Chabad continues to cover up, continues to mistreat victims and continues to refuse to fully cooperate with police. So how can Chabad's conditional 'apology' mean anything? It can't – especially when it didn't even apologize to a victim's father that it repeatedly harassed.
Zephania Waks, the father of alleged victim Manny Waks, writes:
I am really sorry to have to write this note about the recent Yeshivah Centre (YC) letter, which many others have called an "apology". I would have preferred to see the glass half full. But I see a glass sprayed with paint to make it appear it contains something, where in reality it's empty.
Others have already pointed out the problematic language in the letter of "if" this happened, "may" have occurred etc. Without mentioning specific cases, is anyone in any doubt that widespread sexual abuse occurred in YC? And we won't discuss the lie of "cooperation" with the police, the contrary is on the public record in the Magistrate's court. But I'll leave all that, I'll concentrate on 3 other points.
The letter states "Only by working together, can we ensure that it does not happen again". I don't know who the letter was mailed to, what were the criteria, but I, & many others, have not received a copy in the mail from YC. This reminds me of when YC "cooperated" over a year ago with the police in sending out the original letter to potential victims from YC, seeking police assistance. That letter also did not go to many kids that were in the relevant classes at the time. It was explained away at the time as a "misunderstanding". So much for "working together"
The letter states "we continue to offer support & provide counselling to anyone who feels this would be of benefit to them". As a parent of a self-publicly-named victim, I definitely feel "support...would be of benfit" to me & my family. However, over the past year, since my son went to the media, I have received no support, only vicious villification from the highest levels in YC, including at least 2 sermons from the Sabbath pulpit by one of the letter's signatories. From the beginning, & until very recently, I have asked to talk with the leaders about YC's response, but have been refused. So much for the offer of "support".
If the state of affairs described in the previous paragraph is now changed, & people have done tshuva (repented), why have I personally received no communication from YC about the wrongs (no "ifs" or "maybes" here) committed against me very recently? So much for the "apology".
I will be happy to change my opinion if YC changes it's actions.
Related Post: Chabad's Non-Apology 'Apology' For Sexual Abuse.