Melbourne, Australia – Whistleblowers Come Forward To Report Former Principal

Melbourne, Australia – Fifteen people from the Orthodox Jewish community have come forward indicating they want to give testimony about allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a trusted official.

The whistleblowers have all identified themselves to an inquiry set up by the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV), as community pressure mounts for swift action.

Four of the interviews have been scheduled during and immediately after Pesach.

Phone calls “have been coming in fast” since the rabbinical body announced the inquiry into allegations of abuse, RCV president Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant said.

The allegations surfaced after Adass Israel Girls School principal Malka Leifer lost her job and fled to Israel within 24 hours of being investigated by the Adass school board.

Rabbi Kluwgant said it was significant that as many as 15 people had come forward, as they are all either alleged victims or people wanting to speak up on behalf of alleged victims known to them.

He acknowledged that the RCV was facing an outpouring of anger and demands for quick action against any alleged perpetrator.

Rabbi Kluwgant said that if the inquiry believed crimes had been committed, the relevant information would be passed on to police.

But he would not be drawn on the identity of any individual or on the extent of the allegations. [AJN]