|
Senior Jewish leader says Yeshivah rabbis should resign over abuse cover-up
By Melissa Davey
A senior leader within Victoria’s Jewish community – who is also principal of one of the state’s top schools – has called for head rabbis within the orthodox Yeshivah community to resign. Rabbi James Kennard made the comments as two of the most senior figures within the current Yeshivah administration, Don Wolf and Rabbi Avrohom Glick, prepare to face the royal commission into institutional responses into child sex abuse this week. The hearings before Melbourne’s county court are placing the Orthodox Jewish Yeshivah centres and colleges in Sydney and Melbourne under scrutiny for the first time since the commission began its work in 2013. Kennard, who is principal of Mount Scopus Memorial College, said child sex abuse had been covered up and ignored by senior Yeshivah leaders for too long, and that coming out to condemn the abuse and urge victims to go to police was no longer enough. “While anyone who held a position of leadership in the Yeshivah community in the period when these terrible mistakes were made remains in such a position today, the community is not able to say that it has learnt and it has changed,” Kennard said. “The resignations that are required need not be an acceptance of personal responsibility, but an acknowledgement that if abuse, or a failure to deal properly with abusers, took place on an individual’s watch, then it is honourable and right for such an individual to step down.” The abuse, which predominantly took place in the 1980s and 90s, occurred because of a lack of oversight of those who led institutions, Kennard said. Last week, the commission heard from victims who suffered abuse by the former director of Yeshivah College Bondi, Daniel “Gug” Hayman, and former staff of the Yeshivah College Melbourne, including security guard and youth leader David Cyprys and “rabbi” David Kramer. All have been convicted. Kennard said failure by managers to immediately deal with the men, at least one of whom has been described as a “serial abuser”, had left a “situation riddled with danger that still exists today in many Jewish institutions, run by charismatic, noble, but unaccountable rabbis”. “It is essential that any such leader is answerable to a body empowered to ask critical questions regarding child protection or any other crucial areas where mistakes can remain hidden with disastrous consequences,” Kennard said. “Our community is in pain and cries out for leadership. Rabbis need to imbue their titles again with lustre and honour; the name of ‘orthodoxy’ must be renewed as a badge of pride. A call for change, already long overdue, will start the healing.” The commission heard how another alleged abuser, identified only as AVL, left the country before he could face charges. Yeshivah managers did not report his intention to leave to police, the commission heard, despite being aware of the abuse claims against him. Manny Waks, a victim who gave evidence before the commission last Monday, said he hoped Kennard’s comments would prompt more leaders to speak out, particularly within the orthodox community. “The tide is changing,” he said. “Anyone in any leadership position at the Yeshivah Centre at the time of the abuse, cover up and/or intimidation of victims and their families must stand down. As the current most senior leader within Yeshivah, and as former Yeshivah principal, Rabbi Glick should simply be the first.” The hearings continue.
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.