Media Release regarding Rabbi Telsner resignation

Manny Waks
September 1, 2015

http://www.mannywaks.com/media-release-regarding-rabbi-telsner-resignation.html

I am pleased that Yeshivah Centre’s (Melbourne) Rabbi Zvi Telsner has finally taken responsibility for his gross and repeated failures and has resigned from his role as Senior Rabbi and Head of the Yeshivah Synagogue.

Rabbi Telsner was at the very heart of this scandal. He was more than just a by-stander to the re-victimisation, bullying and harassment of victims and their families – he actively led his community down the terrible path which they pursued towards their victims. While some of the other rabbis and leaders at Yeshivah preached one thing but practiced another, Rabbi Telsner used the pulpit to encourage, normalise and actively participate in the excommunication of victims and their families.

On a personal note, I would significantly attribute my departure from Australia to him. He had the power and authority to ensure I was treated humanely. Instead he mobilised the forces against me, my family, additional victims and others. So the pain and suffering that resulted due to Rabbi Telsner’s actions and inactions is profound – something several of us have experienced until this very day.

It is a great shame that it took this long and so much advocacy by me and others to get to this point. Only two days ago I again publicly called on Rabbi Telsner to resign, this time due to his abhorrent treatment of yet another Yeshivah victim of child sexual abuse. 

There is no doubt that today’s important development would not have occurred if not for the determination and hard work of many. The victims, our families and supporters deserve the greatest credit – the period of the intimidation which several of us endured (in some cases until this very day) was literally a living nightmare. In spite of this we remained resolute because we knew the truth was on our side. So today we feel a great sense of vindication and justice.

I also want to acknowledge and thank the interim Committee of Management of the Yeshivah Centre for addressing this and other related issues with professionalism and sensitivity. There is no doubt that they have taken on a monumental task. But the results are starting to show. Importantly, they have the confidence of many (if not all) victims. And they have been able to achieve this through honest and direct engagement with us. Finally the Yeshivah Centre is being run in a way in which the community can be proud.

We look forward to continuing to work in the interests of the many Yeshivah victims, the Yeshivah community and indeed the broader community.

It is a great day for our community and for justice. Now let the healing continue.