Media Release: Victims Welcome Conclusion of Yeshivah Election Process and Call for Action

Manny Waks
December 12, 2016

http://www.mannywaks.com/media-release-victims-welcome-conclusion-of-yeshivah-election-process-and-call-for-action.html

On behalf of some of Yeshivah Melbourne's victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, I welcome the conclusion of the formal election process at the Yeshivah Centre Melbourne.

We believe it is imperative that the new boards of Chabad Institutions of Victoria Limited and Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Schools Limited act decisively and expeditiously to address those issues emanating from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Report into Yeshivah Melbourne and Yeshiva Bondi, so that the community can truly move forward from this stain.

In particular we note the findings of the Royal Commission in respect of Yeshivah Melbourne that:

a. “The leadership did not create an environment conducive to the communication of information about child sexual abuse. If anything, the mixed messages are likely to have produced inaction.”

b. “There was a marked absence of supportive leadership for survivors of child sexual abuse and their families within Yeshivah Melbourne. Halachic principles were stridently – even if incorrectly applied. Criticism of those that spoke out was forceful.”

c. “If the Yeshivah Melbourne, the Committee of Management and Rabbi Telsner had shown leadership, survivors of child sexual abuse and their families and supporters might have received a very different response from the members of the Yeshivah Melbourne community.”

As the Community is already aware, following the release of the findings of the Royal Commission, the Rabbinic Council of Australia and New Zealand, Rabbinical Council of Victoria and Rabbinical Council of New South Wales, released a public statement, calling on:

“those who did not fulfil their legal responsibility to protect children should step down from public positions, and that those who denigrated victims have lost their moral right to serve.”

Accordingly, and consistent with our previous public statements, we ask that the new boards of the Yeshivah Centre take immediate and decisive actions to end their association with, in particular:

1. Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Telsner;

2. Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner; and

3. Mrs Nechama Bendet;

all of whom were in positions of leadership, and either did not fulfil their legal responsibility to protect children and/or engaged in conduct that denigrated victims, their families and supporters.

We also believe that the new boards need to address issues relating to other members of the Yeshivah community who denigrated victims, their families and/or supporters.

?It is our view that Rabbi Telsner, Rabbi Groner and Mrs Nechama Bendet have all lost their moral right to presently serve the community, and ought to be removed as a matter of priority so that the community can have faith in the integrity of Yeshivah Melbourne, and its child protection policies, and move forward in a constructive manner.

The full makeup of the Chabad Institutions of Victoria Limited Board is:

Vocational Rabbis

Rabbi CT Groner

Rabbi CD Wilhelm

To be advised

Accountant / Business Person

Yankel Wajsbort

Lawyer

Mrs Harriet (Chana) Warlow Shill

Board Members

Yisroel Paltiel

Avi Althaus

Yossi Gestetner

Saul Spigler

The full makeup of the Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Schools Limited Board is:

Vocational Rabbis

Rabbi CT Groner

Rabbi E Greenbaum

Rabbi Y Johnson

Accountant / Business Person

Daniel Houseman

Lawyer

Chaim Kingsley

Board Members

Ayala Becker

Dr Debbie Herbst

Mrs Devora Rochel Herszberg

Dr Shana Reuben