Media Release: Jewish victims of child sexual abuse traumatised, concerned for welfare of Adass students after appointment of Kluwgant as Principal, urge authorities to intervene
Manny Waks
2 July 2017
Child sexual abuse victims who were abused at Yeshivah and Adass have expressed concern for the welfare of students at the Adass Israel School after the appointment of disgraced Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant as Principal.
A former Adass School Principal, Mrs. Malka Leifer, is currently in Israel and avoiding extradition after being ferreted away in the middle of the night by the Adass Board after it was revealed she had been sexually abusing students. She is wanted in Australia on 74 child sex offense charges.
At the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing into the Yeshivah Centre in 2015, it was revealed that Kluwgant sent a text message to the editor of the Australian Jewish News suggesting that Zephaniah Waks, father of three boys who were sexually abused while attending Yeshivah, including victims advocate Manny Waks, was partly responsible for the sexual abuse of his children, which he initially told the Commission he didn't recall sending. He was also accused of intimidating another victim to try to stop him from reporting his abuse to police.
Victims say that there is a perception in some quarters that Kluwgant's only transgression was a text message sent during the Royal Commission. But the reality is what was revealed at the Royal Commission was just the tip of the iceberg.
Subsequent to the Royal Commission, more evidence emerged of Kluwgant's pattern of behaviour in attacking child sexual abuse victims, their families and supporters, which led to legal action against Kluwgant personally.
Recently we were made aware of information from a personal apology by the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) to a victim advocate in March 2017 regarding the RCV's handling of a complaint to the RCV in relation to Kluwgant. In part, the RCV apology states:
Rabbi M.S. Kluwgant’s conduct might have been interpreted as being conduct of the RCV. The RCV did not authorize and would not authorize such conduct and disavows and distances itself from Rabbi Kluwgant's conduct and condemns it in the strongest possible terms.
In the wake of the Royal Commission, Kluwgant was stripped of or forced to resign from the following positions:
Unrepentant, Kluwgant sought a position with the newly-established Rabbinical Council of Australia and New Zealand shortly after the Royal Commission but failed to get the support of his fellow rabbis.
According to victims, as Principal of Adass, Kluwgant would be responsible for receiving disclosures of child sexual abuse from students and responsible for administering child safety policies. They say that Kluwgant has a horrific history in this area, which makes him obviously unfit for any position involving children and education, and gives rise to serious concern for the safety of students who will be in his care.
Victims have confirmed that Mr. Abe Weiszberger, Secretary of the Adass Board consulted with them after the Board had already decided to appoint Kluwgant and ignored their concerns.
Victims urge the Minister for Education and other relevant government agencies to urgently intervene.
A former Adass School Principal, Mrs. Malka Leifer, is currently in Israel and avoiding extradition after being ferreted away in the middle of the night by the Adass Board after it was revealed she had been sexually abusing students. She is wanted in Australia on 74 child sex offense charges.
At the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing into the Yeshivah Centre in 2015, it was revealed that Kluwgant sent a text message to the editor of the Australian Jewish News suggesting that Zephaniah Waks, father of three boys who were sexually abused while attending Yeshivah, including victims advocate Manny Waks, was partly responsible for the sexual abuse of his children, which he initially told the Commission he didn't recall sending. He was also accused of intimidating another victim to try to stop him from reporting his abuse to police.
Victims say that there is a perception in some quarters that Kluwgant's only transgression was a text message sent during the Royal Commission. But the reality is what was revealed at the Royal Commission was just the tip of the iceberg.
Subsequent to the Royal Commission, more evidence emerged of Kluwgant's pattern of behaviour in attacking child sexual abuse victims, their families and supporters, which led to legal action against Kluwgant personally.
Recently we were made aware of information from a personal apology by the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) to a victim advocate in March 2017 regarding the RCV's handling of a complaint to the RCV in relation to Kluwgant. In part, the RCV apology states:
Rabbi M.S. Kluwgant’s conduct might have been interpreted as being conduct of the RCV. The RCV did not authorize and would not authorize such conduct and disavows and distances itself from Rabbi Kluwgant's conduct and condemns it in the strongest possible terms.
In the wake of the Royal Commission, Kluwgant was stripped of or forced to resign from the following positions:
- General Manager of Cultural and Spiritual Services at Jewish Care Victoria;
- President of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia;
- Executive Member of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria;
- Victoria Police Chaplain;
- Member of Victoria Police Multi-Faith Council; and
- White Ribbon Ambassador.
Unrepentant, Kluwgant sought a position with the newly-established Rabbinical Council of Australia and New Zealand shortly after the Royal Commission but failed to get the support of his fellow rabbis.
According to victims, as Principal of Adass, Kluwgant would be responsible for receiving disclosures of child sexual abuse from students and responsible for administering child safety policies. They say that Kluwgant has a horrific history in this area, which makes him obviously unfit for any position involving children and education, and gives rise to serious concern for the safety of students who will be in his care.
Victims have confirmed that Mr. Abe Weiszberger, Secretary of the Adass Board consulted with them after the Board had already decided to appoint Kluwgant and ignored their concerns.
Victims urge the Minister for Education and other relevant government agencies to urgently intervene.