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| Chabad-dominated Australian Rabbinical Council Says If Abuse Happened, Call Police Immediately
Failed Messiah
February 15, 2013
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2013/02/chabad-dominated-australian-rabbinical-council-says-if-abuse-happened-call-police-immediately-567.html
Being conscious of the fact that there are members of our community who claim to have been subjected to inappropriate sexual behaviour by trusted officials within the community, the RCV wishes to reaffirm its strong position in relation to the matter of sexual abuse.
The RCV policy in relation to the issue of sexual abuse [is posted below.]
RCV President, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant said “It is essential that when abuse has occurred the police must be informed without delay”.
At a Special General Meeting of the Association held on 13 February 2013, the RCV reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the issue of sexual abuse within the Jewish community.
Members of the RCV
Rabbi Yakov Barber Rabbi Shamir Caplan Rabbi Shimon Cowen Rabbi Yaakov Glasman Rabbi Elisha Greenbaum Rabbi Dovid Gutnick Rabbi Zalman Gutnick Rabbi Avraham Jacks Rabbi James Kennard Rabbi M Krasnjansky Rabbi Daniel Rabin Rabbi Dovid Rubinfeld Rabbi Boruch Shapiro Rabbi Menachem Stern Rabbi Zvi Telsner
Rabbi Aryeh Berlin Rabbi Reuvi Cooper Rabbi Yirmy Garfunkel Rabbi Ian Goodhardt Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Groner Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick Rabbi Ben Hassan
Rabbi Moshe Kahn Rabbi A.Y. Kievman Rabbi Faitel Levin Rabbi Mendel Raskin Rabbi Shlomo Sabbah Rabbi Yakov Sprung Rabbi Michoel Stern Rabbi Levi Tenenbaum
Rabbi Stephen Boroda Rabbi Chaim Cowen Rabbi Ralph Genende Rabbi Elozor Gorelik Rabbi Mendel Groner Rabbi Joseph Gutnick Rabbi Phillip Heilbrunn Rabbi Shmuel Karnowsky Rabbi M.S Kluwgant Rabbi Motty Liberow Rabbi Yitzchok Reisenberg Rabbi Andrew Saffer Rabbi Yisroel Sufrin Rabbi Mordechai Szmerling Rabbi Shimshon Yurkowicz
RCV Resolution Condemning and Combating Child Abuse June 2010
Whereas we have become increasingly aware of incidents of the sexual and physical abuse of children in our community; and
Whereas the lives and futures of many of these victims and their families are harmed in significant ways: suicide, post-traumatic stress syndrome, inability to form healthy relationships, inability to develop healthy intimate relationships, etc.; and
Whereas many victims of abuse in our community still remain silent and do not come forward to accuse perpetrators or seek help for fear of stigma, personal and familial consequences, or perceived halachic concerns; and
Whereas the Rabbinical Council of Victoria has resolved through past proclamations its condemnation of abuse and its censure of abusers, and has affirmed that the prohibitions of mesirah (reporting crimes to the civil authorities) and arka’ot (adjudication in civil courts) do not apply in cases of abuse and in fact, it is halachically obligatory to make such reports; and
Whereas reiterating this long held position can serve to provide pastoral and halachic leadership, support, direction and affirmation to abuse survivors and their families and advocates.
Therefore, the Rabbinical Council of Victoria resolves that:
• It reaffirms its unqualified condemnation of all forms of child abuse.
• It reaffirms its halachic position that the prohibitions of mesirah (reporting crimes to the civil authorities) and arka’ot (adjudication in civil courts) do not apply in cases of abuse.
• It will regularly issue on its website and to the media appropriate statements of condemnation when public attention is drawn to a case in which Jews are either victims or perpetrators of abuse.
• It will regularly evaluate the competence of its members in understanding and responding to issues of child abuse and initiate training and continuing educational opportunities for all of its members in this area.
• The members of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria address the issue of child abuse in their communities in at least one sermon per year, and that it be encouraged that contact information for local abuse services be displayed in a public place in all synagogues and Jewish community institutions serviced by its members.
Manny Waks writes:
TZEDEK RESPONSE TO THE OFFICIAL RCV STATEMENT:
“I welcome the RCV statement noting the numerous allegations of child sexual abuse against some trusted officials within our community, and highlighting the fact that police must be informed immediately when abuse has occurred. It is noteworthy that all the RCV member rabbis have signed this statement.
It is important to highlight that Tzedek has been working closely with the RCV and in fact, their statement today is a result of recent information provided by Tzedek regarding child sexual abuse allegations against a leading Melbourne rabbi several decades ago. This information was provided to Tzedek by two independent and credible sources. The police are aware of these allegations.
It is my sincere hope that all congregational rabbis urge their community to share with the police any knowledge that they have about incidents of child sexual abuse – whether they themselves were a victim or whether they have any relevant information about others. Importantly, it makes no difference who the alleged perpetrator might be – whether it’s the rabbi, the bar-mitzvah teacher, the youth leader or the caretaker. Similarly, from the victim’s perspective, it is somewhat irrelevant when the abuse occurred. So it’s essential that anyone with any information contact the police so that justice may be obtained for past actions, which will also ensure the safety of our children or, at the very least, victims can have their allegations acknowledged. This is a fundamental step in the healing process for victims.
Of course, it is essential that no victim/survivor is placed under pressure to make a police statement – they just need to be made aware that they have our complete and unequivocal support, both now and for when they are ready to do so.
In the Australian context, the following is the police contact details for people with information on matters relating to Melbourne and Sydney:
Melbourne: Moorabbin Sexual Offences & Child Abuse Investigation Team – (03) 9556 6128
Sydney: Detective Michael Morrall – (02) 9365 9654 / morr3mic@police.nsw.gov.au
Of course people can feel free to contact me at info@tzedek.org.au for confidential support, advice and assistance.
We must maintain this ongoing public campaign to address this crisis plaguing our community – the wall of silence must be shattered permanently. This can be best achieved through the support and involvement of the entire community.”
Please feel free to contact me for further information/comment
Regards,
Manny.
--
Manny Waks
Founder & President
Tzedek
www.tzedek.org.au
Based on years of covering ongoing child sexual abuse scandals, I have a problem with the RCV's statement.
The RCV writes:
Being conscious of the fact that there are members of our community who claim to have been subjected to inappropriate sexual behaviour by trusted officials within the community, the RCV wishes to reaffirm its strong position in relation to the matter of sexual abuse.…RCV President, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant said “It is essential that when abuse has occurred the police must be informed without delay.”
Note the construct. Members of the community "claim" to have been "subjected" to "inappropriate sexual behaviour" by "trusted officials within the community."
The RCV knows with certainty that some of these allegations are true, and it knows that David Cyprys, a molestor who was allowed to continue work at Chabad's Yeshivah Centre even though he had caught molesting children, has a criminal record for that early child sexual abuse.
Yet the RCV does not admit any child sexual abuse actually took place.
The RCV statement then quotes the RCV President, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant: “It is essential that when abuse has occurred the police must be informed without delay.” [emphasis added]
What Kluwgant does not discuss is what should be done when child sexual abuse is suspected rather than proved.
What should be done when your 5-year-old son's behavior radically changes, and those changes match the patterns of behavior common in sexually abused children of that age?
What should be done when some witnesses behavior with a child that closely borders on inappropriate (for example, a male teacher secluding himself with an 8-year-old boy that he does not teach or tutor, and seeing the boy emerge from the room 20 minutes later disheveled), especially when the adult involved is rumored to be a pedophile?
The RCV chose its language very carefully to exclude what are the most common situations parents, teachers and school counselors confront.
The proper answer in those cases is to call police, but the RCV does not say this.
In effect, the RCV is mirroring Agudath Israel of America's position, which is that proved cases of child sexual abuse should be reported to police or social services, but suspected cases of child sexual abuse should be evaluated by rabbis – even though all mandatory reporters in most states must by law report those suspected cases to a government hotline, social services office or to police, and even though Agudah's executive VP has claimed that under halakha, Jewish law, we are all mandatory reporters.
The RCV's statement is more artful than Agudah's, probably because if it positively affirmed that suspected crimes against children should not be reported to police until rabbis vet them first, it would be opening itself up to criminal and civil penalties in Australia that rabbis in Brooklyn (and even Manhattan) don't have to fear.
Until the RCV removes all doubt in writing, we should view its statement for what it actually is, rather than for what the RCV and others want it to be viewed as.Manny Waks writes:
TZEDEK RESPONSE TO THE OFFICIAL RCV STATEMENT:
“I welcome the RCV statement noting the numerous allegations of child sexual abuse against some trusted officials within our community, and highlighting the fact that police must be informed immediately when abuse has occurred. It is noteworthy that all the RCV member rabbis have signed this statement.
It is important to highlight that Tzedek has been working closely with the RCV and in fact, their statement today is a result of recent information provided by Tzedek regarding child sexual abuse allegations against a leading Melbourne rabbi several decades ago. This information was provided to Tzedek by two independent and credible sources. The police are aware of these allegations.
It is my sincere hope that all congregational rabbis urge their community to share with the police any knowledge that they have about incidents of child sexual abuse – whether they themselves were a victim or whether they have any relevant information about others. Importantly, it makes no difference who the alleged perpetrator might be – whether it’s the rabbi, the bar-mitzvah teacher, the youth leader or the caretaker. Similarly, from the victim’s perspective, it is somewhat irrelevant when the abuse occurred. So it’s essential that anyone with any information contact the police so that justice may be obtained for past actions, which will also ensure the safety of our children or, at the very least, victims can have their allegations acknowledged. This is a fundamental step in the healing process for victims.
Of course, it is essential that no victim/survivor is placed under pressure to make a police statement – they just need to be made aware that they have our complete and unequivocal support, both now and for when they are ready to do so.
In the Australian context, the following is the police contact details for people with information on matters relating to Melbourne and Sydney:
Melbourne: Moorabbin Sexual Offences & Child Abuse Investigation Team – (03) 9556 6128
Sydney: Detective Michael Morrall – (02) 9365 9654 / morr3mic@police.nsw.gov.au
Of course people can feel free to contact me at info@tzedek.org.au for confidential support, advice and assistance.
We must maintain this ongoing public campaign to address this crisis plaguing our community – the wall of silence must be shattered permanently. This can be best achieved through the support and involvement of the entire community.”
Please feel free to contact me for further information/comment
Regards,
Manny.
--
Manny Waks
Founder & President
Tzedek
www.tzedek.org.au
Based on years of covering ongoing child sexual abuse scandals, I have a problem with the RCV's statement.
The RCV writes:
Being conscious of the fact that there are members of our community who claim to have been subjected to inappropriate sexual behaviour by trusted officials within the community, the RCV wishes to reaffirm its strong position in relation to the matter of sexual abuse.…RCV President, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant said “It is essential that when abuse has occurred the police must be informed without delay.”
Note the construct. Members of the community "claim" to have been "subjected" to "inappropriate sexual behaviour" by "trusted officials within the community."
The RCV knows with certainty that some of these allegations are true, and it knows that David Cyprys, a molestor who was allowed to continue work at Chabad's Yeshivah Centre even though he had caught molesting children, has a criminal record for that early child sexual abuse.
Yet the RCV does not admit any child sexual abuse actually took place.
The RCV statement then quotes the RCV President, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant: “It is essential that when abuse has occurred the police must be informed without delay.” [emphasis added]
What Kluwgant does not discuss is what should be done when child sexual abuse is suspected rather than proved.
What should be done when your 5-year-old son's behavior radically changes, and those changes match the patterns of behavior common in sexually abused children of that age?
What should be done when some witnesses behavior with a child that closely borders on inappropriate (for example, a male teacher secluding himself with an 8-year-old boy that he does not teach or tutor, and seeing the boy emerge from the room 20 minutes later disheveled), especially when the adult involved is rumored to be a pedophile?
The RCV chose its language very carefully to exclude what are the most common situations parents, teachers and school counselors confront.
The proper answer in those cases is to call police, but the RCV does not say this.
In effect, the RCV is mirroring Agudath Israel of America's position, which is that proved cases of child sexual abuse should be reported to police or social services, but suspected cases of child sexual abuse should be evaluated by rabbis – even though all mandatory reporters in most states must by law report those suspected cases to a government hotline, social services office or to police, and even though Agudah's executive VP has claimed that under halakha, Jewish law, we are all mandatory reporters.
The RCV's statement is more artful than Agudah's, probably because if it positively affirmed that suspected crimes against children should not be reported to police until rabbis vet them first, it would be opening itself up to criminal and civil penalties in Australia that rabbis in Brooklyn (and even Manhattan) don't have to fear.
Until the RCV removes all doubt in writing, we should view its statement for what it actually is, rather than for what the RCV and others want it to be viewed as.
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