Senior rabbi calls on Yeshivah leaders to resign following royal commission hearings
The Age
Steve Lillebuen
9 February 2015
The head of Victoria's largest Jewish school has criticised ultra-Orthodox leaders who remained silent over child sex abuse allegations, saying only their resignations and a new watchdog for rabbis can restore faith in the community.
Rabbi James Kennard, principal of Mount Scopus Memorial College, said the royal commission on child sex abuse had revealed painful and horrific details about Yeshivah Melbourne and the organisation's Sydney chapter.
Those who were in charge when historical abuse claims were made must be removed from leadership positions, or the community would never be able to move on, he said.
"The resignations that are required need not be an acceptance of personal responsibility, but an acknowledgement that if abuse, or a failure to deal properly with abusers, took place on an individual's 'watch' then it is honourable and right for such an individual to step down," he said on Sunday.
The royal commission has been examining Yeshivah Melbourne and Yeshiva Bondi's response to abuse allegations against former employees Daniel Hayman, David Kramer and David Cyprys, who was convicted of sexually abusing children.
The commission has already heard of alleged cover-ups, bullying and intimidation within the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, including details on how Yeshivah Melbourne tried to "cure" Cyprys and continued to employ him for two decades. Victims were also discouraged from reporting abuse because of religious views that banned Jews from reporting other Jews to secular authorities, the commission was told.
Rabbi Avrohom Glick was principal of Yeshivah Melbourne when allegations of child sexual abuse were brought to the attention of rabbis. He still maintains a leadership position in the community and is expected to give evidence at the royal commission this week.
Rabbi Kennard also revealed on Sunday that in 2013 he quit the Rabbinical Council of Victoria in protest over the group's silence over abuse following Cyprys's criminal conviction.
He said the commission's hearings had also convinced him that an oversight body was needed to examine the actions of all rabbis.
"It is essential that any such leader is answerable to a body empowered to ask critical questions regarding child protection or any other crucial areas where mistakes can remain hidden, with disastrous consequences," he said.
Manny Waks, chief executive of Jewish victims support group Tzedek, praised Rabbi Kennard for speaking out.
"It would have been a lot more comforting for myself and many other victims if these leaders had spoken out at the time, when I was being hounded," he said.
"But I welcome it wholeheartedly. Hopefully many others will come out publicly and take a strong position. We still have a very long way to go."
Originally published at The Age.
Rabbi James Kennard, principal of Mount Scopus Memorial College, said the royal commission on child sex abuse had revealed painful and horrific details about Yeshivah Melbourne and the organisation's Sydney chapter.
Those who were in charge when historical abuse claims were made must be removed from leadership positions, or the community would never be able to move on, he said.
"The resignations that are required need not be an acceptance of personal responsibility, but an acknowledgement that if abuse, or a failure to deal properly with abusers, took place on an individual's 'watch' then it is honourable and right for such an individual to step down," he said on Sunday.
The royal commission has been examining Yeshivah Melbourne and Yeshiva Bondi's response to abuse allegations against former employees Daniel Hayman, David Kramer and David Cyprys, who was convicted of sexually abusing children.
The commission has already heard of alleged cover-ups, bullying and intimidation within the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, including details on how Yeshivah Melbourne tried to "cure" Cyprys and continued to employ him for two decades. Victims were also discouraged from reporting abuse because of religious views that banned Jews from reporting other Jews to secular authorities, the commission was told.
Rabbi Avrohom Glick was principal of Yeshivah Melbourne when allegations of child sexual abuse were brought to the attention of rabbis. He still maintains a leadership position in the community and is expected to give evidence at the royal commission this week.
Rabbi Kennard also revealed on Sunday that in 2013 he quit the Rabbinical Council of Victoria in protest over the group's silence over abuse following Cyprys's criminal conviction.
He said the commission's hearings had also convinced him that an oversight body was needed to examine the actions of all rabbis.
"It is essential that any such leader is answerable to a body empowered to ask critical questions regarding child protection or any other crucial areas where mistakes can remain hidden, with disastrous consequences," he said.
Manny Waks, chief executive of Jewish victims support group Tzedek, praised Rabbi Kennard for speaking out.
"It would have been a lot more comforting for myself and many other victims if these leaders had spoken out at the time, when I was being hounded," he said.
"But I welcome it wholeheartedly. Hopefully many others will come out publicly and take a strong position. We still have a very long way to go."
Originally published at The Age.