Public Statement: Yeshivah Victims Welcome Belated Departure of Nechama Bendet

Manny Waks
June 7, 2017

http://www.mannywaks.com/public-statement-yeshivah-victims-welcome-belated-departure-of-nechama-bendet.html


?Yeshivah child sexual abuse victims and survivors join with members of the community in welcoming the belated departure of Mrs Nechama Bendet from Melbourne’s Yeshivah Centre.

As General Manager of Yeshivah until 2014 and a member of its Board of Trustees until recently, Bendet was one of the most senior members of the Yeshivah leadership whose response to allegations of child sexual abuse and whose treatment of victims and survivors, our families and supporters, led to its appearance before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Notwithstanding adverse findings of the Royal Commission in relation to the Yeshiva leadership of which she was a part, Bendet has ignored the calls of victims/survivors and many others in the community to acknowledge her role in the child sexual abuse scandal and to step away from Yeshivah, causing many of us ongoing and unnecessary trauma and distress.

Without suggesting that they are in any way connected to her departure from Yeshivah, we note that Bendet remains involved in multiple ongoing legal disputes regarding her alleged conduct towards Yeshivah victims and advocates, some of which are due to be heard in court in coming months. She has also been the subject of other recent complaints in relation to her alleged conduct.

Bendet’s departure is another significant milestone in our journey towards justice and healing, and we continue to call for and expect that all those who were involved in the leadership of Yeshivah in the lead up to the Royal Commission and who were implicated in its findings, particularly Rabbi Zvi Telsner and Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner, are removed from positions of leadership which they still hold within Yeshivah today.

We ask that the community continue to support victims and survivors, including by exerting pressure on the new Yeshivah boards, in whatever way they can, to rid itself of these individuals so that victims and survivors - and the entire community - can finally move forward in peace.

Yeshivah Centre letter to staff

Dear Colleagues

Over the last few weeks we have been in discussions with Nechama Bendet about the fundraising department's scope and her role within the organisation. These discussions have culminated and we can advise that Nechama's employment with Yeshivah has now concluded. Nechama, as an old collegian, parent and grand-parent of the school, has been a valuable contributor to Yeshivah for over 25 years. She commenced her career as a teacher and over time took on the important role of liaising with government ensuring maximum financial support for the Schools and other moisdos [institutions].

She was subsequently appointed General Manager and held this role until 2014. Since that time she has continued in her role in maintaining relationships with key government and other organisations as well as driving fundraising activities for the Centre. She has made a number of life-long friendships on the way.

Yeshivah are grateful for Nechama's contribution and wish her and her family much success for the future.