27^th November 2012

Statement on Child Sex Abuse and Reporting

ECAJ President, Dr Danny Lamm, and Executive Director, Peter Wertheim, met on Friday (November 23) with Yeshivah College Principal, Rabbi Yehoshua Smukler, Rabbi of Yeshivah Shule, Rabbi Zvi Telsner, General Manager Yeshivah Centre, Mrs. Nechama Bendet and executive members of the Yeshivah Centre Committee of Man­age­ment, Chaim New and Michael Gold­hirsch.
“We emphas­ised the ECAJ’s repeatedly-stated position that communal organ­isa­tions are obliged to implement proper safe­guards against sexual abuse of children under their care and to report alleg­a­tions of sexual abuse to the relevant author­it­ies imme­di­ately and co-operate with their invest­ig­a­tions”, Dr Lamm said. “Yeshiva was in complete agreement. We received a com­pre­hens­ive briefing about how Yeshivah is working closely with Victoria Police in relation to
the two alleged cases of child sexual abuse from the 1980’s and 90’s that are currently before the courts.” said Dr Lamm.
“We were also given an exhaust­ive explan­a­tion of the policies and practices that have been developed by the College to avoid abuse and to ensure that alleg­a­tions of abuse are dealt with promptly and reported to the relevant law enforce­ment and welfare author­it­ies.”
Among other ini­ti­at­ives, the College says that it has under­taken regular training sessions and workshops with students, staff and the parent body in close
con­sulta­tion with:

• SECASA (South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Abuse)
• GATEHOUSE CENTRE of THE ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
• DHS (Depart­ment of Human Services / Child Pro­tec­tion)
• JERUSALEM CRISIS CENTRE (Director, Debbie Gross)
• JTAFV (Jewish Task Force Against Family Violence)

“I under­stand that the College’s policies, processes and programs have been commended by these agencies, which is an important step forward and a hopeful sign for the future,” Dr Lamm said.
Speaking more generally Dr Lamm said that the known alleg­a­tions of sexual abuse and cover-ups relate to specific indi­vidu­als and organ­isa­tions. “Once these have been dealt with by the courts and the Royal Com­mis­sion, we will have a better idea of the extent of the problem in the community. In the meantime there does not appear to be any basis for con­clud­ing that these problems are endemic through­out the Jewish community, although it is possible that other organ­isa­tions might yet come under scrutiny.”
Contact:
Peter Wertheim AM | Executive Director
phone: 02 8353 8500 | m: 0408 160 904 | fax 02 9361 5888
e: [email protected] | www.ecaj.org.au