Synagogues disassociate from Rabbi Feldman’s statements
A Jewish media report today stated that Rabbi Yossi Feldman called for the handling of sexual abuse cases to be carried out within the community and not to be brought to secular law. The Council of Orthodox Synagogues has disassociated itself from Rabbi Feldman’s views.
In a statement released today COSA states:
“The Council of Orthodox Synagogues of Australia (“COSA”) unequivocally disassociates itself from the views expressed by Rabbi Yossi Feldman concerning the reporting of sexual offenders to the police, as mentioned in the Australian Jewish News (July 28 edition).
Furthermore COSA wholeheartedly endorses the position recently enunciated by the Organisation of Rabbis of Australia (“ORA”) and its affiliates as to the positive obligation, according to both halachic and secular law, to report any such offences to the authorities.
COSA urges all its State constituent bodies to ensure that the guidelines issued by ORA are adhered to by their Rabbis and leaders.
It is COSA’s unqualified position that any person who holds a view contrary is deemed not fit and proper to assume any form of leadership in our community.”
Anyone expressing the type of views that Yossi Feldman reportedly has,1. does not respect the Law, that is Australian Law formed by our government and our law courts and 2. Should not be allowed to have anything to do with a school where young children from kindergarten to highschool attend. He should not be in charge of young men who are training as Rabbis and who he could clearly influence.
His alleged statements interfere with both mandatory reporting and immediate collection of forensic evidence by appropriately trained persons and if these statements can be verified by production of emails, he is unfit to hold a position in any educational institution in this country, whether it be a Jewish dayschool or accredited yeshiva (especially one receiving funding from “secular authorities”). Also, if these emails exist, they are a defence to any claim he tries to make.
Feldman is only carrying out Jewish Bibical concepts of which I am familiar, but unfortunately this has been taken advantage of outragiously, especially within the Catholic Code of Canon Law.
Don’t be seen to be doing the same, follow the civil law of the land and be transparent, always.
That is what God would expect of his chosen race, and all Godfearing people.