AUSTRALIA
The Australian Jewish News
A FORMER spiritual leader of the Melbourne community is at the centre of fresh child abuse allegations.
The rabbi, who is no longer alive, is alleged to have sexually abused two male congregants, with the incidents dating back as far as the early 1960s. One of the victims is understood to have been abused while receiving bar mitzvah lessons from the rabbi.
The AJN understands police have been made aware of the allegations.
Manny Waks, founder of victims advocacy group Tzedek, said it was likely there were more children who had suffered at the rabbi’s hands and urged them to come forward. “It is my hope that when past victims hear about these particular cases, that they realise that they are not alone – this happened to many others within our community. It is irrelevant how prominent a rabbi is – anyone may be inflicted by this sickness and, importantly, no-one has immunity from the crimes they committed,” he said.
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