Calls for resignations in Melbourne
AHEAD of the announcement that Rabbi Yossi Feldman would be stepping down from his roles at Yeshiva in Sydney, the principal of Melbourne’s largest Jewish school Rabbi James Kennard called for resignations among the leadership of Melbourne Yeshivah.
Revealing that he himself quit the Rabbinical Council of Victoria over its failure to call for Yeshivah leaders to be held to account in 2011, he wrote on Facebook, “While anyone who held a position of leadership in the Yeshivah community in the period when these terrible mistakes were made remains in such a position today, the community is not able to say that it has learnt and it has changed.
“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.”
While not naming any individuals, his call would include Rabbi Avrohom Glick who holds a senior position within the Yeshivah community. Rabbi Glick was principal of Yeshivah in Melbourne when according to the testimony of victims and their families allegations of child sexual abuse were brought to the attention of rabbis, but not reported to police, in the 1980s.
Rabbi Kennard also called for more oversight to stop future occurrences of child sexual abuse and cover-ups in the Jewish community.
“These events occurred because of a lack of oversight of those who led institutions – a situation riddled with danger that still exists today in many Jewish institutions, run by charismatic, noble, but unaccountable rabbis,” said Rabbi Kennard, who is the principal of Mount Scopus Memorial College.
“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.
“Donors should check that such oversight is in place before supporting any organisation. Only in this way can we ensure that terrible mistakes are not made again.”
For full Royal Commission coverage, see this week’s AJN.
JOSHUA LEVI
Rabbi Avrohom Glick.
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