Chabad Rabbis Covered Up Child Sex Abuse, Alleged Pedophile Claims
A man under police investigation for allegedly sexually abusing boys at a
Sydney, Australia Jewish school has said senior rabbis knew of his actions but
failed to report them to authorities.
Rabbi Pinchus Feldman
Rabbis knew of abuse, man claims
Richard Baker & Nick McKenzie • Sydney Morning Herald
A man under police investigation for allegedly sexually abusing boys at a Sydney Jewish school has said senior rabbis knew of his actions but failed to report them to authorities.
NSW police are investigating allegations two men associated with the school community surrounding the ultra-orthodox Yeshiva Centre in Bondi sexually abused children during the 1970s and '80s.
Fairfax Media understands there are at least four alleged victims of one man. The alleged sexual abuse occurred at the boys' homes and at a camp organised by the Yeshiva Centre.
When news of the NSW police investigation was first reported last week, the Bondi Yeshiva Centre's spiritual leader, Rabbi Pinchus Feldman, said he was shocked to learn of the allegations. ''I do not recall anyone ever coming to me with such a problem. I am shocked to hear that anything of this nature has taken place here,'' he said.
However, one of the alleged perpetrators is known to have recently told one of his victims that he was questioned by Rabbi Feldman about 25 years ago over his alleged sexual abuse of boys. ''He [Rabbi Feldman] just told me it shouldn't happen and I should take steps to avoid it,'' the accused man told his alleged victim. ''It was a once-off conversation in his office.''
Rabbi Feldman did not respond to phone calls or emails from Fairfax Media on Tuesday.
It is understood one or more other senior figures in Sydney's Yeshiva Centre were also aware of the alleged abuse in the 1980s but failed to contact police. The alleged offender also told his victim that he had abused several boys, something he said he was now deeply sorry about.
NSW police this month confirmed it had been investigating child sexual abuse allegations involving the Bondi Jewish community since early last year.
The investigation began after NSW detectives received information from Victorian police who had been probing abuse allegations at Melbourne's Yeshiva College since 2011.
It is understood that at least one alleged victim of the Sydney sexual assaults has provided a statement to NSW police.
The attitudes of senior Jewish leaders regarding the reporting of child sexual abuse have been under scrutiny in recent months after comments by senior Chabad rabbi Manis Friedman playing down the effects of abuse.
Based in the US, Rabbi Friedman compared abuse to having a case of diarrhoea. He later apologised, saying his intention was to help empower victims to move forward.
Tzedek, a new Australian organization advocated for survivors of child sexual absue, had initially issed a statement praising Sydney Chabad's supposedly tough attitude on child sexual abuse and its cooperation with police.
But now that it's turned out that Chabad was, well, lying about the the past abuse, Tzedek has – ever so slightly – changed its tune.
Tzedek's founder Manny Waks writes:
“This new revelation confirming the ongoing allegations that the Yeshiva Centre leadership in Sydney was aware of the child sexual abuse allegations puts the onus on this institution to provide a full and honest account of what has transpired there over the years.
Besides the Fairfax report, it has now also been confirmed to me personally that Yeshiva has privately acknowledged that it was indeed aware of the abuse allegations. Also, someone else has come forward to me with information alleging that the Yeshiva leadership responded to an alleged incident of child sexual abuse by apparently sending the perpetrator overseas. Based on today’s report and the new information, it now seems that the initial Yeshiva statement was somewhat disingenuous.
I would like to emphasize that since the initial Yeshiva statement, I have been working closely with a Yeshiva representative in addressing this issue. Throughout this process I made it clear to them that they must be forthright and transparent regarding any information that they have, including in relation to any cover-ups. I was personally assured that they were unaware of any of these allegations. Having just spoken to a Yeshiva representative, this point has been reiterated; Yeshiva continues to strenuously deny the allegations that they were aware of or involved in covering up allegations of child sexual abuse.
To Yeshiva’s credit, their initial statement was unequivocal in terms of a way forward. Ultimately it’s actions that speak louder than words. While their past actions are now (rightly) being scrutinized, their current actions seem to be appropriate in terms of their cooperation with the police.
I am aware of a number of Sydney victims who are still reluctant to provide a statement to the police regarding their abuse. It is incumbent upon Yeshiva to demonstrate that it is being completely honest and forthright so that victims will feel that it is safe and appropriate for them to go to the police.
Tzedek urges anyone with information relevant to this matter to come forward. It is critical that we understand the truth of the matter – both the abuse and any subsequent cover-ups. Tzedek calls for a thorough and fair investigation of this matter by the police. We expect that the Royal Commission into child sexual abuse will also address this issue and will hopefully uncover further information.
Ultimately justice must prevail and the truth must come out. Perpetrators and their enablers, including anyone involved in any cover-up, must be held to full account. ”
The more he writes, the less ppl will listen.
It's NOT about you, Manny.
Posted by: dh | February 19, 2013 at 06:20 PM
dh, if you are not a victim, you don't have to read what he writes.
Manny is doing a good job.
Posted by: Steven | February 19, 2013 at 06:58 PM
at what?
Posted by: dh | February 19, 2013 at 07:15 PM
Right on cue here we have dh aka "EA" to troll and derail the thread...
Posted by: Aussie | February 20, 2013 at 01:01 AM
so if the guy said he discussed it with the rabbi why write allegedly? That's a confession of guilt! Or are you not sure whether he actually said that. In which case you're mixing it up all over again for nothing.
As for Manny. He really, really, really, needs to get some therapy. This is his only airing board.
Posted by: Jason Green | February 20, 2013 at 03:18 AM
Thanks Jason, that made it clearer for me.
Posted by: Steven | February 20, 2013 at 03:40 AM
Jason...
It needs to be " allegedly" because the reporter is writing what a person told him....And he's not posting that persons name...
It's just a legal way for Fairfax to cover their arse...
Worth a note that the article was actually written by reporter from the Age in Melbourne....The Age in Melbourne is the same owners as the Sydney morning herald...
Posted by: Aussie | February 20, 2013 at 03:54 AM
From Manny's statement....
"Also, someone else has come forward to me with information alleging that the Yeshiva leadership responded to an alleged incident of child sexual abuse by apparently sending the perpetrator overseas"
Anyone who was in Sydney during the mid 1980's knows that this is how it happened....
And that the person returned to Sydney few weeks later where they were married to their American bride.....
Posted by: Aussie | February 20, 2013 at 03:59 AM
I am getting sick and tired of Chabad Rabbis being involved in terrible abuse cases all over the world. Does anyone know whether Chabad are associated with the shocking custody case in Vienna of the Schlesinger twins? ( http://helpbeth.org )
Posted by: Just Curious | February 20, 2013 at 04:00 AM
It's wrong to blame he victim for the abuse, but it is legitimate to ask the victim why they failed to report a crime for twenty five years, or were so advised. How many others were abused as a result of this irresponsible length of time in contacting governmental authorities?
Posted by: Shabtai | February 20, 2013 at 04:14 AM
With elections planned in Australia withing some months, I am surprised that Manny hasn't yet nominated to lead the country.
Imganine, his picture on the front pages of the newspapers - daily.
And non-stop TV appearances.
Think about it Manny.
The you won't have to play the 'victim'card so often.
Posted by: Wanny Baks | February 20, 2013 at 07:15 AM
Victim card? R U SERIOUS?
Manny is a very brave soul - many stand beside him within the community and will continue to do so. Those that continue to support the offenders will surely be stained by this and so they should be. He has the testicular fortitude to do the right thing! unlike so many others...
Manny for PM - Why not! Damn fine candidate if you ask me...He comes fully functioning with a spine & balls...
Posted by: SpeakOutAboutAbuse | February 20, 2013 at 05:59 PM
What's "EA?"
I'm not saying Manny is a sissy. I'm saying he isn't a good community organizer, is far too self-serving and self-anointing, is not at all qualified to do much more than he is doing which is practically nothing in terms of, as far as I can see, making institutional and marked structural changes sufficient to make strong, lasting changes that will keep children safe. Starting now.
I'd love to be wrong, but I'm not.
Posted by: dh | February 20, 2013 at 11:07 PM
BIG trouble brewing for Melb Hatzolah.
Danny Elbaum's foolish support for Waks and his new plaything Tzedek has strongly upset large segments of the community. Calls oming thru for sacking Danny.
Who would've belived that Dabby could be such an idiot?
Posted by: Melbourne reporter | February 21, 2013 at 07:36 AM
Melbourne reporter and Wanny Baks are the same person.
That's called sockpuppetting and it is forbidden here and most other websites worldwide.
If you want to post more comments you may do so, but only if you use your actual legal name and your own personal (and valid) email address to do so.
If you violate these rules, I will delete your comments and ban you.
Posted by: Shmarya | February 21, 2013 at 08:11 AM
Manny Waks has stood up against a community that has actively defended and protected abusers. Why it took so long for him to do so is for him and him alone to comment upon.
To say that he "is not at all qualified to do much more than he is doing" is ridiculous considering that is the reason any of this has come out and efforts are being made to bring the abusers and their cowardly backers to justice. dh- whomever you are- if you are brave enough to make these simple- minded comments then the least you can do is to be 'brave' enough to put a real identity behind the comments. Good on Manny for devoting so much of his time to correct past abuses. Keep on writing and airing these issues. Those who stand by and actively cover up these abuses are no better than those who perpetrated the abuse.And 'dh'(whoever you are), there are so many 'wonderful' community leaders who have spent a great deal of time doing nothing but pushing their own narrow- minded agendas. Spending money for no return. One does not have to be a brilliant public speaker or Rhodes Scholar to make changes for the positive. Manny has done a brilliant job building up a movement with nothing, and going against the tide. Anyway, who has done a better job? Who has put their careers and friendships on the line like Manny and his family have? Who else has stood up and said that this must stop? Manny (and his family) have. No bigwigs, no community reps, nudda.
Good on Danny Elbaum for standing up in support of Manny Wax and his efforts. He has a right to free speech and anyone who wants him to be dropped from Hatzollah should crawl back to their hole in the ground. It is yet another attempt to cover up the disgusting acts of so many people. I am so very happy that "large segments of the community" have called for Danny's sacking. I would be scared as well if someone was going to bring up my past failures and errors. To call Danny's comments foolish is to support what has gone on. Not 'allegedly' what has gone on, but what HAS gone on.
I am not afraid to use my own name because I believe in what Manny is doing. I stand in support of those such as Danny Elbaum who are not going to be pushed around by bullies who believe that abuse in any form is acceptable just because they have done so for so long. I am not afraid to use my own name because I will not stand by and allow my children to suffer the same consequences that so many have in both the past and present.
For those who still are not convinced that Manny should be applauded in his efforts, Talmud (Sanhedrin 37a) states:
"FOR THIS REASON WAS MAN CREATED ALONE, TO TEACH THEE THAT WHOSOEVER DESTROYS A SINGLE SOUL... SCRIPTURE IMPUTES [GUILT] TO HIM AS THOUGH HE HAD DESTROYED A COMPLETE WORLD; AND WHOSOEVER PRESERVES A SINGLE SOUL..., SCRIPTURE ASCRIBES [MERIT] TO HIM AS THOUGH HE HAD PRESERVED A COMPLETE WORLD." In other words, to save a single life is like saving the entire world.
To Manny Wax and his family, in addition to Danny Elbaum and the likes, I have no doubt whatsoever that you have done just that.
Reuven Segal
Posted by: Reuven Segal | April 28, 2013 at 05:35 AM
A slight correction to my previous comment:
In writing that "No bigwigs, no community reps, nudda.", I do not suggest that no- one else has joined the fight against these abuses.
I did mean however that Manny himself began this fight. There are many fine people and groups that have joined him since.
Reuven
Posted by: Reuven Segal | April 28, 2013 at 05:39 AM