Bendet questioned over Cyprys

In this week’s AJN, we reported that it was revealed at the Royal Commission on Wednesday that a former Yeshivah human resources manager had stated that the school stopped using convicted child sexual abuser David Cyprys’ security company because police were investigating him.

It was also stated at the Commission that the manager had alleged that Nechama Bendet, who was Yeshivah’s general manager from 2002-14 and retains a management position at the school, knew why Cyprys’s contract was terminated.

The AJN spoke to the former human resources manager following the revelation. “There were rumours about Cyprys at the time that he had allegedly touched boys inappropriately in the mikvah and Rabbi [Yitzchok Dovid] Groner was very concerned about what that meant for him,” he said. “That was the main motivation for terminating him.”

“I can confirm that Nechama said that Rabbi Groner was having a heart attack at the time because police were swirling around Yeshiva and likely to get involved,” he added.

Responding to the claims, Bendet said at the Commission,  “I really don’t recall that at all. Not at all.”

In further testimony, after The AJN went to press Bendet said of the former human resources manager, “My recollection is he started working at Yeshivah late 2002. He was terminated – his employment was terminated either late 2004 or early 2005, and that we commenced using Black and White Security in 2003, immediately after standing down Shomer Security (David Cyprys’s security company). I will be able to bring you – I will be able to check it and bring the records to the Commission.”

Bendet has since shown The AJN documents from 2003 which include a letter to Cyprys from Yeshivah in  June 2003 in which the school says he has failed to supply a copy of his fee schedule which the school required to understand his “increasingly vague” invoices and to ascertain whether his fee structure was “competitive in the current market”.

A further letter from July 2003 alleges “inconsistencies and discrepancies” in his invoices.

Another document from September 2003 highlights the financial benefits of moving to Black and White Security from Shomer Security. There is also a letter from September 2003 terminating Yeshivah’s contract with Shomer Security.