BishopAccountability.org
	Abuse Whistleblowers Come Forward By Peter Kohn Australian Jewish News April 29, 2008 http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=5334 FIFTEEN people from the Orthodox Jewish community have come forward indicating they want to give testimony about allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a trusted official. The whistleblowers have all identified themselves to an inquiry set up by the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV), as community pressure mounts for swift action. Four of the interviews have been scheduled during and immediately after Pesach. Phone calls "have been coming in hard and fast" since the rabbinical body announced the inquiry into allegations of abuse, RCV president Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant told The AJN last week. The allegations surfaced after Adass Israel Girls School principal Malka Leifer lost her job and fled to Israel within 24 hours of being investigated by the Adass school board. Rabbi Kluwgant said it was significant that as many as 15 people had come forward, as they are all either alleged victims or people wanting to speak up on behalf of alleged victims known to them. He acknowledged that the RCV was facing an outpouring of anger and demands for quick action against any alleged perpetrator. Rabbi Kluwgant said that if the inquiry believed crimes had been committed, the relevant information would be passed on to police. But he would not be drawn on the identity of any individual or on the extent of the allegations. "Definite, deliberate and appropriate steps are being taken. You're dealing with people who claim to be victims. They're fragile ... their rights ... and their privacy need to be protected." Each of the callers have been directed to a confidential interview with Mary Mass, a social worker from the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault, who has extensive experience in counselling abuse victims. "The purpose of these interviews is simply to provide a safe, supportive and confidential venue for open and free discussion between appropriate professionals and individuals who claim to have been mistreated or abused by this trusted official." Rabbi Kluwgant said each caller has been offered the option of having a rabbi at the interview for halachic advice and a senior community member for legal advice. Once a set number of interviews have taken place, or failing that, a set amount of time had passed, a panel of interviewers and two senior RCV members will meet with the RCV to discuss the allegations and how to handle them.
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