An investigation by Aaron Rabinowitz and Shira Elk for Haaretz shattered the public image of Chaim Walder, an Orthodox writer and therapist who is alleged to have sexually abused teenage girls in his care.

(JTA) — Chaim Walder, an Israeli haredi Orthodox children’s book author who was accused last month of sexual abuse by several teenage girls, was found dead Monday in an apparent suicide, according to Israeli news reports. Walder was 53 years old.

After a successful career as a columnist, radio host, teacher, public speaker and most notably, author of the successful children’s book series, “Kids Speak,” Walder’s career came crashing down in recent weeks after he was accused of sexual abuse by several young women. The story of the alleged abuse was revealed in an investigation by Haaretz published last month.

In addition to his writing, Walder also worked as a therapist and was honored in 2003 with the Israeli prime minister’s “protector of the child” award. According to the investigation by Haaretz, several women accused Walder of initiating sexual relationships with them when they approached him for counseling.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The accounts of alleged abuse led to an unusually strong reaction within the haredi Orthodox community, which has often preferred to sweep accusations of bad behavior under the rug rather than publicly oust abusers.

Just a few days after the Haaretz investigation was published, Eichler’s, a large Judaica and Jewish book store in Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood, announced it would no longer sell Walder’s books. Walder’s longtime publisher, Feldheim Publishers of Nanuet, New York, tweeted that it would remove Walder’s book from shelves while the allegations against the author are being investigated. Yated Neeman and Radio Kol Hai, two Israeli news organizations, suspended Walder from his positions at the companies in the wake of the allegations, according to Israeli news site Arutz Sheva.

On Sunday, a rabbinical court in Safed heard testimony from 22 young women about alleged abuse at Walder’s hands, according to Haaretz, with the abuse going back as far as 25 years ago and occurring as recently as six months ago.

Even as some parts of the haredi Orthodox world moved to excise Walder and his books from their lives, some still ignored the allegations against him. In reporting Walder’s death Monday, B’chadrei Haredim, an Israeli Orthodox news site, made no mention of the allegations against Walder. The article concluded with the words, “May his memory be a blessing.”

—
The post Chaim Walder, haredi Orthodox children’s book author who was accused of sexual abuse, found dead appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount