The tightly knit Chabad Lubavitch community in Melbourne has been rocked by claims about the role of the community’s rabbi in alleged instances of child abuse at an Orthodox boys school.

At the center of the crisis is David Cyprys, a former security guard contracted by Melbourne’s Yeshivah College, which also houses the headquarters of the local Chabad movement.

Cyprys, 44, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court last week, contesting 53 charges of gross indecency toward minors, including six counts of rape allegedly committed between 1982 and 1991.

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There are at least 12 alleged victims, including two who now live in America.

Court documents state they were assaulted at various locations, including Cyprys’ van, Yeshivah College, Gan Yisrael youth camps and ritual baths.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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