In response to our public statement criticising yesterday's Yeshivah announcement regarding the re-appointment of (Rabbi) Zvi Hirsch Telsner, a member of the Yeshivah Board, Yossi Gestetner, who was one of the decision-makers regarding Telsner's appointment, sent an email to a friend and colleague. I offered to respond on the condition that our correspondence is not confidential. Yossi agreed.
Yossi Gestetner email:
According to Mannys own words
see http://www.mannywaks.com/blog/archives/08-2015
"However, it’s important to emphasise that until Rabbi Telsner is no longer at the helm of Yeshivah it will be difficult for many to move forward. And in the meantime, he is continuing to cause damage to many, including to the Yeshivah Centre itself."
rabbi teslner no longer has any leadership position on any board committee or shule in the Yeshivah and definitely not at the "helm' of Yeshivah.
so inconsistent with his own past stance
My response to Yossi Gestetner:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond.
For all of the ridiculous mistakes and decisions made by your organisation over the years, I don't think I have ever heard a more ridiculous justification than the tripe you have offered up.
My 2015 post to which you refer was entitled 'Yeshivah Centre's Rabbi Telsner must go'. Are you really telling me that you understood the position of victims to be that he should be appointed to another role? Do you take yourself seriously when you say you consulted with 'many groups of stakeholders including CIVL [Chabad Institutions of Victoria] members, broader Yeshivah community members, the other Moisdois [religious institutions], Halachic [Jewish Law] authorities, legal authorities, political entities, donors and supporters in the wider Jewish community etc.' but couldn't find the time to speak to victims or victim advocacy groups given Telsner's conduct towards victims is the very reason you were making a decision about him? On what planet do you live when you call me inconsistent when you have just reappointed Telsner notwithstanding your numerous public claims about wanting to fix things with victims?
Finally, do you really believe that you are doing the right thing by victims by offering Telsner a new contract? I have no doubt that the answer is no but that being the case, please don't have the nerve to tell me that victims should be comfortable with this appointment because Telsner is not at the helm, whatever that means.
Yossi Gestetner email:
According to Mannys own words
see http://www.mannywaks.com/blog/archives/08-2015
"However, it’s important to emphasise that until Rabbi Telsner is no longer at the helm of Yeshivah it will be difficult for many to move forward. And in the meantime, he is continuing to cause damage to many, including to the Yeshivah Centre itself."
rabbi teslner no longer has any leadership position on any board committee or shule in the Yeshivah and definitely not at the "helm' of Yeshivah.
so inconsistent with his own past stance
My response to Yossi Gestetner:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond.
For all of the ridiculous mistakes and decisions made by your organisation over the years, I don't think I have ever heard a more ridiculous justification than the tripe you have offered up.
My 2015 post to which you refer was entitled 'Yeshivah Centre's Rabbi Telsner must go'. Are you really telling me that you understood the position of victims to be that he should be appointed to another role? Do you take yourself seriously when you say you consulted with 'many groups of stakeholders including CIVL [Chabad Institutions of Victoria] members, broader Yeshivah community members, the other Moisdois [religious institutions], Halachic [Jewish Law] authorities, legal authorities, political entities, donors and supporters in the wider Jewish community etc.' but couldn't find the time to speak to victims or victim advocacy groups given Telsner's conduct towards victims is the very reason you were making a decision about him? On what planet do you live when you call me inconsistent when you have just reappointed Telsner notwithstanding your numerous public claims about wanting to fix things with victims?
Finally, do you really believe that you are doing the right thing by victims by offering Telsner a new contract? I have no doubt that the answer is no but that being the case, please don't have the nerve to tell me that victims should be comfortable with this appointment because Telsner is not at the helm, whatever that means.
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