Statement from the Rabbinic Council of NSW
RABBI Yisrael Salanter, father of the musar ethical movement within 19th-century Lithuanian Judaism, used to say, “Not everything that is thought should be said, not everything that is said should be recorded and not everything that is recorded ought to be published.”
On July 29, 2011, The AJN ran a front-page story about RCNSW president Rabbi Yosef Feldman entitled “Top rabbi must quit”, with an accompanying prominent article on page 3 and full-page editorial entitled “Sydney rabbinate’s shame”.
In the article and editorial, reference was made to an internal email discussion among rabbis, in which Rabbi Yosef Feldman put forward certain views in relation to the reporting of child-abuse allegations to the authorities.
The executive members of the Rabbinical Council of NSW, alongside many rabbis across Australia, are of the opinion that the views propounded in those emails were simply conjecture within the context of halachic discussion and did not necessarily reflect Rabbi Yosef Feldman’s personal opinion on those matters. Although it may have been unwise for Rabbi Feldman to send those emails in the first place to a private rabbinic list, which included rabbis that he did not know, that in no way justifies the leaking of those emails to the press, resulting in The AJN’s interpreting in an unflattering way selected quotes from those emails.
The view of the RCNSW regarding The AJN’s coverage of this matter has already been disseminated within the columns of The AJN and there is no need to reiterate it.
The RCNSW has unreservedly and emphatically condemned all forms of child abuse and protection of perpetrators. We have encouraged all victims to report directly to the police. This halachic ruling has the full support and endorsement of Rabbi Feldman.
It is a fact of human nature that “sorry” is one of the hardest words to say. Bearing this in mind we warmly welcome The AJN’s willingness to acknowledge that its coverage may have been sensational, as well as its apology for the unnecessary distress caused. In particular, we laud its undertaking to thoroughly review the way matters of this nature are reported in the future, as well as the acknowledgement of its editor regarding the fine character of Rabbi Yosef Feldman and the significant contribution he has made to the community.
The RCNSW looks forward to the contribution that Rabbi Yosef Feldman will continue to make, together with his executive in his role as RCNSW president, which he has now resumed. In this connection, we commend Rabbi Feldman’s acknowledgement that an error of judgement was made on his part. We all make mistakes and indeed we, the members of the NSW rabbinate, also need
to introspect a little and see how
we can more effectively bring the eternal message of Torah Judaism into the lives of those whom we seek to influence.
Out of bad, good can emerge. We feel optimistic that out of this cheshbon ha-nefesh (soul-searching), a new era of good understanding and goodwill between the Sydney rabbinate and The AJN may dawn, in which a genuine endeavour is made to cooperate with, empower and seek the good in that which we each strive to do for the betterment of the Jewish community and the wider society.
We are now entering the month of Elul. The High Holy Day season of repentance and positive resolutions is upon us. Let us hope that this experience has awakened us all to the imperative of moving forward communally in peace and harmony, so that united we can face the most pressing and overwhelming challenge: that of inspiring the next generation of Jews with commitment to our heritage and Jewish continuity.
We wish The AJN and the entire Jewish community a Shanah Tovah Umetukah, a happy, healthy and sweet new year.
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