A statement from Southern Sydney Synagogue

February 16, 2015 by J-Wire Staff
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The Board of  Southern Sydney synagogue has issued a statement distancing itself from views expressed at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse…its spiritual leader Rabbi Yosef Feldman was amongst those who gave evidence.

The statement:

Yossi290“The Board of Management of Southern Sydney Synagogue is distressed by statements made during testimony given over the past 2 weeks at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The views expressed in some evidence were extremely troubling and regrettable.  We reiterate that these views do not reflect the opinions of the Board of the Synagogue.

The Board confirms the position of the Southern Sydney Synagogue in relation to reporting child abuse.  We confirm that according to both Halachic and secular law it is a positive obligation to report any such offences to the secular authorities without delay.  We condemn any efforts to silence those who were victimised or their families.  Victims and their families should be treated with the utmost compassion and care.

This has been a shameful and painful chapter in the Jewish Community which we hope will lead to ensuring the future safety of our children.”

The synagogue declined to comment when asked about the current situation of the relationship between their community and Rabbi Feldman.

Comments

14 Responses to “A statement from Southern Sydney Synagogue”
  1. Jacqui Orner says:

    I would like to make an apology to Rabbi Yosef Feldman for the words in my online comments replying to Mr Otto Waldmann in February 2015. Should there have been any offence taken by my words I apologise. I was offended by the comments made by Mr Waldmann and felt in my opinion, that at that point in time in no-one had yet stood up for the community being discussed in the article itself. It should be noted that a request was submitted at 2.15pm on Thursday 11th February 2016 to the Editor of Jwire requesting my comments be removed, this was completed soon after.

  2. Otto Waldmann says:

    Can you believe this “minyan” of hatred residing within our community !!!
    Fire, kick out, find ways to destroy a Jew, compound farcical charges out of a sincere deposition and a solid undertaking of necessary reviews based on sincere teshuva.
    Ever looked at yourselves how disgusting you sound !!! How do you compare to the most ordinary antisemite, because if all this hateful drek would be printed on a non-Jewish place you’d be the first to cry “antisemitism”.

  3. Schneur Naji says:

    Lynne, there is no other “law”, the Torah Law would demand that the Southern Synagogue sack Yosef Feldman just as the Yeshiva should sack other clergy.
    A clean sweep, so we Chabad members can reorganize our community.

  4. Cody Flecker says:

    Not to defend these Rabbis or their Synagogues, sexual abuse rears its ugly head at various stages in one’s life. A simple pat on the head can be racist for some people, and a token of acceptance to other people. A pat on the back or the rump could have the same dire consequences. Anything short of forced rape can be excused away in interpretation of the actual events.

  5. Shirlee Finn says:

    You cannot sack a rabbi. When his contract is finished then you have the option of not renewing it.
    They need to make life for him unbearable so he quits.

    They can’t afford to ‘pay him off’ It’s a small struggling community

  6. Adrian Shine says:

    The community at large might be a little more vocal and partisan in regard to those involved with the shameful events covered up by the inner circle of the Chabad and Yeshiva Organisations. I believe that the matters raised have yet to be resolved.

  7. Lizzie Moore says:

    Bit of a crisis up there harbourside, by the sound of it, plus some firmly applied damage control…they have to be given credit, for trying to fix up the mess and not just sitting there, stupified.

  8. Irving Goldberger says:

    can Feldman really last
    can his father who was the one to start all the mess last in Sydney
    from what I hear the chabad members what them both out asap

  9. ben gershon says:

    there used to be a morality clause in contracts for film stars and sports people .if there is not one for rabbis .there should be

    how the board can still employ the said gentleman ????????????????????

    ben

    • Lynne Newington says:

      Sounds like the same view of many others who can’t even sack their “rabbis” due to “another law” and allegiance another soveriegn country other than where they reside in.

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