Child sex abuse at Synagogue/ Yeshivah Centre  to be investigated  by Royal Commission into child sex abuse

Tzedek  A Jewish community free of child sexual abuse Tzedek is an Australian-based support and advocacy group for Jewish victims/survivors of child sexual abuse. We are dedicated to prevention through education and public awareness.

From the CEO I write this on my final day as Tzedek CEO. It’s been an incredible journey – with many successes, challenges and incredible milestones. There was also the occasional mishap. Despite the significant costs, I have no regrets in publicly disclosing my personal experience of abuse and my decision to establish Tzedek. I’m proud of what I have achieved and look forward to this ongoing journey. Thank you to all those who have supported me and Tzedek in any way – victims/survivors and their families, volunteers, donors, subscribers, and some by simply sharing your support privately or publicly. Please continue to support the important work of Tzedek in any way you can.   Tzedek is currently undertaking a recruitment process and my replacement will be finalised in due course. For those interested, look out for the ads in the next few weeks.   While I will now join the Tzedek Board of Advisors, I will no longer have any operational involvement with Tzedek. You can contact our Project Officer, Liat, who has done an outstanding job since she joined us several months ago (info@tzedek.org.au).   Personally, I will now focus on the impending Royal Commission public hearing into the Yeshivah Centre, which is expected to take place early next year. Over the summer I will be relocating overseas with my family (although I will return for the public hearing). I have also commenced work on a major global initiative; to address the issue of child sexual abuse within the global Jewish community. More details will be announced in due course.   While we have made significant progress, we still have a long way to go. Therefore I will proudly remain a victim advocate, and dedicate myself to this cause for as long as I possibly can. For many reasons it is not an easy area to work in, but I don’t feel like I have a choice. Just as I felt compelled to speak out publicly in 2011, I feel compelled to continue this critical work.   I can be contacted through social media (Facebook/Twitter – Manny Waks) and expect that my new website will go live shortly (www.mannywaks.com). You’ll be able to see updates, my opeds, articles of interest etc.   Thank you again, and I look forward to continuing this journey with many of you.   Warm wishes, Manny   PS If you have the capacity to financially support this new global initiative, please contact me directly. Of course this should not come at the expense of supporting Tzedek.