to the Yarkon District Police station last Sunday morning to give testimony about her relationship with Ya'akov Ha'elyon, which she says started on the Internet and ultimately resulted in intimate sexual relations.
Her younger sister, 14, is currently undergoing treatment at an institute for victims of sexual abuse.
Preliminary autopsy findings showed that Ha'elyon was not suffering from any serious diseases and was not taking sedatives or other drugs.
Responding to the family's claims that her death was not a suicide, police sources said that they do not suspect any criminal action and believe that Ha'elyon took her own life.
Ya'akov Ha'elyon was hospitalized last weekend after falling ill. His attorney, Ronel Fischer, told Israel Radio that his client was in "very serious condition" and that his life was in danger. Fischer added that people were in too much of a hurry to draw conclusions in the case. "This is a real tragedy, and so far there are only words and not facts," he said.
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It's not the midriff, stupid
By Avirama Golan
Haaretz Daily - October 29, 2002
Picture this. In a small Haredi [ultra-Orthodox] town - say Bnei Brak - one woman, known for her piety and for being the daughter of an esteemed Hasidic rabbi, ran an excellent educational institution. The parents admired her, the teachers idolized her, and the school was known all over the country for being an example of the best in Haredi education.
Then one day, out of the blue, the woman died under mysterious circumstances. Everyone thought she must have been very ill, but a few days after her death, the truth begin to come out.
At the woman's funeral, her husband complained about wanton behavior that had spread among the girls in the educational institution. The mourners were all choked up. A little girl said the principal's husband had hit on her, and her family threatened to go to the police.
Afterward, the family changed their minds and decided to hush everything up so as not to make waves. Some of the young teachers also admitted that the husband, who used to hang around the school yard for some reason, had dropped outrageous and embarrassing hints.
Suddenly it turned out that all the parents had known something was afoot and kept quiet, because it would be unpleasant for them to have to embarrass the rabbi's daughter. Now, proclaimed all the secular newspapers, the poor girl and all the other students would pay the price for lies, ultra-conservatism and brutal Haredi chauvinism. To maintain their social order, they were willing to place the blame on the women - even on an innocent girl.
But this scandalous affair did not take place in Bnei Brak - it happened in Tel Aviv. And not just Tel Aviv either, but in a showcase of enlightened secular liberalism - the Tel Aviv Arts School. And the principal was not the daughter of a rabbi, but Yael Ha'elyon, an highly regarded educator.
The parents and teachers all knew - as is now becoming apparent from all the articles and from conversations with them - about a number of unpleasant incidents in which the principal's husband was involved, but they remained silent "because it was unpleasant for them." And when one brave girl finally did what all the teachers are always teaching all the children to do - complain - the system could have been expected to protect her. It would keep the harasser at bay, support her, protect all the students, use all the educational and psychological means at its disposal. But it didn't.
Now the 14-year-old girl has to bear the burden and silence of guilt. Neither the beloved principal nor her husband will be able to beg her forgiveness, or at least explain to her why they, the wonderful and admired adults, fell apart when she did the right thing. And as though that weren't enough, all the far-flung evil genies are raising their heads to say: "What's the problem, the strange and repugnant remark made by Ya'akov Ha'elyon over his wife's open grave - regarding girls who entice boys with revealing clothes - is not so strange.
On the contrary, claims columnist Ron Maiberg in the mass-circulation daily Ma'ariv (and many probably nodded in agreement), the girls, with their low-cut jeans and their exposed midriffs, have crossed the boundaries of good taste. It's no wonder that the perverts "hidden among us" want to rape them.
It's a shame that in 2002, and after Israel has passed such effective laws regarding sexual harassment, it is still necessary to go over the ground rules. Sexual deviants, rapists and the mentally ill who cannot distinguish right from wrong, are not especially well versed in matters of fashion - nor even in matters of outward appearance.
Young brides from the Vishnitz Hasidic community, for example, cover not only their midriffs and their heads, but even their elbows and necks, yet despite this a pervert deceived them and raped them in their own homes. Not to mention all the five-year-olds and three-year-olds who have fallen victim to sexual assaults by pedophiles. Were they immodestly dressed, too?
The most severe consequence of the Ha'elyon affair is the fact that attention has been diverted from the personal tragedy and the educational failure to the girls' midriffs. If the woman teachers are swept up in this ugly witch hunt of girls aged 10 or 12, in order to suppress the panic, they will be adding insult to injury.
It is still not too late for adults to remind every young boy and girl that they must report every harassment. This is because a secret is something dark and evil and they, the adults, are always prepared to protect them, to support them and to go to bat for them in time of trouble. These - not clothes, or keeping covered, or self-righteous and hypocritical concern - are the order and stability that children need in this world.
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Widower of TA Arts School principal held over sex charges
By Roni Singer-Heruti
Haaretz - November 3, 2002
The Tel Aviv Magistrates Court rejected Sunday night an appeal by Ya'akov Ha'elyon to be released from custody, after police detained him for questioning on suspicion of raping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
The girl filed an official police complaint against Ha'elyon - the widower of Yael Ha'elyon, founder and principal of the prestigious Tel Aviv Arts School - for sexual assault. Yael Ha'elyon was found dead at the foot of her apartment building on Shaul Hamelech Boulevard in Tel Aviv last month, and police believe she jumped to her death from the eighth story after hearing that her husband was to be accused of assault. Her family claims she fell off the balcony while talking on the phone.
Ha'eylon's attorney claimed that his client, who has been hospitalized in the Abarbanel psychiatric hospital since the death of his wife, should not be held in prison - a claim rejected by the judge, who extended his remand by 10 days.
As a result of the complaint, police began an investigation into Ha'elyon, who was taken from Arbarbanel hospital in Bat Yam to the Yarkon district police headquarters for questioning.
After Yael Ha'elyon's death, details emerged suggesting that on the day before her death, Ha'elyon received information that police were looking into accusations made by two sisters regarding their relationship with her husband.
One of the sisters, aged 22, came to the Yarkon District Police station last Sunday morning to give testimony about her relationship with Ya'akov Ha'elyon, which she says started on the Internet and ultimately resulted in intimate sexual relations.
Her younger sister, 14, is currently undergoing treatment at an institute for victims of sexual abuse.
Preliminary autopsy findings showed that Ha'elyon was not suffering from any serious diseases and was not taking sedatives or other drugs at the time of her death.
Responding to the family's claims that her death was not a suicide, police sources said that they do not suspect any criminal action and believe that Ha'elyon took her own life.
Ya'akov Ha'elyon was hospitalized last weekend after falling ill. His attorney, Ronel Fischer, told Israel Radio that his client was in "very serious condition" and that his life was in danger. Fischer added that people were in too much of a hurry to draw conclusions in the case. "This is a real tragedy, and so far there are only words and not facts," he said.
Journalist Yaakov Ha'elyon convicted of having sex with minor
Jerusalem Post - November 11, 2008
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Former journalist Haelyon jailed for statutory rape
Jerusalem Post - April 20, 2009
Former journalist and author Ya'akov Haelyon, 72, was sentenced to a year in jail Monday in the Tel Aviv District Court for the statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl and committing an indecent act on her older sister.
Haelyon was also given a six-month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay NIS 20,000 in compensation. The trial had lasted more than six years, with the defense repeatedly trying to postpone it, citing Haelyon's medical condition. Judge Hanan Efrati wrote that he had decided to give Haelyon a prison sentence despite his age and the fact that he had been wounded in two wars fighting for Israel, losing a leg and an eye and suffering from severe headaches which brought on anger attacks. The judge wrote that he had taken into account Haelyon's age, that he had no prior criminal record and that the chances of him posing a danger to the public were slim. Nevertheless, citing the "pattern of criminal behavior" he said the offenses still warranted a significant punishment. "He who has mercy on the cruel, will end up being cruel to the merciful," said the judge. Shortly before his arrest, Haelyon's wife died when she fell out of the window of their apartment building. Press reports at the time suggested she had learned of the allegations against her husband just prior to her death.
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Some of the information on The Awareness Center's web pages may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Jerusalem Post - November 11, 2008
The Tel Aviv District Court on Tuesday convicted former journalist Yaakov Ha'elyon, 71, of having sexual relations with a 14-year-old minor and committing indecent acts against her 21-year-old sister more than six years ago. Israel Radio reported that Ha'elyon met the two girls over the Internet and invited then to theater plays where he committed the offenses. Ha'eylon denies all charges and maintains that all contact with the two was innocent. In October 2002, the body of his wife, Yael Ha'elyon, was found outside the window of her Tel Aviv apartment. Family members said that she likely overdosed on painkillers she was taking for back pains, but police suspected she committed suicide over the allegations against her husband.
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Former journalist Haelyon jailed for statutory rape
Jerusalem Post - April 20, 2009
"He who has mercy on the cruel, will end up being cruel to the merciful," says judge after sentencing 72-year-old war casualty.
Former journalist and author Ya'akov Haelyon, 72, was sentenced to a year in jail Monday in the Tel Aviv District Court for the statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl and committing an indecent act on her older sister.
Haelyon was also given a six-month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay NIS 20,000 in compensation. The trial had lasted more than six years, with the defense repeatedly trying to postpone it, citing Haelyon's medical condition. Judge Hanan Efrati wrote that he had decided to give Haelyon a prison sentence despite his age and the fact that he had been wounded in two wars fighting for Israel, losing a leg and an eye and suffering from severe headaches which brought on anger attacks. The judge wrote that he had taken into account Haelyon's age, that he had no prior criminal record and that the chances of him posing a danger to the public were slim. Nevertheless, citing the "pattern of criminal behavior" he said the offenses still warranted a significant punishment. "He who has mercy on the cruel, will end up being cruel to the merciful," said the judge. Shortly before his arrest, Haelyon's wife died when she fell out of the window of their apartment building. Press reports at the time suggested she had learned of the allegations against her husband just prior to her death.
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FAIR USE NOTICE
Some of the information on The Awareness Center's web pages may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml . If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." –– Margaret Mead
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