The letter that brought a courtroom to tears
Rabbi Moshe Gutnick, past president of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia, sent this email to a child abuse victim prior to the Royal Commission last week.
It was read at the Royal Commission today.
Dear AVB. (victim’s name withheld)
As you can see its 3.30am in the morning.
I have just finished reading much of the “bundle” that we all now have.
I felt that I must write to you.
I want you to know that I can not begin to imagine the pain you must have gone through and still go through.
I do not know or understand why Hashem allowed what happened to you – but I can tell you this, Hashem is not with any of the bullies at the Yeshiva – Hashem is with you and your wife and your family.
You may not see it now but I am sure he will bless you and look after to you.
It is my belief that what you are doing, not only is not deserving of criticism – but you are doing the greatest mitzvah to help to expose this rotten underbelly.
I have earlier written to counsel assisting the commission that even though it is not in my statement to the commission, it is in my police statement that is in the bundle that I was told by victims that Lesches knew and that they told Lesches.
I want to be able to testify in support of your statement that Lesches knew.
I do not want it to be just your word against Lesches and I told them you deserve support and I want to support you.
Unfortunately I don’t have info on (Pinchus) Feldman or else I would testify.
But I am sure the truth will come out.
AVB – I hope and pray that this Royal Commission will finally expose all the crap. People say that everything that will come out is a chilul Hashem (desecration of Hashem’s name) – I say the Chilul Hashem is if it doesn’t come out.
These guys are all bastards. they all have blood on their hands.
I am not sure how things will be set up over there next week , and if we will be able to communicate – but I want you to know now — when you see me there you will be seeing someone who supports you 150 per cent.
Rabbi Moshe Gutnick
Editors note: Rabbi Lesches was in charge of senior students at Yeshiva in Sydney in the 1980s but currently lives in America and will not address the Royal Commission. Rabbi Pinchus Feldman, who is alleged to have spoken to convicted child abuser Daniel ‘Gug’ Hayman about his abuse of a student and not reported him to the police, will testify at the Royal Commission later this week.
For full coverage of the Commission hearings, see this week’s AJN and for regular updates like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
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