Jewish Care Home Named in Jimmy Savile Child Abuse Investigation

By Marcus Dysch
The JC
March 27, 2014

http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/116943/jewish-care-home-named-jimmy-savile-child-abuse-investigation

Paedophile: Jimmy Savile

Paedophile Jimmy Savile is believed to have abused children at a Jewish care home, it has been revealed.

The Sarah Laski Home, in Crumpsall, Manchester, opened under the auspices of the city's Jewish Board of Guardians in 1953.

It was today named by the government alongside 20 other homes now being investigated for links to Savile.

The home - which later became known as the Manchester Jewish School for Disabled Children - closed in 1974 due to lack of funding and a feeling that it was unable to provide "a family atmosphere".

Education Secretary Michael Gove told Parliament that information about Savile dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s had been uncovered by police.

Mr Gove said: "I have decided that the Department for Education should pass the information to the appropriate organisations for further investigation.

"In most cases the work will be conducted by the relevant local authority; in others the relevant institution or a legacy organisation will take the lead."

The evidence of abuse by Savile at the Jewish home will be investigated by Manchester's local education authorities.

Mark Cunningham, chief operating officer of Manchester welfare charity The Fed, which now oversees the Federation of Jewish Services, said: "The Fed has not as yet been approached by any statutory agencies with regard to this investigation but will certainly be anxious to help with any requests for information which may be available from archive materials held either by the charity or on our behalf.”

Savile had a close relationship with Jewish communities across the country and was a long-standing supporter of Jewish charities.

The JC revealed 18 months ago that Savile had admitted - in a previously unpublished interview about his work with the charities - that he knew his reputation would collapse.

He admitted he was “not a straight punter. When I’m gone they’ll say, ‘I always thought he was straight but he wasn’t — he was crooked.’"

Leeds Jewish Welfare Board removed a gold plaque in Savile’s honour from its Tree of Life at the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre after his death.

Savile, who once described himself as “the most Jewish Catholic you will ever meet,” raised money for charities including Ravenswood and the Laniado Hospital in Netanya.