Police investigate abuse allegations at Jewish school

VICTORIA Police are investigating allegations of child sex abuse at Melbourne’s Yeshivah College.

The Moorabbin sexual offences division has contacted former students of the Orthodox boys’ school about incidences of abuse, which allegedly took place between 1989 and 1993.

The allegations are linked to David Kramer, who was described by former Yeshivah students and parents as a charismatic and much-loved member of staff in the early 1990s. He taught Jewish studies to boys from Year 5 to Year 8.

Accusations have been rife – first reported by The AJN in October 2008 – that Kramer had been accused of sexually abusing boys and was forced by the Yeshivah administration, then led by the late Rabbi

Yitzchok Dovid Groner, to leave the school and the country. He subsequently travelled to Israel, where further accusations of improper behaviour were made, and then to the United States, where in 2008 he was found guilty of two counts of child molestation.

Today, he is in a Missouri jail, serving a seven-year sentence after being dobbed in by St Louis rabbi Ze’ev Smason.

As yet, no charges have been laid against Kramer by Australian law enforcement agencies, but it is understood that Victoria Police are preparing a case to extradite the former teacher once he is eligible for parole, believed to be during the coming 12 months.

In the meantime, the force is calling on members of the community with any information on Kramer to speak to either the Moorabbin sexual offences unit or Crime Stoppers.

The AJN understands several people have already provided detectives with information. “We’ve had a good response so far, but would certainly encourage other people to come forward,” Detective Acting Sergeant Scott Dwyer said.

Yeshivah College, as well as community rabbis, are co-operating with police, and the Yeshivah Centre’s Va’ad Ruchni held a meeting with detectives on Wednesday.

Yeshivah principal Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler released a statement to the school community encouraging those with information to help police.

“The safety and welfare of our students, both past and present, is of paramount importance to the college and the college has a number of well-developed policies and procedures in place to ensure that our students are provided with a safe and nurturing environment,” he said, adding that today, the school complied fully with mandatory reporting standards, Working with Children checks and provided education for students on appropriate behaviour.

However, there have been allegations, particularly prevalent in the Chabad blogosphere, that Yeshivah dayan Rabbi Zvi Telsner was discouraging witnesses from stepping forward. Rabbi Telsner told The AJN this rumour was “absolute rubbish”.

The dayan delivered a sermon last Shabbat, which some congregants claimed was intended to persuade former Yeshivah students not to make statements to the police. “If people are conjuring out of that that I said they shouldn’t go to the police, there is something wrong with them,” he said.

Rabbi Telsner called on the Yeshivah community to unite and help each other, rather than “sending emails around and making trouble”.

The Rabbinical Council of Victoria, the peak Orthodox group of which Rabbi Telsner is a member, declined to comment directly on the police investigation. Instead, the president Rabbi Yaakov Glasman referred to a statement released last year explaining that halacha obliges those with information about child abuse to make a report to secular authorities.

The RCV, which according to the statement has become increasingly aware of child abuse in the community, has formed a partnership with the Jewish Taskforce on Domestic Violence and rabbis are given training in dealing with victims or witnesses of abuse.

Those with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Moorabbin sexual offences unit (03) 9556 6128.
If you are seeking help, please contact the Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence: (03) 9523 2100.

NAOMI LEVIN

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