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	Head Flees over School Scandal By Dan Goldberg The Jewish Chronicle March 21, 2008 http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m11s19&SecId=19&AId=58900&ATypeId=1 An Israeli principal at the centre of an alleged lesbian sex scandal at a strictly Orthodox girls' school in Melbourne has fled the country amid allegations of molestation. Malka Leifer, head of the Adass Israel Girls' School for five years, flew home on March 5 — less than 24 hours after the school board confronted her with allegations of sexual misconduct. She denied any wrongdoing, according to Binyomin Koppel, the president of the Adass Israel community. At least three alleged victims are believed to have come forward to counsellors. The JC understands that they are recent graduates who became teachers at the school. Mrs Leifer, who is in her late 40s and has eight children, is believed to have gone into hiding at her parents' home in Bnei Brak. The school has engaged a number of psychologists to counsel the 250 students, as well their parents, former students and staff. It is also alleged that, before fleeing, Mrs Leifer borrowed up to $A100,000 (£46,000) from Adass members who were unaware of the scandal. The school's spokesman, Norman Rosenbaum, said he knew nothing about that allegation. But he strenuously denied any inference that the school paid for Mrs Leifer to flee. The school had acted "responsibly and expeditiously", he said. "The school's first priority is the welfare and safety of all persons affected by her. The mere allegation [of sexual misconduct] has gone to the very core of the Torah principles, ethos and practices of that whole community," Mr Rosenbaum said. "It is devastating. This has shattered people." Raizl Fogel, an Adass member whose daughters have graduated from the school, said she was devastated. "I was totally blinded by it. People are up in arms about it. It's havoc in our community." Since the story broke in last week's Australian Jewish News, it has been seized upon by the mainstream media. "Principal 'molested schoolgirls'," screamed the front-page headline in The Age newspaper in Melbourne last Friday. "Fury over girls' school sex claims," thundered The Australian on Saturday. Mrs Leifer was told on March 4 that she would be suspended pending a full investigation. According to Mr Rosenbaum, she denied the allegations but said she "may as well resign". Victoria Police were aware of the allegations but would neither confirm nor deny whether any girls had reported claims against Mrs Leifer or whether a police investigation was underway. A spokesman said all information about the case was suppressed under the Children and Young Persons Act. The Adass Israel is a tight-knit community of about 1,200 strictly Orthodox Jews who speak Yiddish. They tend to marry within their own community, and have little contact with the outside world.
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