Chaim Walder

Leader of the opposition and head of the Likud party Benjamin Netanyahu leads a Likud faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on May 16, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

May 19, 2022, 2:05 pm

Daily Briefing May 19: Likud battles over IDF bill; change in Haredi community?

Knesset correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn discusses parliamentary battles and negotiations; reporter Amy Spiro deep-dives into the aftermath of the Chaim Walder abuse scandal

By TOI staff

Haredi women and girls protest against sexual assault in their community outside a school in Ramat Shlomo, March 7, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

May 16, 2022, 4:55 am

6 months after the Walder abuse scandal broke, has the Haredi world seen change?

Activists and observers say much work remains to counter sex abuse and the culture of silence in the ultra-Orthodox community and its media: ‘I think the dust hasn’t settled yet’

By Amy Spiro

Illustrative: A man suspected of sexual abuse at a court hearing in Jerusalem. (Kobi Gideon/Flash90)

January 23, 2022, 6:26 pm

Education director in Haredi city named as suspect in child sex abuse case

Mordechai Be’eri accused of molesting several boys when he was a teacher in Modiin Illit settlement some 13 years ago; court extends his detention

By TOI staff

Illustrative: Police officers near Jerusalem's Old City, on December 19, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 19, 2022, 11:56 am

Rabbi arrested on suspicion he sexually assaulted minors

Jerusalem resident in his 70s suspected of indecent acts against two people several years ago, one of them a family member

By TOI staff

Haredi radio host Dudi Shwamenfeld recording at the Kol Berama radio station on July 1, 2009. (Yaakov Naumi/Flash90)

January 17, 2022, 3:44 pm

Popular Haredi radio host accused of sexually assaulting multiple women

Lawyer for Dudi Shwamenfeld denies allegations, says Ynet news site is seeking to capitalize on attention focused on ultra-Orthodox sexual abuse cases after Walder saga

By TOI staff

A hotline responder works at the Tahel, Crisis Center for Religious Women and Children, in Jerusalem on January 5, 2022. - "Lo Tishtok" - Hebrew for "You shall not be silent" - is a phrase gaining momentum among ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, who are being forced to reckon with claims of serious crimes, including sexual abuse of children, against several of their cultural icons. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

January 13, 2022, 5:45 am

As sexual abuse cases hit ultra-Orthodox community, some vow to be silent no longer

Insular community struggling to deal with several high profile cases of prominent people being accused of abuse, with counselors seeing a rise in the number willing to speak out

By Alexandra Vardi and Michael Blum

Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana speaks during a conference in Jerusalem on August 1, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 5, 2022, 10:46 am

Tzohar rabbi tapped to head conversions, prompting rage from Haredi leaders

UTJ lawmaker says appointment of respected rabbinic judge is ‘like putting an idol in the Temple’; religious affairs minister pushes back, saying he won’t be bullied

By TOI staff

'We believe victims' fliers placed in the mailboxes of a building of Haredi residents on December 31, 2021. (Courtesy)

January 2, 2022, 8:51 pm

Challenging rabbis, Orthodox activists hand out fliers after Walder victim’s suicide

150 volunteers promote grassroots campaign rejecting ultra-Orthodox leadership’s silence in face of massive abuse scandal

By TOI staff

December 30, 2021, 7:11 pm

Alleged Walder victim dies in apparent suicide, days after author took own life

Friends of young woman say she was distraught over ‘how some tried to protect him and whitewash the story’

By TOI staff

Israel's Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau visits the Neve Shmuel High School in Efrat on October 17, 2021. (Gershon Elinson/Flash90)

December 30, 2021, 6:44 pm

Chief rabbi pays shiva call for accused abuser Walder, urges victims to come forward

Lau comes under fire after public visit with mourning family of late Haredi author, following his apparent suicide

By JTA and TOI staff

Chaim Walder works in his office in Bnei Brak in 2011. (דוד25/Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0)

December 27, 2021, 8:03 pm

After author Walder’s death, Haredi media downplays sexual assault allegations

Ultra-Orthodox news outlets do not mention suicide after writer apparently shot himself, highlight his community contributions

By TOI staff

Chaim Walder in 2011. (CC BY-SA Yoninah/Wikimedia Commons)

December 27, 2021, 3:40 pm

Haredi author Haim Walder, accused of serial sexual abuse, dies in apparent suicide

Celebrated children’s writer found dead of gunshot wound by his son’s grave in Petah Tikva cemetery, a day after fresh accusations came to light

By TOI staff

November 18, 2021, 12:46 pm

After sex abuse accusations, Haredi author Chaim Walder steps away from public life

Celebrated kids’ author says he intends to spend time clearing his name; announcement reportedly came after newspaper where he works told him to take a break or he would be fired

By TOI staff

The 'Kids Speak' books by author Chaim Walder. (Feldheim)

November 17, 2021, 3:55 pm

New York Judaica shop drops children’s books by author accused of sexual abuse

Eichler’s Judaica owner Mordy Getz says the ‘shocking allegations’ against Chaim Walder led him to pull his books from the store’s shelves

By Shira Hanau

November 14, 2021, 1:57 am

Celebrated Haredi children’s author accused of sexually abusing teen girls

Newspaper investigation brings three cases in which educator Chaim Walder allegedly took advantage of young women; Walder says claims ‘amount to a blood libel’

By TOI staff