Examples of recent cases of child sexual abuse in Jewish communities globally
United States
In 2015 it was reported that a convicted sex offender (of two young boys) fled to Israel just prior to being re-arrested for recently assaulting another child. Also in 2015, in a case where a rabbi was accused of molesting a young girl and then attempted to bribe her mother, there were also allegations of victim intimidation by the local Jewish community, including rabbis.
In October 2014, a victim of child sexual abuse turned victim advocate, died of a drug overdose.
In 2013, a victim disclosed publicly that he was sexually abused as a child. The victim recently participated in a public event, which highlighted some of the issues we face as a community.
In 2012, a prominent member of the ultra-Orthodox community was convicted of multiple offences relating to the sexual abuse of a child. The victim and her family were subjected to ongoing harassment and intimidation by their community for disclosing the abuse to the police. A number of people were charged in relation to the intimidation.
The ongoing Yeshiva University scandal has been in the spotlight for the last few years. Serious allegations have been made regarding the sexual abuse of children, cover-ups and the way the victims are currently being treated by the institution.
Israel
In 2014, a US-Israeli citizen was found deceased during his voluntary military service in Israel. In 2013 this individual disclosed publicly through an opinion piece in The Huffington Post that he was a victim of recurrent child sexual abuse by numerous perpetrators within the Jewish community in Detroit. He also lamented the incompetent response by the local Jewish leadership.
In 2013, a senior Modern Orthodox leader was convicted of child sexual abuse offences. Despite his convictions, he was allowed to continue in his various leadership roles within the National Religious movement, including teaching young students. In fact, his colleague and a more senior leader within the movement, dismissed the court’s findings and declared Rabbi Elon innocent.
Australia
In 2013, a former Melbourne Yeshivah Centre employee was sentenced to eight years in prison for crimes committed against nine children. Earlier that year, an employee from the same institution was imprisoned for crimes committed against four children. Irrefutable evidence has emerged that the Yeshivah Centre was involved in covering up these crimes. There are many other allegations of abuse and cover-ups in relation to this institution. There have been reports from multiple victims and their families regarding ongoing intimidation and discrimination by some within the Yeshivah leadership and its community. In 2014 an ABC documentary titled Code of Silence, which focused on abuse, cover-ups and intimidation committed within the Yeshivah Centre, was screened nationally. A follow-up documentary, Breaking the Silence, was broadcast in October 2015 on the ABC. During the recent Royal Commission public hearing into the Yeshivah Centre, the Yeshivah leadership publicly acknowledged and apologized for their mishandling of this scandal, including the ongoing intimidation and harassment of victims and their families.
In the last few years other perpetrators within several institutions have been convicted and there are investigations in multiple cities currently underway. Some of the organizations that have been embroiled in this scandal include Adass Israel (Melbourne), Maccabi (Melbourne), Jewish Care (Melbourne), and the Yeshiva Centre in Sydney.
United Kingdom
In 2015, a former school teacher faced a trial regarding allegations of child sexual abuse. It was alleged that ‘he breached his bail conditions and flew to Israel when the allegations surfaced, only returning when he was re-arrested and deported after almost two years’. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
In 2014, an undercover investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches program, highlighted how the ultra-Orthodox community's approach to child protection can leave children at risk and shield abusers from justice. This was mainly due to the actions of some rabbis who forbid or discourage victims from disclosing their abuse to the police.
In 2013, an ultra-Orthodox Jew was imprisoned for three years for multiple crimes committed against a child. The victim spoke publicly not only about being the abuse victim in the case but also regarding the responses by senior figures to her disclosure as well as the personal cost to her and her family. Indeed, her family has now been shunned by their Orthodox community and is in the process of relocating overseas.
South Africa
In 2015, numerous allegations surfaced of historical cases of child sexual abuse against multiple victims by multiple perpetrators at the King David School.
Netherlands
In 2014, the Dutch Government requested the extradition of a former teacher at an Orthodox school who fled to Israel after allegations surfaced that he had abused children at his school.
In 2015, the Dutch Government authorized the extradition to Israel of a senior rabbi accused of child sexual abuse. The rabbi fled the Netherlands to avoid extradition.
The above is a limited sample of recent public cases in different geographical locations. Sadly there are many similar cases.
In 2015 it was reported that a convicted sex offender (of two young boys) fled to Israel just prior to being re-arrested for recently assaulting another child. Also in 2015, in a case where a rabbi was accused of molesting a young girl and then attempted to bribe her mother, there were also allegations of victim intimidation by the local Jewish community, including rabbis.
In October 2014, a victim of child sexual abuse turned victim advocate, died of a drug overdose.
In 2013, a victim disclosed publicly that he was sexually abused as a child. The victim recently participated in a public event, which highlighted some of the issues we face as a community.
In 2012, a prominent member of the ultra-Orthodox community was convicted of multiple offences relating to the sexual abuse of a child. The victim and her family were subjected to ongoing harassment and intimidation by their community for disclosing the abuse to the police. A number of people were charged in relation to the intimidation.
The ongoing Yeshiva University scandal has been in the spotlight for the last few years. Serious allegations have been made regarding the sexual abuse of children, cover-ups and the way the victims are currently being treated by the institution.
Israel
In 2014, a US-Israeli citizen was found deceased during his voluntary military service in Israel. In 2013 this individual disclosed publicly through an opinion piece in The Huffington Post that he was a victim of recurrent child sexual abuse by numerous perpetrators within the Jewish community in Detroit. He also lamented the incompetent response by the local Jewish leadership.
In 2013, a senior Modern Orthodox leader was convicted of child sexual abuse offences. Despite his convictions, he was allowed to continue in his various leadership roles within the National Religious movement, including teaching young students. In fact, his colleague and a more senior leader within the movement, dismissed the court’s findings and declared Rabbi Elon innocent.
Australia
In 2013, a former Melbourne Yeshivah Centre employee was sentenced to eight years in prison for crimes committed against nine children. Earlier that year, an employee from the same institution was imprisoned for crimes committed against four children. Irrefutable evidence has emerged that the Yeshivah Centre was involved in covering up these crimes. There are many other allegations of abuse and cover-ups in relation to this institution. There have been reports from multiple victims and their families regarding ongoing intimidation and discrimination by some within the Yeshivah leadership and its community. In 2014 an ABC documentary titled Code of Silence, which focused on abuse, cover-ups and intimidation committed within the Yeshivah Centre, was screened nationally. A follow-up documentary, Breaking the Silence, was broadcast in October 2015 on the ABC. During the recent Royal Commission public hearing into the Yeshivah Centre, the Yeshivah leadership publicly acknowledged and apologized for their mishandling of this scandal, including the ongoing intimidation and harassment of victims and their families.
In the last few years other perpetrators within several institutions have been convicted and there are investigations in multiple cities currently underway. Some of the organizations that have been embroiled in this scandal include Adass Israel (Melbourne), Maccabi (Melbourne), Jewish Care (Melbourne), and the Yeshiva Centre in Sydney.
United Kingdom
In 2015, a former school teacher faced a trial regarding allegations of child sexual abuse. It was alleged that ‘he breached his bail conditions and flew to Israel when the allegations surfaced, only returning when he was re-arrested and deported after almost two years’. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
In 2014, an undercover investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches program, highlighted how the ultra-Orthodox community's approach to child protection can leave children at risk and shield abusers from justice. This was mainly due to the actions of some rabbis who forbid or discourage victims from disclosing their abuse to the police.
In 2013, an ultra-Orthodox Jew was imprisoned for three years for multiple crimes committed against a child. The victim spoke publicly not only about being the abuse victim in the case but also regarding the responses by senior figures to her disclosure as well as the personal cost to her and her family. Indeed, her family has now been shunned by their Orthodox community and is in the process of relocating overseas.
South Africa
In 2015, numerous allegations surfaced of historical cases of child sexual abuse against multiple victims by multiple perpetrators at the King David School.
Netherlands
In 2014, the Dutch Government requested the extradition of a former teacher at an Orthodox school who fled to Israel after allegations surfaced that he had abused children at his school.
In 2015, the Dutch Government authorized the extradition to Israel of a senior rabbi accused of child sexual abuse. The rabbi fled the Netherlands to avoid extradition.
The above is a limited sample of recent public cases in different geographical locations. Sadly there are many similar cases.