Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch in New York has issued a statement in the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to child abuse hearing dealing with the Sydney Yeshiva and the Melbourne Yeshivah.
The statement reads:
The Board of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, the educational arm of Chabad-Lubavitch, has been following Australia’s Royal Commission proceedings into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse. While we appreciate the need for patience as the process takes its due course, some of the testimony which was shared with the Commission is extremely alarming, and we feel compelled to comment even before the Commission issues its findings and recommendations.
We are appalled and deeply pained to learn of the allegations against individuals associated with some of the Chabad institutions in Australia. The information that has emerged is utterly disturbing, a profound violation of the non-negotiable principles implicit– and explicit–in any and every situation where the wellbeing of a child is entrusted to the care of an educational institution.
The first, foremost and overriding concern of every one of our educational institutions, and of each individual affiliated in any way with those institutions, is the protection—physical, emotional and psychological—of any and every child entrusted to it.
We are confident that the reports emanating from Australia are the rare and unfortunate exception to our institutions; however in light of the allegations now under investigation, we are reviewing procedures and protocol to see how these can be improved and enhanced for better implementation and enforcement. Indeed, given the devastating and long-lasting effects of child sex abuse now well-known, teachers, administrative and other school personnel who become aware of any incidents of such abuse, must act responsibly and report them to authorities without delay.
The unfortunate incidents alleged to have occurred in Australia may have well been avoided if the institutions in question would have adhered to the Child Safety Code guidelines of the Merkos Educational Office. We will therefore take additional steps to ensure strict adherence of these codes by all Chabad-Lubavitch educational institutions, and we will continue to explore additional measures to raise awareness among school personnel, about the dangers, risks and indications of offenses of sexual abuse and misconduct.
We commend the efforts of the Royal Commission, and trust that their involvement in this matter will not only address the immediate situation, but that they will provide broader recommendations as well that will be instrumental in ensuring a safe, sound and positive environment within all schools. We welcome and value their insight.
The decision on the part of the victims to come forward cannot have been an easy one. But it was the courageous and correct one. For in their willingness to do so, they have contributed to a heightened awareness that will prevent other children from falling victim. The suffering and consequences of such abuses are often life-long, and as such, every instance of prevention is a life saved.
In our ethos, every life is a world. Every child represents a world, worthy and deserving of our greatest investment towards their safety and nurture. The victims who have stepped forward to report abuse have surely saved many, many lives, each of them a world unto itself. For this, we applaud them. We pray that they will find healing and the strength to move on. G-d bless them with goodness and kindness.
Merkos has published their code some time ago on their chinuchoffice website.
You have to go to the section for “generic school forms and policies” (which any school is free to use and adapt) and click on Child Safety Code…
yes we can question the management then. About 20 years ago, I was a teacher in a Chabad moisad that had a situation. I new the name of the perpetrator but not of the victims.When I asked the had Rabbi to please notify the proper authorities ,he said no,that they were handling it internally. There was no excuse then and there’s no excuse now! Frankly the twists and turns of your defense are revolting.
The reason it turned into a Royal Commission is because the CURRENT management chose to ignore instead of acknowledge and apologize. I agree, we cannot question the decision makers at the time, but we can look at how, when approached, the decision-makers TODAY chose to ignore instead of acknowledge and simply apologize.
Would you ignore victims coming forward to you? Now, a year ago or four years ago?
Your statement has nothing to do with facts and everything to do with interpretation. I followed the Commission – of course the purpose was all about the future, but factually most of the time was taken up discussing the actions or lack of…of events decades old. Not to justify anything at all, G-d forbid, but a lot of this superior indignation smacks of deluded self-righteousness, I ask myself this question: Would I have acted any different than those in “management”? Would you? They were as you say ..” It is pretty self-understood that the culture then was vastly different to… Read more »
How about addressing the same problem in Crown Heights.
Apparently, a lot of you have missed the point. The main motive of the Federal Commission was to investigate how the institution responded to the victims NOW. Not 30 years ago. It is pretty self-understood that the culture then was vastly different to where we are holding today. Had the ‘management’ come forward and apologized as well as acknowledged what took place, like honest and decent people, the commission would not have taken place. Instead, they chose to ignore (and ignore some more) the victims, then intimidate and bully them until it reached a boiling point. Kudos to the ‘management’… Read more »
When were the Codes sent out? Surely the parents should know about the policies and not just the Admin?
Can we know which schools follow these Codes? Parents have a right to know.
Thank you
YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!! THESE ARE RUTHLESS PEOPLE WHO ARE DRUNK ON THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION AND REVENGE!! NOTHING IS SACRED!! MELBOURNE WAS JUST FIRST ON THE LIST!! ALL OF CHABAD IS IN GREAT DANGER!!!
Fully agree with 28.
Don’t justify someone that did something wrong, support “JCW” and help them doing what there doing the least you can do is don’t get in their way, and forsure dont stop them from helping another jew
If a similar investigation we’re to be conducted on some of the bigger schools in Crown Heights, one would most definitely find cover-ups and under carpets sweeps, as is clear from a lot of the testimonies given from the countless victims who have been abused in our system.
Thanks Merkos, however lets see a statement from The Yeshivas in CH.
the incidence being dealt with were earlier then 20 years ago.
so I’m not sure of the relevance of the so called code.
also is there a list of the schools that received these codes? are the Moisdes in Australia even under the auspices of Merkos?.
Finally somone stating it clear and focused
To # 25.
“I’ve worked at Chabad Org’s my whole life and never heard of this. ”
All the schools which have had and have a connection with the Chinuch Office of Merkos are aware of this code which was put out under Rabbi Nochum Kaplan after consultation with Rabonim and Professionals. Yes, adherence to the code would have avoided the problems.
Rabbi Chaim D. Kagan, Menahel, Monsey Beis Chaya Mushka
Have apologies been made to the victims and their families and to those who were shunned or ostracized for reporting problems or urging a different approach? Is Chabad providing compensation for the victims? Have apologies been made to the larger community in general?
If you research the facts you will find that the “incidents” occurred over 20 years ago. Merkos states “the unfortunate incidents alleged to have taken place in Australia may well habe been avoided if the institutions in question had adhered to the child safety code guidelines of the merkos educational office.” Highly impressive to be so ahead of the times if there was indeed a merkos safety code a quarter of a century ago.
There is no excuse whatsoever for any unethical behavior on the part of any leadership people, especially in cases where others were so horrifically abused. Nevertheless, without naming names, what the focus of the Royal Commission was the PAST, events that took place decades ago, where the MAJOR crime of the leadership was INSENSITIVITY, and for that crime, otherwise, decent honorable rabbis, YES, I DARE SAY, good people… have been tremendously dragged through the mud.. etc,. YES, to validate the victims… and to make a better future… BUT, like I said… we need to keep this in perspective.. from the… Read more »
Issuing policies is one thing, rolling up the sleeves and doing the difficult work of school by school having real education and enforcement in place is quite another. Let’s hope this is the beginning of real internal checks and balances, supervision and guidance, change so needed in so many mosdos
Settle down
“The unfortunate incidents alleged to have occurred in Australia may have well been avoided if the institutions in question would have adhered to the Child Safety Code guidelines of the Merkos Educational Office.”
I’ve worked at Chabad Org’s my whole life and never heard of this.
And why no name signed?
What’s the politics?
Be positive people. The revelations of the past decade were so shocking that even the most apathetic person has learnt quite some lesson – a lesson about respecting each indivudial student, and a lesson about the traumatic effects of horrific abuse.
I believe with complete faith that things will improve from now on. The victim has a voice! and the community has knowledge and experience!
lechaim to better times !!
What has happened in Australia is a shame and inexcusable. The main question is what is going to “really” happen as a result of this? Every Lubavitch community, shaliach and, Lubvatich as an organization, is now legally accountable for any child abuse. The Merkos letter has this implication. Any abuse revealed or hidden will be brought to civil court where lawsuits will cost the mosdos, shlechiam and Lubavitch not only money but perhaps, years in prison if they do not abide.
The statement sounds like this is some abberation happening in far off australia. The good news is that this comission actually pushed australia way ahead of the game. There are places where known pedophiles working with children, still.
merkos is simply covering their “you know what”
the statement is overkill.
Fix the problem and move on.
Where des it say it was 20yrs ago?
The real change here had to be in the leadership ie committee of management. Merkos also has to pull rank when time and again they have been asked to intervene. If the com would have dealt with this issue appropriately a massive chilul Hashes and chilil chabad would have been avoided
with # 11.
How forward thinking of merkos to have a written csa policy at a time when the culture was not to talk openly about csa. Kol hakavod to merkos for the forsight that enabled them to be so ahead of the times.
Good morning merkos l’inyonei CHINUCH. Why does it take this to shake everybody up and realize that there may just be a problem that is their job? That said: #1 The real problems that Yeshiva faces run far deeper than abuse from 20 years ago. It is easy to issue blanket statements that sound politically correct but mean very little from a practical standpoint. Yeshivah now has some serious work to do to get back on it’s feet. What is clear to those who followed the Royal commission hearings (which were very disturbing on so many levels) is that it… Read more »
The jury is out. Numerous members of chabad Australia were tried and convicted for csa. Numerous rabbis affiliated with the yeshiva knew about these horrific crimes and failed to stop them.
Thank you collive for not putting an article filled with loshon horah about this story on ur site!
If only it was entirely true…
I am pleased to see that Chabad/Merkos is confronting this unfortunate problem in a responsible way
Whilst it may be just and right – we should be careful not to rejoice in another person’s downfall. Remember how and why we pour out wine whilst reading out the ten plagues on passover?
as if they’e trying to cover themselves. If they really feel strongly about this issue, they should launch an internal investigation about other molestation cover ups at Chabad moisdos-not gonna happen.
Thank you for this statement. Indeed some of Australia’s perpetrators went on to abuse in New York as well. It is important that all school and communities feel connected and responsible for these errors and tragedies.
I can’t begin to imagine how long it will take to fix this. There are so many positive things to focus on, why the need to deal with such garbage? If only the necessary people in charge had taken even a cursory look into Rabbi Dovvis book on Community Crisis Awareness this could have all been avoided. If there is one thing we can do its follow his guidance.
Moshiach Now!!
they should do some soul searching here in the United States if they are really serious before it comes out like it did in Australia
I applaud you for being so forthright when you acknowledge that a problem exists or existed three quarters of the problem is solved after all CHABAD is all about teshuva what a great way to be an example
I think it would be fair to say that all Rabbis from Merkos would have reacted the same way by hiding abuse under the rug. However it is still appropriate to be taking a stance finally! Times have changed thanks to some brave survivors who put up the fight to combat abuse.
1. Is there really a Merkos child protection guideline or has this just been made up?
2. Will Merkos fire people in Australia who did wrong?
The jury is not even out yet and you portray picture of the school through the bars of the front gate, an obvious message..
Yeshiva College of Melbourne learned from their unfortunate experiences and have already implemented a comprehensive safety policy a number of years ago.
Who is merkoz and why is there no name signed on the letter?
Child Safety Code guidelines of the Merkos Educational Office??????? Who has seen this??????