Community pledges full cooperation with abuse commission

JEWISH community leaders have welcomed this week’s federal government announcement of a Royal Commission into sexual abuse of children at religious institutions, schools, sporting organisations, and scouting and guides groups.

The landmark inquiry is expected to have broad scope, and will look at incidents going back several decades, with Jewish institutions included in its national investigations.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Monday that the commission’s brief will include examining institutions’ conduct on learning of child abuse incidents under their roof, and whether groups covered up knowledge or failed to report episodes of abuse. “Any instance of child abuse is an evil and vile thing,” she said. “It is appropriate for there to be a national response through a Royal Commission. This, I hope, will help with the healing.”

The announcement of a commission comes after years of public debate about the conduct of church groups in protecting priests and other leaders entrusted with the care of children who allegedly committed sex offences against minors.

But it also coincides with developments in the Jewish community. In July next year, David Samuel Cyprys, a former security guard at Melbourne’s Yeshivah College, will stand trial in the Victorian County Court on 41 charges relating to alleged incidents of abuse in the 1980s and 1990s against 12 children aged between seven and 20. Cyprys has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently free on bail with a $50,000 surety.

Meanwhile, convicted paedophile David Kramer is facing extradition to Australia from the United States, where he has served a prison sentence for child abuse he committed there. He is expected to face charges regarding similar crimes allegedly committed at Melbourne’s Yeshivah College, where he was a teacher.

The announcement of the commission was welcomed by victims’ advocate Manny Waks, who told The AJN he sees it as “a welcome development in obtaining justice for the many victims of child sexual abuse within religious institutions. There have been many unanswered questions … it is hoped that this process will identify precisely what happened, so that: (a) those responsible will be held to full account; and (b) we can ensure that such actions will not be repeated.

Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler, principal of Yeshivah College, also welcomed the commission. The school released a letter in August this year acknowledging and apologising for “historical wrongs”, assuring parents it is cooperating fully with police, and that it is “not aware of anyone who poses a risk to our children” among current workers at the college.

Stating that the school “will fully cooperate with the inquiry”, and “continue to act vigilantly to eradicate abuse”, Rabbi Smukler told The AJN, “Child abuse is abhorrent and has traumatic consequences for victims and their families. Victims of abuse deserve support and closure, and a Royal Commission is a very positive and welcome step.”

Monday’s news was also hailed by the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV). “The RCV reaffirms its utmost condemnation of those who perpetrate such evils against children or turn a blind eye to them,” said RCV president Rabbi Yaakov Glasman. He also stressed that any arguments urging communal authorities not to fully report child abuse incidents on the basis of halachah were “completely without foundation”.

The sentiment was echoed by Organisation of Rabbis of Australasia (ORA) president Rabbi Moshe Gutnick, who said: “ORA is on record as stating that halachah requires reporting to, and cooperation with, the relevant authorities in all cases of child sexual abuse, in order that children are protected and this heinous crime be eradicated from our midst.”

Jewish Taskforce Against Family Violence chair Deborah Wiener said: “We hope that this will enable the victims to have their say and be heard, and will go some way to easing their pain … A failure to protect children is the worst of all abuses.”

Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Nina Bassat said she hoped the inquiry would provide not only “clarity as to what has occurred but guidelines as to how we move forward” in combating child sex abuse within the Jewish community. “The Jewish community not only welcomes it but hopes it will be part of the healing process of the victims.”

“Judaism teaches that all forms of abuse – physical, emotional and sexual – of one human being by another is heinous and wrong. This is particularly true of the abuse of a child by an adult,” said Rabbinical Council of NSW secretary Rabbi Chaim Ingram.

“Judaism also teaches that dina de-malchuta dina, that in civil matters ‘the law of the land is law’.

“For both of this reasons, the RCNSW welcomes the Royal Commission into institutional responses to instances of child abuse. It behoves every Jewish school and institution to fully co-operate.”

Chairperson of the Jewish Day Schools Principals’ Association of NSW Wendy Barel said she expects every school to open their doors if asked by the Royal Commission.

“I’m sure all of the schools will co-operate,” Barel said. “Each school has people that are fully trained in how to deal with any situation that arises and of course all of the teachers undergo children protection checks.”

PETER KOHN

Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

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