Paedophile Rabbi David Kramer Admits to Sex Crimes While a Teacher at Yeshiva College
By Shannon Deery
A FORMER Melbourne school teacher has pleaded guilty to sex crimes against students during his time at a prestigious Jewish college. Convicted pedophile David Kramer, 52, pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault via video link at Melbourne Magistrates court today. He also pleaded guilty a further charge of an indecent act with a person under the age of 16 while six charges were withdrawn. It is believed to be the first time a member of Jewish institution in Australia has admitted to child sex crimes. The former Yeshiva College teacher, who was extradited from the US by Victoria Police in December, assaulted the students while teaching at the East St Kilda school between 1989 and 1992. Victims have today called for the college to explain why allegations of abuse levelled at Kramer were not reported to police at the time. Senior Yeshivah College figures have previously confirmed they did not report the allegations to police but instead paid for him to relocate to Israel after angry parents demanded he leave the college. He later relocated to the US where he was sentenced to jail for abusing a 12-year-old student while teaching at a Missouri college. Manny Waks, the founder and CEO of Tzedek, an advocacy group for Jewish victims, said Kramer’s pleas was an “important milestone for the many victims and a watershed moment for the Australian Jewish community.” “David Kramer will be the first perpetrator to be convicted for his crimes against innocent children since this scandal broke in mid-2011 and the first to be convicted for such crimes within a Jewish institution as an employee,” he said. “It will send out a strong message to our community. “You will be brought to justice irrespective of how far back you committed these crimes.” Mr Waks, the only victim of sexual abuse at a Jewish school to go public with his experience, said he hoped today’s proceedings would encourage other victims to come forward. “We also hope that there is a similarly swift resolution in the other child sexual cases that are currently underway.” Mr Waks said he had spoken to some of Kramer’s victims who felt “relieved”. “Justice is finally being served, the perpetrator is finally being held to account,” he said. “The Jewish community must stand up to this scourge and respond in an unequivocal manner. We must say: Enough! No more silence.” Kramer, who is in custody and made no application for bail, was ordered to appear at the County Court on July 17. Contact: Shannon.deery@news.com.au
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