Institutional abuse

Dassi Erlich and her sisters were ‘easy pickings for predators’. With their abuser Malka Leifer’s conviction – and a new book – they take control

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Last year, after a 15-year campaign, her abuser, Malka Leifer, who had fled to Israel, was tried and sentenced, convicted of 18 charges of sexual abuse against Erlich and her sister, Elly.

Key Points: 
  • Last year, after a 15-year campaign, her abuser, Malka Leifer, who had fled to Israel, was tried and sentenced, convicted of 18 charges of sexual abuse against Erlich and her sister, Elly.
  • (She was acquitted of charges involving a third Erlich sister, Nicole.)
  • But when her need was most acute, Erlich could not have contacted any of these services.

Adass Israel ‘evokes 19th-century Europe’

  • As with most ultra-Orthodox Judaism, Adass Israel originated in 19th-century Europe as a conservative reaction to liberal secularism.
  • The cut of the men’s black silk coats worn with white shirts, and their mink hats, come from that time and place.
  • The Australian congregation was only formed in 1939, but the tiny enclave within East St Kilda and Ripponlea where Melbourne’s Adass Israel community lives effectively evokes 19th-century Europe.
  • Her parents had joined a generation later, as converts to Orthodoxy after emigrating from England.
  • She notes that as a result, “my mother was on a mission to prove her worth to the Adass community”.
  • Erlich writes that from a young age, she realised her mother’s rage “had no rhyme or reason, no trigger we could predict”.
  • The children were punished by being deprived of food and even the ability to go to the toilet at night.
  • Marriages are arranged via matchmakers, and couples have few meetings before their wedding.
  • Erlich writes that the first time she had an unsupervised conversation with her former husband, Shua Erlich, was on their wedding day.
  • Such is the fear of contamination by gender, unrelated girls and boys do not mix after they turn three.

‘It was just a woman’


When Dassi Erlich was in year nine, in December 2002, a new principal was appointed to the girls’ school. Malka Leifer had come from Israel with excellent references and appeared to be everything this devout congregation could desire. Erlich writes of “the respect and awe” the schoolgirls felt in the presence of this charismatic woman, who exuded authority.

  • Her mother was flattered when Leifer offered to give her daughter private lessons out of school hours, to advance her religious education.
  • Erlich wrote of these “lessons” that “I never found my words” to object to the continuing assaults on her body.
  • The account of her inability to escape is hard to read, but is also hard to stop reading.
  • It is hardly surprising the Adass community reacted to the news of the principal’s criminal behaviour in the same way.
  • Her religion controlled every aspect of her life, but could not save her from being raped.
  • It was just a woman.”

    Read more:
    Holy Woman's fleshy, feminist spiritual pilgrimage is a warning against religious coercive control

Unrestrained power, control and authority

  • When Erlich becomes suicidal after the birth of her daughter, her husband’s liberal Jewish father pays for her admission to the Albert Road psychiatric clinic.
  • The end of her marriage was inevitable, as were her many missteps on the way to freedom.
  • In enclosed sects, whatever their complexion, those who leave and speak out against misbehaviour are shunned, often losing all contact with their families.
  • The response of the Orthodox Jewish community to the truths exposed by Erlich and her siblings was as expected.
  • In 2016, a year after the judge in Erlich’s civil case ruled that “Leifer’s appalling misconduct […] was built on this position of unrestrained power, control and authority that had been bestowed on her by the Board”, Adass Israel was the subject of a television documentary, Strictly Jewish.

Global quest for justice

  • Instead, she was released from custody, feigning a mental illness that had turned her into a zombie-like state.
  • The book details the behaviour of Israeli medical, legal and political figures in their efforts to prevent Leifer from facing trial.
  • Jewish politicians, both Liberal and Labor, led their colleagues in supporting the sisters’ quest to bring Malka Leifer to judgement.
  • Erlich’s account of how her predator was eventually brought to justice shows how well these siblings learnt to work with the once unfamiliar outlet of social media.
  • After their Facebook group was trolled by Leifer’s supporters, they established a Twitter thread, #bringleiferback.
  • Although the extradition, trial and conviction of Malka Leifer was a group effort, full credit for bringing her to justice must go to the sisters – Dassi Erlich, Elly Sapper and Nicole Meyer.
  • This is a very self-aware memoir: Erlich and her sisters know they need to take control of their own narrative.


Joanna Mendelssohn has in the past received funding from the Australian Research Council

BERGER MONTAGUE ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF EIGHT LAWYERS TO JOIN ITS EMPLOYMENT, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW GROUPS

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 23, 2023

PHILADELPHIA, May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Adding to its premier capabilities, Berger Montague, a complex litigation powerhouse, is pleased to announce the addition of eight new trial lawyers to the firm. Berger Montague is now 89-lawyers strong across seven offices and expects to reach the 100-lawyer threshold before year-end. Driving the firm's growth-plan is the high demand for the firm's services in its many practice areas and the desire of lawyers across the country to join an organization that truly values excellence in client service, high ethical standards, aggressive pursuit of client-interests, top-level performance, and camaraderie. The formula is straightforward, says firm Chairman Eric Cramer, "We hire the best people, provide them the resources necessary to succeed, coordinate around a common mission of seeking justice on behalf of consumers, workers, businesses, and citizens, and foster a culture of teamwork in the service of winning on behalf of our clients. So long as we keep these principles top of mind, we will continue to grow and thrive as an institution."

Key Points: 
  • PHILADELPHIA, May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Adding to its premier capabilities, Berger Montague, a complex litigation powerhouse, is pleased to announce the addition of eight new trial lawyers to the firm.
  • Berger Montague is now 89-lawyers strong across seven offices and expects to reach the 100-lawyer threshold before year-end.
  • Ms. Varnell is also on the Partners Council of the National Consumer Law Center in Washington, D.C., one of the nation's leading consumer advocacy organizations.
  • Prior to joining Berger Montague, he was part of the environmental team at a major plaintiffs' law firm in Manhattan for 16 years.

THE LAW FIRM OF TAMARA N. HOLDER RETAINS RUBENSTEIN PUBLIC RELATIONS AS AGENCY OF RECORD

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 9, 2023

NEW YORK, March 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Firm of Tamara N. Holder, LLC ., a nationally recognized firm focusing on institutional abuse and women's rights, announced today the retention of Rubenstein Public Relations (RPR) as its agency of record.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, March 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Firm of Tamara N. Holder, LLC ., a nationally recognized firm focusing on institutional abuse and women's rights, announced today the retention of Rubenstein Public Relations (RPR) as its agency of record.
  • Founded in 2005 by Tamara Holder, her practice concentrates on employment discrimination, worker equality, sexual harassment, and institutional abuse cases.
  • "The Law Firm of Tamara N. Holder, LLC is honored to work alongside Rubenstein PR, the industry-leading public relations firm," said Tamar Holder.
  • "Tamara Holder has built an extraordinary career standing up for her clients, challenging some of the most recognizable companies around the country," said RPR President Richard Rubenstein.

Victims' Advocate Attorney Stewart Ryan Promoted to Partner at Laffey, Bucci & Kent

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 25, 2023

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Personal injury law firm Laffey, Bucci & Kent is pleased to announce that attorney Stewart Ryan has been promoted to Partner of the firm. Ryan regularly handles cases nationwide involving sexual and physical assaults in institutional settings and is a staunch advocate for victims of sexual assault and abuse.

Key Points: 
  • Personal injury law firm Laffey, Bucci & Kent is pleased to announce that attorney Stewart Ryan has been promoted to Partner of the firm
    PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Personal injury law firm Laffey, Bucci & Kent is pleased to announce that attorney Stewart Ryan has been promoted to Partner of the firm.
  • Ryan regularly handles cases nationwide involving sexual and physical assaults in institutional settings and is a staunch advocate for victims of sexual assault and abuse.
  • "Stew has done remarkable work with the firm on behalf of victims of crime," said Jeff Laffey, firm managing partner.
  • "I am honored to serve the firm and our clients as a Partner," said Ryan.

LEADING CLEANING PRODUCTS COMPANY, ZEP INC., SUED BY CHICAGO WOMAN, REPRESENTED BY THE LAW FIRM OF TAMARA N. HOLDER, LLC, FOR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 19, 2022

CHICAGO, Dec. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A racial discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Zep Inc ., a leading industrial and consumer cleaning products company, by one of its Chicago-based employees.

Key Points: 
  • CHICAGO, Dec. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A racial discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Zep Inc ., a leading industrial and consumer cleaning products company, by one of its Chicago-based employees.
  • The slur was repeated in the presence of at least a dozen other employees, yet nobody voiced an objection.
  • About The Law Firm of Tamara N. Holder
    The plaintiff is represented by Tamara Holder, who focuses her law practice on employment discrimination, sexual abuse/harassment, and institutional abuse.
  • The Law Firm of Tamara N. Holder, LLC, is a boutique practice founded in 2005 by Chicago.

Surveillance Technology Global Markets, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 12, 2021

The surveillance technology market consists of sales of surveillance software development and related services.

Key Points: 
  • The surveillance technology market consists of sales of surveillance software development and related services.
  • The rise in need for safety in high-risk areas contributed to the growth of the surveillance technology market.
  • The surveillance technology market covered in this report is segmented by technology into video surveillance; big data; police body cameras; biometrics; domestic drones; face recognition technology; RFID chips; stingray tracking devices.
  • Global Surveillance Technology Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion

Constitutional expert calls on the Ontario government to launch an inquiry into the Ontario Securities Commission

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 4, 2021

TORONTO, Aug. 3, 2021 /CNW/ - First Nations leader and constitutional expert Del Riley today called on the Ontario government to launch an inquiry into the Ontario Securities Commission's handling of its investigation into Bridging Finance Inc. and its former CEO, David Sharpe.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, Aug. 3, 2021 /CNW/ - First Nations leader and constitutional expert Del Riley today called on the Ontario government to launch an inquiry into the Ontario Securities Commission's handling of its investigation into Bridging Finance Inc. and its former CEO, David Sharpe.
  • "It's a simple fact that institutional bias and systemic racism persist in Canada.
  • Many agree that more needs to be done to ensure that this case is treated with full fairness as it winds through the process."
  • For more information see Real People's Media Op Ed, "Economic Reconciliation or Economic Retaliation?

Are You Anti- Racist Yet? -- Anti-Racism Training is Available This August on Zoom

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 26, 2021

One needn't be Episcopalian nor indeed of any religious creed to participate.

Key Points: 
  • One needn't be Episcopalian nor indeed of any religious creed to participate.
  • The training takes a historical approach to help participants understand systemic racism and empower them to confront and organize against racism, inequality, and injustice.
  • Before the pandemic, when the course was an in-person workshop, there may have been a dozen participants at any given time.
  • Register for the course by August 14th ($100 fee).If you have questions, please contact Noreen Duncan [email protected] / 609.278.9515or Ted Moore [email protected] / 973.

Nile Rodgers' We Are Family Foundation Announces the 2021 Youth To The Front Fund "Frontliners"

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 28, 2021

NEW YORK, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Committed to fighting systemic racism, inequality and injustice,Nile Rodgers' We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is honored to announce the 2021 Youth To The Front Fund "Frontliners", representing 10 states in the USA and 9 countries on 5 continents.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, June 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Committed to fighting systemic racism, inequality and injustice,Nile Rodgers' We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is honored to announce the 2021 Youth To The Front Fund "Frontliners", representing 10 states in the USA and 9 countries on 5 continents.
  • "As a 16-year-old former Black Panther, activism to fight racism, inequality and injustice is in my blood.
  • The Youth To The Front Fund is a leading example of eliminating these barriers.
  • Applications for Youth To The Front Fund will open in Fall 2021.

NWAC Demands Criminal Charges Against Governments, Churches, & Others Responsible for Deaths of Thousands of Children at Indian Residential Schools

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 24, 2021

The law does not allow those who are responsible for the deaths of children to walk free with impunity.

Key Points: 
  • The law does not allow those who are responsible for the deaths of children to walk free with impunity.
  • Those are the children whose bodies, are in these graves - the children who did not come home.
  • Murray Sinclair, the Chief Commissioner of that inquiry, has estimated that the total number of deaths at the schools could number 6,000.
  • It demands that those responsible for the deaths of these thousands of children feel the full weight of the law.