Chabad Rabbi Forced Out Over Child Sex Abuse Views

Rabbi Feldman claimed he was “misquoted, misconstrued and misrepresented,” and the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) wrote that the AJN “distorted and presented out of context with damaging effect.” However, the first concerns about Rabbi Feldman’s comments came from his peers: “You are wrong! Your attitude has been that of many rabbonim and the church, and the result has been countless innocent victims. Anything other than going to the police does not protect the victims … you are wrong and you are in way over your head."

Rabbi Yosef Feldman steps aside
JOSHUA LEVI • AJN

RABBI Yosef Feldman stepped aside as president of the Rabbinical Council of NSW (RCNSW) this week following last week’s article in The AJN detailing comments he had made in an email exchange regarding the reporting of child abuse allegations to the police.

According to a statement from the RCNSW, the rabbi was stepping aside “at this time … to clear his name”.

The RCNSW said that sensitive matters were “distorted and presented out of context with damaging effect” and that “the RCNSW unreservedly and emphatically condemns all forms of child abuse and protection of perpetrators. We encourage all victims to report directly to the police (or relevant authorities). This statement has the full support and endorsement of Rabbi Yosef Feldman.”

Last week’s article stated that Rabbi Feldman believed, where legally possible, rabbis should decide whether allegations of child abuse should be reported to the police.

Rabbi Feldman this week claimed The AJN “misquoted, misconstrued and misrepresented” him.

However, The AJN can reveal that the first concerns about Rabbi Feldman’s reported comments were made well before the newspaper saw the emails last week, and they came from his peers.

During the email exchange, one senior Sydney rabbi wrote to Rabbi Feldman: “You are wrong! Your attitude has been that of many rabbonim and the church, and the result has been countless innocent victims. Anything other than going to the police does not protect the victims … you are wrong and you are in way over your head.

“When someone is running around with a loaded gun you do not call rabbonim, you call the police …  Someone who has abused children is a loaded gun and is no different than a rapist.”

In another email, Rabbi Feldman was warned: “Your views reflect neither charedi nor mainstream Orthodoxy and should be rejected by everyone on this forum.”

NSW Board of Deputies president Yair Miller told The AJN that in his opinion Rabbi Feldman had effectively resigned.

“Rabbi Feldman is no longer involved in the running of the RCNSW,” Miller said.

“My understanding is that Rabbi Feldman has stepped aside until the AGM of the RCNSW at which time he will not renominate. That has the same effect as a resignation and is most appropriate in light of his reported actions.”

Rabbi Feldman’s congregation, the Southern Sydney Synagogue, distanced itself from his comments, as reported in The AJN.

“The board of Southern Sydney Synagogue unreservedly endorses the position recently articulated by the Organisation of Rabbis of Australia and its affiliates as to the positive obligation, according to both halachic and secular law, to report any such offences to the secular authorities,” Southern Sydney Synagogue’s vice-presidents Eric Cohen and Margaret Foster said in a statement.

A statement from the Council of Orthodox Synagogues of Australia said it “unequivocally disassociates itself from the views expressed by Rabbi Yossi Feldman concerning the reporting of sexual offenders to the police, as reported in The AJN.”

AJN national editor Zeddy Lawrence insisted the newspaper stood by its original story.

Comments

[Aussie]

Normally you'd expect them to all circle the wagons but in this case the Rabinical Council of NSW and even the management of Feldmans own shuel are making sure they are not connected to his views.....
Good for them...

Don't worry Yossi....I'm sure your father still agrees with you and supports your insane(and illegal) views.....

[Steven]

Can call the new change in thinking "Leiby's Law". About bloody time. But will the frum Rabbonim tow the line? The Leifer incident was not that long ago, and she was given a ticket to Israel from not one, not two but from three frum Rabbonim from different shules and I doubt that if it happened tomorrow it would be different.

[emmylou]

This seems like progress. Am I naive?

[SYDNEY]

Not much progress..

Stepping aside is not like resigning/leaving office.

The man is a farce' time for him to remove his long frock (Kapota) and show everyone what's really going on behind the shell.

He should be removed from any position of power.PERIOD

[jewishwhistleblower]

>“You are wrong! Your attitude has been
>that of many rabbonim and the church,
>and the result has been countless
>innocent victims. Anything other than
>going to the police does not protect
>the victims … you are wrong and you
>are in way over your head."

Now if only 1 top Agudath Israel rabbi had the intestinal fortitude to say this publicly to Shafran, Zeibel, Kamensky and the rest of the dinosaur abuser protector squad in Agudath Israel. Of course if everyone in Agudath Israel who shared Feldman's views resigned, who would be left? But who would miss them, not survivors in our community.

I suggest that anyone with an opinion regarding Agudath Israel, Shafran, Schick and company post it as a comment at:
http://www.thejewishweek.com/editorial_opinion/gary_rosenblatt/it_anti_orthodox_seek_safer_community

This is Gary's editorial regarding criticism from Shafran and Schick. He's too nice to these monsters.

Suprisingly, I was allowed to post criticism of Shafran and refer to his past writings. We'll see if they post my criticism of Schick. It's still awaiting modration. I posted his son, Joe's, tale of how his father protected a Rebbe who physically beat him up and how the Rebbe was allowed to quietly leave the school at the end of the year.
And this protects the next student he beats up how?

[JUmping]

More on this issue from rabbi dr raymond apple, who was Sydney's senior rav for 32 years until his retirement in 2005...

http://www.oztorah.com/2011/08/reporting-a-jew-to-the-authorities-ask-the-rabbi/

[Just Me]

Excellent comments here !

EmmyLou- it is progress. Two steps forward, but lets hope we don't take three steps back.

Steven- "Leiby's Law" - great idea.