Yeshivah Apology to Student Victims

By Jewel Topsfield
The Age
August 23, 2012

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/yeshivah-apology-to-student-victims-20120822-24mut.html

AN ORTHODOX Jewish organisation in St Kilda East accused of covering up a child sex abuse scandal has "unreservedly" apologised to victims.

Yeshivah College has been rocked by allegations multiple students were molested over many years by trusted members of the school community.

In a letter sent to community members this week, the Yeshivah Centre said children were "entitled to our protection and our vigilance in eradicating abuse, particularly sexual abuse, in our community".

"We understand and appreciate that there are victims who feel aggrieved and we sincerely and unreservedly apologise for any historical wrongs that may have occurred," stated the letter, signed by Yeshivah College principal Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler, Rabbi Zvi Telsner and committee of management chairman Don Wolf.

"If mistakes were made in the past, they must be dealt with and we must ensure, to the extent possible, that mistakes are not made, or do not continue to be made, in the way in which allegations of abuse are dealt with."

Former security guard David Cyprys has been committed to stand trial next year over the alleged rape and sexual assault of 12 students between 1982 and 1991.

Detective Senior Constable Lisa Metcher last year told the Magistrates Court "high-standing members of the Jewish community" lied to the police, failed to act to protect children and swept alleged offending by Cyprys "under the carpet".

Magistrate Luisa Bazzani also said it was "unfathomable" that Yeshivah College teacher Rabbi Abraham Glick was unaware of the alleged molestation at the time.

Victoria Police is also seeking to extradite from the US former Yeshivah teacher David Kramer, whom parents allege was "spirited out of the country" by the school after complaints he was sexually abusing their children. All charges have been dropped against former Chabad Youth leader Aron Ezriel Kestecher.

One of Cyprys' alleged victims commended the Yeshivah leadership for "finally taking the moral position in apologising". "Today's statement by the Yeshivah leadership is an acknowledgment of the abuse we suffered," he said.

However, on the website failedmessiah.com, which covers Orthodox Judaism, Shmarya Rosenberg said the letter read more like a "lawyer-drafted piece of propaganda than it does like a heartfelt apology".

"Chabad leaders have been hostile to the police investigation and hostile to the family of the only named victim," he said.

The letter from the Yeshivah Centre said support and counselling would continue to be provided.

jtopsfield@theage.com.au