Sydney Chabad Rabbi Resigns over Leaked E-mails
A Sydney rabbi stepped aside from his high-profile post while he fights a report suggesting that he supported covering up alleged cases of child abuse.
Rabbi Yosef Feldman removed himself as president of the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales Monday after the Australian Jewish News published a report, based on leaked e-mails, alleging that he contended that rabbis should determine whether or not pedophiles be reported to authorities.
The report and editorial in last week’s edition comes in the wake of Australian police opening an investigation in June into revelations of child abuse two decades ago at Yeshivah College in Melbourne that were not reported to police at the time.
Feldman’s alleged comments were met by a storm of criticism from leading rabbis, who said there was a halachic obligation to report suspected child abuse cases to police.
But in a statement Monday, Feldman said that he has “at all times publicly endorsed the unanimous view of the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales under his presidency — that all acts of abuse must be reported to the police.”
He said his reported comments were contained in an “internal e-mail exchange among rabbis in which there was academic discussion of a range of views held by international scholars on how to deal with situations not subject to mandatory reporting.”
Feldman said he is considering a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper for publishing “false and defamatory allegations.”
Australian Jewish News editor Zeddy Lawrence said he stood by the story and believed “a number of senior rabbis and community leaders” supported him.
WHY?!?!?!
WHY DOES EVERYONE NEED TO KNOW THIS??!?!?!?!?
THIS IS PURE LOSHON HORAH! ITS REALY BAD FOR THE FAMILY NAME!!!!!!
THE TRUTH!!!
Media release from
Rabbi Yosef Feldman
31 July 2011
On 27 July 2011 and on 29 July 2011, a series of false and defamatory allegations were published by the Australian Jewish News concerning Rabbi Yosef Feldman . The article, published under the byline of the AJN’s senior Sydney journalist, Joshua Levi, imputed that Rabbi Feldman was in favour of covering up acts of paedophilia by not reporting those acts to the police. Those statements in the Australian Jewish News were false and are highly damaging to the Rabbi’s high reputation. The Rabbi is presently considering the commencement of legal proceedings against the Australian Jewish News, its editor Zeddy Lawrence and Joshua Levi for defamation.
Rabbi Yosef Feldman has, at all times, publicly endorsed the unanimous view of the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales under his Presidency – that all acts of abuse must be reported to the police.
It would appear that the AJN obtained, by means unknown, an internal email exchange among Rabbis in which there was academic discussion of a range of views held by international scholars on how to deal with situations not subject to mandatory reporting.
The AJN took extracts from that exchange and constructed a story and an editorial which attributed to the Rabbi views and opinions which he simply does not hold.
The Rabbi does not wish to speculate upon the AJN’s motivation in publishing such a scandalously false piece of journalism. His only concern is to repair the damage done to his good name.
The true position is that Rabbi Feldman, like all other right thinking Australian citizens, believes that acts of paedophilia should and must be reported to the police for investigation and, if warranted, prosecution. It is not, and has never been, his view that criminal conduct of this kind should be covered up. The Rabbi’s stance is that suspected paedophiles must face the Australian legal system.
There is no suggestion that any abuse has occurred in any Jewish establishment in New South Wales. However, the unanimous view of Rabbi Feldman and the Rabbinical Council of New South Wales is that suspected paedophiles must, if discovered, be reported to the police.
Statement by The Rabbinical Council of NSW
1 August 2011
1. Notwithstanding Rabbi Yosef Feldman’s assurance of his full endorsement of the RCNSW position on child abuse as outlined in paragraph 2, we accept with respect his decision to step aside at this time as President to clear his name.
2. In addition to our support and endorsement of the published statements of other major Rabbinic bodies of Australia on this matter, the RCNSW unreservedly and emphatically condemns all forms of child abuse and protection of perpetrators. We encourage all victims to report directly to the Police (or relevant authorities).
3. This statement has the full support and endorsement of Rabbi Yosef Feldman.
4. The RCNSW distances itself from the alleged views ascribed to Rabbi Yosef Feldman by the AJN.
5. The RCNSW condemns unreservedly the Chilul HaShem (desecration of G-d’s name) perpetrated by the AJN as a result of its reckless and sensationalist portrayal of Rabbi Yosef Feldman’s views and a prominent photograph with peremptory caption on the front page. Sensitive matters were distorted and presented out of context with damaging effect..
We also reject the AJN’s unjustified excoriation of the RCNSW. It is a sad day for the Jewish community when the largest circulation Jewish newspaper in Australia has stooped to the level of a cheap tabloid.
SHIMON L.
WELL if the truth be known, let it be known. We don’t need another pedophile in this planet. Besides, there are scared parents just anticipating his removal from the board of rabbinicals. Don’t they count? Brother. PS Is this Feldman related to the Feldmans in Cr Hts? Halifax, Canada?
Yoel Forster
This is a terribly unnecessary piece of news, let him go to trial there first!!!
Rochel
To Why:
It’s Loshon Hara? What about, Gd forbid, the damage this has done to victims? What about them?
mendel
To 3.
no it’s a different feldman not related to the feldman’s of c’h
Ima Heer
Here in the good old US of A there is a legal principle of clerical privilege which protects clergy giving personal advice to an individual from having to divulge or report the nature of the information obtained to the authorities.
It-s worse
The problem is a lot worse then it appears we only see those that have come forward.
Mr X
Exactly – what about the Loshon Hora against the victims. Rabbis told people I was INSANE and not to listen to me.
I am a victim and I was silenced by the rabbis.
Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof.
You Lost Your Way
To commenter #1
Really??? What a selfish comment. All about the “me, me, me”! How typical. What about the victim?
It’s bad/worse for the victim, their family as well as bringing a very bad name on yiddishkeit?
BTW I suggest you take upon yourself to learn Shmiras Haloshon and what constitutes REAL Loshon Hora!
Milhouse
For that matter, #1, why do you think it’s loshon hora for people to think that a rov may have taken an unpopular position on a matter of Torah?
lewis
People are publishing articles in news papers ans websites with out having a proof that that Rabbi has send does emails…
Any one can send an email on the name of some body…..
Sydney Jewish News a JOKE
The Sydney Jewish News is a complete joke. Most intelligent people have stopped reading it, for this very reason – inaccurate rubbish being ‘reported’. They seek sensationalism instead of integrity. This is what happens when people do not live up to the values found in Torah.
Pay back
It’s Brions pay back
AB
‘Step aside’ is not the same as resigning. ‘Step aside’ means just that while issue is being investigated. As u noted he is potentially sueing the media. Pls don’t fall into the same trap as the original piece.
CGI Illawarra Shores 5763
Why has this still not been reported? Why is David still free to touch our kids? Why is the Sydney Rabbinate sweeping this under the rug?
Steven
Yossi Feldman is a twisted weasel.
Constantly making issues on a regular basis..
To: #16
I personally saw the person you are speaking about ‘whipping a boy’ with a plastic snake – the boy was forced to place his arm out on the bonnet of a motor vechile, and David was hitting him with it…. Enough is enough Physical abuse and even worse is unacceptable!
The same indivisual was accused of another situation at camp, when the boy and his mother complained to the rabbis in sydney, they HUSHED it up and begged the parents not to go to the police!
(Forget about ‘h.o.t’ – is $$ the only thing that talks)!
No Rabbi Feldman we do not want things swept under the carpet! Your retraction is simply so you can save face in the community..
You Lost Your Way
The Ten Commandement & Seven Noahide Laws (which applies to ALL mankind) were created in order to form the foundation of a well-functioning, ethical and moral unified society. 2 of those Commandments is “The prohibition of immorality and promiscuity” and “The establishment of a judicial system’. The establishment of courts of law to institute justice, truth, righteousness and morality over society is an essential institution. As well as to establish a police force and army as needed.
Pedophilia is an act AGAINST those very core values and by bringing the abuser to face justice is upholding and living by the laws of Torah.
So comment #13 by individuals VIOLATING these very G-d given Laws THIS is what it MEANS by people NOT living up to the CORE VALUES found in the Torah!!!
who is david?
who is this David ? to # 17/16? we should all know if he is abusing kids why hide his name ?
who is david?
who is this David ? to # 17/16? we should all know if he is abusing kids why hide his name ?
Unimpressed
Perhaps the lesson is that talmidei chachomim should be extra careful with what comes out of their mouths, and emails.
Unfortunately, being a talmid chochom doesn’t really qualify one to be a Chochom. now does it?
Milhouse
#3, WHAT scared parents? Why would anybody’s parents be scared of a rov paskening a halacha?
#4, WHAT trial? What on earth should he be on trial for? Expressing an opinion?!
#5, WHAT damage, to WHICH victims?
In other words, what on earth are all three of you talking about? Has the witch-hunt reached such proportions that you think if a rov dares to disagree with you he must be tried, and anyone who doesn’t like his psak is a “victim” who has been “damaged” and is “scared” of him?!!! Do you think at all before commenting?
nat bar nat
You like this one Yitz?
Goldie
#5, WHAT damage, to WHICH victims? asks Millhouse
The damage to the VICTIMS who went to Rabbi Feldman snr at Yeshiva for HELP. They weren’t given any. They were ignored. They have left yeshiva now. Probably davening in an Ashram or Church by now.
Rochel
I just don’t see why the VICTIMS are proven guilty as liars until proven innocent. I understand that people can lie, yes, but why in the world must we automatically hush hush things just because they are ugly? My brother went through this…and the wake that his abuse left behind DESTROYED my family. Yes, it is terrible that maybe so innocent rabbi’s name could be dragged into it. But I fail to see why, especially in our kehillah, anyone would make false accusations…the pain that comes from having to say “I was abused” is not small thing. It is hard to come forward. Accusations should be at least investigated before pedophiles are free to walk among us. We are damaging our own in the name of what?
To #18:
You say: “No Rabbi Feldman we do not want things swept under the carpet!”
yet you yourself are helping to “sweep it under the carpet” by refusing to mention “this individual” by name.
It’s easy to pass the buck…
Concerned Reader
AJN responds in editorial:
http://www.jewishnews.net.a…
dont get it
Rabbi Yosef Feldman was not discussing the case that was reported in Fairfax Media in regards to Menny Wax. Rabbi Feldman was simply discussing a theoretical case within a series of emails in a private Rabbinic forum which was totally taken out of context. To simply prove this, Rabbi Yosef Feldman was the President of the Rabbinical Counsel .Any Counsel especially a Rabbinic Counsel (to which abides by The Code Of Jewish Law) Would not put out a statement without the approval of their leading authority!!, what bigger proof is there than this that the Emails were Taken truly out of context and Rabbi Feldmans opinion is rather the one that the counsel came out with BEFORE these emails were published in the AJN
Nosson Tannenbaum
I know there are plenty of molesters in that school and shule and I am giving them 48 hours to hand themselves in to the police.
If not, I have a prepared list of all the known and suspected child molesters, peadophiles and wife bashers to the police. Sydney Yeshiva has been warned.
48 hours