BishopAccountability.org
 
 

Sydney Rabbi Pinchus Feldman Tells Royal Commission He Is "Not Familiar" with Child Protection Policies

By Rachel Browne
Sydney Morning Herald
March 22, 2017

http://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-rabbi-pinchus-feldman-tells-royal-commission-he-is-not-familiar-with-child-protection-policies-20170322-gv4emt.html

A Jewish leader has admitted to a royal commission he was not across the detail of his organisation's child protection principles.

Leader of Bondi's Yeshiva Centre Rabbi Pinchus Feldman told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse he was "not familiar" with the policies.

The commission heard the centre, which comprises a synagogue, a bath house and a youth group, had "unclear" policies on child protection.

The Bondi centre and Yeshivah Centre Melbourne are part of the ultra-orthodox Jewish movement, Chabad-Lubavitch, which was rocked by child sex abuse claims that emerged from the royal commission's initial inquiry into the organisations in 2015.

Rabbi Pinchus Feldman. Photo: Andrew Meares

Jewish leaders appeared before a Sydney hearing on Thursday to answer questions about how child protection has improved.

Evidence before the commission is the synagogue at Bondi's Yeshiva Centre has no express child protection policy but has adopted the policy of youth arm, Chabad Youth.

Rabbi Feldman told the inquiry he did not know the detail of the policy.

"I am faulty so we need to rectify that," he said.

"You completely dropped the ball here, haven't you?," asked counsel assisting the commission Naomi Sharp.

Rabbi Feldman responded: "I accept."

Ms Sharp: "You have no idea what is Chabad child protection policy."

Rabbi Feldman: "If you'll test me on it I will not be able to respond to every detail."

One of the chief principles of child safety is that an organisation's leaders should be aware of their own child protection policies, according to findings of the commission.

The commission heard Bondi's Yeshiva College, which is operated separately from the centre, had made significant improvements to its child protection policy.

Outside the commission, prominent victim advocate Manny Waks said leaders who have failed children should resign.

"Those people implicated in what's gone on for decades – the abuse, the cover-ups, the intimidation – must be held to full account," he said.

"They can no longer serve in those leadership roles in those institutions. They all must resign or be sacked."

Chief rabbi of the Yeshivah Centre in Melbourne Zvi Telsner resigned after the 2015 hearing but the commission heard on Thursday he was still on the payroll.

"I am bewildered by that, I am disgusted by it," Mr Waks said outside the hearing. "Yeshivah really needs to get its act together."

The commission heard Yeshivah Melbourne had taken "significant steps" to improve child protection.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies has formed a child protection task force aimed at strengthening policies and procedures in all the state's Jewish organisations.

The hearing, before Justice Peter McClellan, has adjourned.

Blue Knot Helpline 1300 657 380

 

 

 

 

 




.

 
 

Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.