AUSTRALIA
Manny Waks
12 December 2016
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:
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