Rabbi Yosef Feldman stands down
The Rabbinical Council of NSW has announced that Rabbi Yosef Feldman has stepped aside as president.
Rabbi Yosef Feldman
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.
Strangely enough, it would seem that even the Australian Jewish News’ version of events support his position that based upon the Halcahic principle that the law of the Land must be followed, He stated that he supports mandatory reporting of child abuse where stipulated by Australian Law.
All Rabi Feldman’s emails dealt with cases not covered by Australian Law. Simply put Jewish Law has greater protection for the accused. The onus of proof of a crime under Jewish law requires at least 2 witnesses not the one required by secular law. however, as stated where secular law differs then Jewish law is put aside. Secular Law I imagine deals with individuals such as teachers, health care workers, counselors who have a duty of care with respect to a minor.
Answer me this, what do you as a Rabbi if you are told a rumour that in the case of an acrimonious divorce involving a custody dispute, the Husband alleges that the Wife has abused the children?
Should a Rabbi immediately contact the Police?
What would the Police say in such an event?
In any case, Rabbi Feldman was just doing his job when he wrote a series of INTERNAl emails in the form of discussion papers dealing with these issues
What a ridiculous AJN beat up and how irresponsible of it to be promoting such a scandal to the wider community…It’s not as though we don’t have enough to deal with in trying to counter boycott campaigns against Isrel etc
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.
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.
Besides the Rabbinical
Dear Stuart, you must sure realise that most of your comments are somewhat misguided.
The situation in which you compare a divorce with the rumour of a child abuse is totally out of context to the story reported. The story, as reported by The Fairfax Media, was that a Jewish male person was charged, and convicted of child abuse in the USA. The story went on to say that the convicted male was once and employee of a Jewish school in Melbourne.
This is no rumour, this is fact. What is being investigated, by Victorian Police, was whether this male person performed similar crimes here in Victoria, and was this males crimes known to school authorities during his employ.
There is enough evidence to suggest that there was.
So to compare a rumour to a fact is inaccurate.
Finally in conclusion to to compare boycott campaigns against isrel (sic) etc to child abuse out of order. One has nothing to do with the other. Its like saying people are starving in Africa, but I’ve got issues elsewhere so let them starve. Both are equally important depending on your level of beliefs.
Notwithdtanding the fact that Rabbi Feldman has been defamed, even the Australian Jewish News’ version of events support his position that based upon the Halcahic principle that the law of the Land must be followed, He stated that he supports mandatory reporting of child abuse where stipulated by Australian Law.
All Rabi Feldman’s emails dealt with cases not covered by Australian Law. Simply put Jewish Law has greater protection for the accused. The onus of proof of a crime under Jewish law requires at least 2 witnesses not the one required by secular law. however, as stated where secular law differs then Jewish law is put aside. Secular Law I imagine deals with individuals such as teachers, health care workers, counselors who have a duty of care with respect to a minor.
Answer me this, what do you as a Rabbi if you are told a rumour that in the case of an acrimonious divorce involving a custody dispute, the Husband alleges that the Wife has abused the children?
Should a Rabbi immediately contact the Police?
What would the Police say in such an event?
In any case, Rabbi Feldman was just doing his job when he wrote a series of INTERNAl emails in the form of discussion papers dealing with these issues
what a ridiculous AJN beat up and how irresponsible of it to be promoting such a fictions scandal to the wider community..it’s not as though we don’t have enough to deal with in trying to counter boycott campaigns against Isrel etc