Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant to act on abuse and violence as he takes lead Jewish role

By Stephen Mcmahon
Herald Sun
May 26, 2014

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/rabbi-meir-shlomo-kluwgant-to-act-on-abuse-and-violence-as-he-takes-lead-jewish-role/story-fni0fit3-1226931019018

Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant is to be elevated to the role of president of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australia.

IMPROVING sexual abuse and family violence reporting are top of the agenda for the nation’s new top rabbi.

Melbourne’s longtime Jewish leader Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant will today be elevated to the role of president of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australia at its conference in Caulfield — making him the defacto leader of the Jewish community.

This will be the first time in six years a Victorian has held the position.

Rabbi Kluwgant said modernising the faith’s awareness around the dangers of sexual abuse and family violence were his top priorities.

This comes after a damaging police investigation into the handling of ­allegations of sexual abuse at Yeshiva College.

Numerous former college employees have been jailed for the abuse of dozens of students over several decades — but victims have accused the Executive Council of Australian Jewry of doing everything it could to downplay the scandal and abuse.

Rabbi Kluwgant admits the failure to report abuse in the past was a mistake and the Rabbinical Council is expected to back his calls for mandatory reporting of any crimes against children or in household to the police.

The rabbis are also preparing to unveil a policy that would establish individual child protection policies for every synagogue.