Melbourne Rabbi Apologises to Victims of Sexual Abuse

By Pia Akerman
The Australian
February 13, 2015

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THE rabbi who presided over Melbourne’s Yeshivah College while two staff members were abusing children has apologised for the first time to the victims, prompting renewed calls for his resignation.

Rabbi Abraham Glick joined Yeshivah College — part of the orthodox Chabad community — as a teacher in 1970, becoming head of Jewish studies from 1974 and principal from 1988 to 2007. He was involved in a decision to send teacher and rabbi David Kramer to Israel in 1992 when an abuse allegation was made, and also served as principal while Yeshivah worker David Cyprys was abusing boys in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Rabbi Glick told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse yesterday that he was “sickened” the abuse had occurred under his watch.

“I would like to apologise to the students,” he said.

“I see that many mistakes were made. We should have been more vigilant, we should have responded better. Anything that we could do to help them in their healing process, move forwards, I personally would like to know ... I think that would help me in my healing process.”