AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
February 16, 2015
Jane Lee, Timna Jacks
Australia’s most senior rabbi has resigned days after revelations at a royal commission that he called the father of three child abuse victims a “lunatic”.
The senior vice-president of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia, Rabbi Yoram Ulman, confirmed to Fairfax Media that Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant had stepped down as president of the organisation on Monday morning. Rabbi Ulman said he could not comment further at this stage.
Rabbi Kluwgant has also resigned from all his duties and positions at the Rabbinical Council of Victoria. He has also resigned as general manager of cultural and spiritual services at Jewish Care Victoria, which is investigating historical claims of child sexual abuse in Jewish children’s homes from the 1960s.
A police spokeswoman said that as of Monday, Rabbi Kluwgant was no longer a member of Victoria Police’s multi-faith council. Earlier, spokesman Sergeant Kris Hamilton said Victoria Police was aware of the statements made at the Royal Commission and would meet with Rabbi Kluwgant to discuss his membership.
This follows calls for Rabbi Kluwgant to resign from all his public positions after appearing at the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Abuse on Friday, the final day of its hearing on Yeshivah Melbourne and Yeshiva Sydney’s response to child sexual abuse allegations against convicted offenders David Cyprys, David Kramer and Daniel Hayman.
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