Rabbi Kluwgant resigns from Jewish Care

February 16, 2015 by J-Wire News Service
Read on for article

In the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse  hearings at which he gave evidence Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant today resigned as the General Manager of Cultural & Spiritual services at Jewish Care Victoria.

Rabbi Meir Kluwgant at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Rabbi Meir Kluwgant at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

Jewish Care’s CEO Bill Appleby said: “I accepted Rabbi Kluwgant’s resignation following discussions about his ongoing employment including his testimony late last week to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The President of Jewish Care Victoria, Mike Debinski, and the Board, sought clarification following Rabbi Kluwgant’s appearance at the Royal Commission last Friday.

As a result of my discussions with Rabbi Kluwgant, where he expressed regret over the text message that was sent to Mr Zeddy Lawrence, Editor of The Australian Jewish News, Rabbi Kluwgant tendered his resignation, effective immediately.

I would like to thank Rabbi Kluwgant for his service over the last 26 years at Jewish Care Victoria.

Jewish Care Victoria has a strong record of supporting victims of abuse. In 2013 it established an independent scheme to investigate historical claims of child sexual abuse in children’s homes run by predecessor Jewish welfare organisations in the 1960s.

Jewish Care Victoria’s actions show that it supports not only practical help but legal redress for people who have experienced abuse.

There is never a circumstance in which the criminal act of child sexual abuse should go unreported. Where claims are proven, perpetrators should face the full force of the law.

Victims and supportive family members are never to blame for abuse. Our community has an obligation to support victims, and that is what Jewish Care Victoria will continue to do.

Senior Minister Rabbi Yoseph Nerenberg and our cultural and spiritual services team will continue to provide support services to the Jewish Care Victoria community pending a permanent appointment to the General Manager role.

Comments

2 Responses to “Rabbi Kluwgant resigns from Jewish Care”
  1. Schneur Naji says:

    Has Jewish Care made substantial financial recompense to the victims of abuse at the homes run by Jewish Welfare in the 60s and 70s.

  2. ben gershon says:

    preference not a rabbi

    ben

Speak Your Mind

Comments received without a full name will not be considered
Email addresses are NEVER published! All comments are moderated. J-Wire will publish considered comments by people who provide a real name and email address. Comments that are abusive, rude, defamatory or which contain offensive language will not be published

Got something to say about this?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.