Will sexual violence become a recurring form of Palestinian terror?

In the wake of Israeli officials’ graphic testimony at the United Nations of widespread rape and mutilation of women’s bodies by Hamas terrorists during the attacks of October 7, and the continuing revelations of further atrocities, one women’s rights activist fears that sexual violence will become a recurring theme of Palestinian terror. Read more

Leifer trial jury still out and heading for ninth day

Jurors in the trial of former ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer will return to court on Monday to continue deliberations for a ninth day after being sent home. Read more

Malka Leifer abuse jury push on for verdicts

Jurors deliberating in the trial of former ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal Malka Leifer have revealed they’ve reached a unanimous decision on some charges against her. Read more

Leifer sex abuse case lag a disadvantage: Barrister

A gap of almost two decades between former ultra-Orthodox Jewish teacher Malka Leifer’s alleged sex crimes and her facing trial is a disadvantage to her defence, her barrister claims. Read more

Two charges dropped against ultra-Orthodox principal

Two charges have been dropped against former ultra-Orthodox Jewish school principal Malka Leifer as they predate when the relevant legislation came into effect. Read more

Woman ‘distraught’ disclosing alleged Leifer abuse

One of three sisters allegedly sexually abused by former ultra-Orthodox Jewish school principal Malka Leifer was distraught when revealing what happened to her, a court has been told. Read more

Another student starts proceedings

Melbourne’s The Age newspaper has reported that a second former student has commenced proceedings against the ultra-orthodox Adass Yisroel School following this week’s judgement awarding over $1 million to a former student who allegedly suffered sexual abuse. Read more

Peace and Happiness…writes Ari Heber

As the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse continues its investigation we should be aware that the incidents it is investigating represent only a very small percentage of child sexual abuse incidents in Australia. Read more

Tzedek welcomes Maccabi statement

J-Wire has published Maccabi Australia’s updated policy on protecting children in their care from sexual abuse…Tzedek has welcomed the new strategy. Read more

Seeking the abused

Melbourne’s Jewish Care has been made aware of sexual abuse incidents involving children in residential care in the 1960s. Read more

Sexual abuser at Yeshivah? “This could be no further from the truth”

The Principal of Melbourne’s Yeshivah – Beth Rivkah College has responded to claims that a known perpetrator of child sexual abuse is in the College’s employment. Read more

Progressive rabbis declare abhorrence of child sexual abuse

During last Shabbat,  pluralistic Rabbis across Australia, New Zealand and Asia read out the Statement below as part of the Sabbath service. Read more

Working with Children

Tzedek, the advocacy group focusing on sexual abuse on children has called for checks to be made on communal workers and shlichim within the Jewish community. Read more

The Spirit of Manny

ABC’s Rachael Kohn has interviewed Manny Waks…the oldest member of seventeen children who was sexually abused as a child attending Yeshiva in Melbourne…. Read more

Senior Yeshivah Officials may face tribunal

The father of child sex abuse victim Manny Waks is taking two senior officials at the Yeshivah Centre to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

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Organisations v Community

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has written to the Victorian Government Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other non-Government Organisations criticising a submission claiming that sections of the Jewish community may have been at fault. Read more