Public statement: Yeshivah victims alarmed at Yeshivah statement on Rabbi Chaim Tsvi Groner
Manny Waks
28 April 2017
Yeshivah victims note with alarm that Rabbi Chaim Tsvi Groner continues to serve as a Director of the three entities comprising Yeshivah despite being under police investigation.
We are also gravely concerned with the response issued by the Chabad Institutions of Victoria Limited (‘CIVL’) Board on 26 April 2017 and in particular, their statement that ‘the Board is of the view that Rabbi Groner did not mislead the Royal Commission’ (see below for full Yeshivah response).
Yeshivah’s view as to whether or not Rabbi Groner is guilty of the serious crime for which he is being investigated is irrelevant to the question of whether he should remain on the boards at this time. If Yeshivah has learned nothing else from its past failures, it should be that it is never appropriate to supplant their decision-making over the role of police.
Moreover, it is extraordinary that Yeshivah would express such a view concerning Rabbi Groner’s evidence about the role of Rabbi Telsner while in the very next sentence, admitting that they are still ‘working through the various considerations’ and unable to clarify Rabbi Telsner’s position.
This should serve as a reminder to the community that crimes must be reported directly to the police and that Yeshivah is not only ill-equipped to investigate crimes but remains unable or unwilling to judge the conduct of particular members of their community objectively.
In our view, the fact that Rabbi Groner has not yet stood down raises questions over whether he is capable of separating his own interests from those of Yeshivah. Additionally, the fact that the other Board members have not stood him down raises questions over their commitment to normal governance practices and accountability. It must be obvious to Yeshivah that the past practice of protecting their own at all costs has no place today and will only lead to another avoidable and drawn out Chillul Hashem (desecration of God’s name) in which their entire community suffers.
We call on Rabbi Groner to immediately do the right thing and take responsibility for his conduct by standing down from the Boards of Yeshivah. Failing that, Yeshivah should take the only proper course of action and stand down Rabbi Groner without delay.
We have heard some of the new Board members speak of a desire to implement the good governance and accountability which has been lacking in the past. Now is their opportunity. In our view, any board of Yeshivah that counts Rabbi Groner as a member has no credibility and is no different to its predecessor.
Full Yeshivah response
Dear Members,
We write with regard to recent media attention related to Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner's testimony at the recent Royal Commission hearing.
Rabbi Groner was asked to attend the Royal Commission hearing on 23rd March and to give testimony on behalf of Yeshivah. He was asked some specific questions about the new governance structure, his role in the new structure and the employment of Rabbi Telsner.
The media then reported last week that an allegation had been made to the Royal Commission and / or Australian Federal Police regarding statements Rabbi Groner made during the hearing related to Rabbi Telsner's ongoing employment.
We are actively working through a process to determine what actions, if any, we should take in the interests of our members and will keep you updated. The Board is of the view that Rabbi Groner did not mislead the Royal Commission.
With regard to clarifying Rabbi Telsner’s position, we are working through the various considerations as a top priority and will communicate further as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, as always, if you would like to contact the Board, you can email us at [email protected]. We would appreciate if members could refrain from contacting individual board members by phone, as this places high demand on board members’ time and also doesn’t allow the full board to consider your message.
Regards,
CIVL Board
We are also gravely concerned with the response issued by the Chabad Institutions of Victoria Limited (‘CIVL’) Board on 26 April 2017 and in particular, their statement that ‘the Board is of the view that Rabbi Groner did not mislead the Royal Commission’ (see below for full Yeshivah response).
Yeshivah’s view as to whether or not Rabbi Groner is guilty of the serious crime for which he is being investigated is irrelevant to the question of whether he should remain on the boards at this time. If Yeshivah has learned nothing else from its past failures, it should be that it is never appropriate to supplant their decision-making over the role of police.
Moreover, it is extraordinary that Yeshivah would express such a view concerning Rabbi Groner’s evidence about the role of Rabbi Telsner while in the very next sentence, admitting that they are still ‘working through the various considerations’ and unable to clarify Rabbi Telsner’s position.
This should serve as a reminder to the community that crimes must be reported directly to the police and that Yeshivah is not only ill-equipped to investigate crimes but remains unable or unwilling to judge the conduct of particular members of their community objectively.
In our view, the fact that Rabbi Groner has not yet stood down raises questions over whether he is capable of separating his own interests from those of Yeshivah. Additionally, the fact that the other Board members have not stood him down raises questions over their commitment to normal governance practices and accountability. It must be obvious to Yeshivah that the past practice of protecting their own at all costs has no place today and will only lead to another avoidable and drawn out Chillul Hashem (desecration of God’s name) in which their entire community suffers.
We call on Rabbi Groner to immediately do the right thing and take responsibility for his conduct by standing down from the Boards of Yeshivah. Failing that, Yeshivah should take the only proper course of action and stand down Rabbi Groner without delay.
We have heard some of the new Board members speak of a desire to implement the good governance and accountability which has been lacking in the past. Now is their opportunity. In our view, any board of Yeshivah that counts Rabbi Groner as a member has no credibility and is no different to its predecessor.
Full Yeshivah response
Dear Members,
We write with regard to recent media attention related to Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner's testimony at the recent Royal Commission hearing.
Rabbi Groner was asked to attend the Royal Commission hearing on 23rd March and to give testimony on behalf of Yeshivah. He was asked some specific questions about the new governance structure, his role in the new structure and the employment of Rabbi Telsner.
The media then reported last week that an allegation had been made to the Royal Commission and / or Australian Federal Police regarding statements Rabbi Groner made during the hearing related to Rabbi Telsner's ongoing employment.
We are actively working through a process to determine what actions, if any, we should take in the interests of our members and will keep you updated. The Board is of the view that Rabbi Groner did not mislead the Royal Commission.
With regard to clarifying Rabbi Telsner’s position, we are working through the various considerations as a top priority and will communicate further as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, as always, if you would like to contact the Board, you can email us at [email protected]. We would appreciate if members could refrain from contacting individual board members by phone, as this places high demand on board members’ time and also doesn’t allow the full board to consider your message.
Regards,
CIVL Board