AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By court reporter Peta Carlyon
Australia’s most senior rabbi, Meir Shlomo Kluwgant, has resigned as president of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia (ORA) after a damning stint in the witness box at the royal commission into child sexual abuse.
Rabbi Kluwgant gave evidence on Friday, and was forced to admit he had sent a text message to a newspaper editor calling the father of an abuse victim a “lunatic” who neglected his children.
The message referred to Zephaniah Waks, father of Yeshivah community whistleblower Manny Waks.
The admission was made after the Waks’ family lawyer confronted Rabbi Kluwgant.
At first Rabbi Kluwgant said he could not recall sending the text, but then admitted he sent it to the editor of the Australian Jewish News, Zeddy Lawrence, on February 3.
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