Professor Marci Hamilton Gives YU Abuse Report a Failing Grade

YU Pres. Richard Joel &
Pres. Emeritus Norman Lamm

When Yeshiva University (YU) first promised a report on sex abuse in its high school, Cardoza School of Law Professor Marci A. Hamilton gave them the benefit of the doubt. They promised an open report on par with those of their peer institutions and that seemed good enough to her. Professor Hamilton’s opinions matter because she is a nationally recognized authority on child sexual abuse, particularly when it involves church-state relations. Now that the YU report is out, Hamilton has given it a failing grade and red penciled it from beginning to end.

She delivered the verdict in Justia.com with a September 5^th article, “Sullivan & Cromwell and Yeshiva University Issue a Disappointing Report on Child Sex Abuse That Is Short on Facts and Long on Public Relations.” She spares little in her detailed, legally focused analysis. After providing some context she gets to the heart of the matter.

It [the YU Report] provides a four-paragraph (that is not a misprint) summary of “Findings.”  Readers are told that “multiple incidents of varying types of sexual and physical abuse took place at YUHSB [and at other schools comprising the University] during the relevant time period. . . including, in some instances, after members of the administration had been made aware of such conduct.”  This is little more than a continuation of the cover-up that apparently already occurred

Hamilton shoots down the argument that pending litigation is preventing YU

Australian Sponsor of Brander Talk, COSV, Harbored Pedophile David Cyprys.

Rabbi Kenneth Brander

As reported over the last two days, Rabbi Kenneth Brander’s talk  in Melbourne was criticized by Tzedek (Australia) and Frum Follies because of his failure to properly address sex abuse problems in the Boca Raton Synagogue and at Yeshiva University where he is a Vice President.

Brander’s defenders attacked Tzedek for misjudgment and misstatement of the facts. In the forefront of these attacks was the Council of Orthodox Synagogues of Victoria (COSV). Tzedek responded, defending their position and pointing out the COSV is not in any position to certify the impeccable reputations of others given their own negligence, or even criminality, in keeping notorious alleged pedophile David Cyprys on their board for years after his misdeeds were known. Below is the full text of the Tzedek reply.

I would also add that COSV relies on claims about Brander’s superb record on abuse without citing any facts or sources.

Richard Joel speaking at Lincoln Square Synagogue on Saturday April 27

Yeshiva University President Richard Joel is scheduled to speak at Lincoln Square Synagogue this Shabbat at the end of musaf.  We have been told that he will be taking questions.

Hopefully, someone will ask

YU Handling of Molesting Principal George Finkelstein Is Looking Worse and Worse

YU Apologizes for Molestation by Two Rabbis