Chaim Walder

Chaim Eliezer Walder (Hebrew: חיים אליעזר ולדר, romanized: Ḥayyim Eliʿezer Valder; 15 November 1968 – 27 December 2021) was an Israeli Haredi author of literature for children, adolescents, and adults.In 1993, he became an Israeli publishing sensation with his bestselling first book, Yeladim Mesaprim al Atzmam (Hebrew: ילדים מספרים על עצמם, Children Tell About Themselves, translated into English as Kids Speak), which revolutionized literature for Haredi children by introducing young protagonists who speak openly about their problems and feelings, and opened the door for many more writers to produce original fiction for Haredi youth.[1] Walder was a long-time columnist on social issues for the Hebrew daily Yated Ne'eman, an educational counselor, and manager of the Center for the Child and Family, operated by the Bnei Brak municipality.The Safed rabbinical court found that over a period of twenty five years, Walder had sexually abused women, girls, and boys that had come to him for treatment.On the advice of the Premishlaner Rebbe of Bnei Brak, he borrowed money and self-published 2,000 copies of his book, Yeladim Mesaprim al Atzmam (Children Tell About Themselves).[8] He headed the Center for the Child and Family, run by the Bnei Brak municipality, and was a certified educational counselor working with children who have suffered trauma and abuse.It paved the way for many new writers to begin publishing "imaginative, thoughtful, emotional, and enjoyable" literature for Haredi children and young adults,[1] a phenomenon that has surged since the late 1990s.[14] In December 2021, the Safed Beth Din found that over a period of twenty-five years, Walder had sexually abused women, boys, and girls that had come to him for treatment.Twenty-two witnesses, including victims, dayanim, and therapists testified about sexual assaults occurring at Walder's bookstore in Bnei Brak, his office, and hotels.[15] In one of the recordings presented to Beth Din, Walder was heard coaxing a young woman to conceal evidence and withdraw her testimony and threatening to commit suicide if their relationship was exposed.[55] By contrast, senior Haredi rabbi, Gershon Edelstein claimed that Walder had wrongly been publicly shamed by his critics; an act tantamount to murder and worse than illicit sexual relationships.[57] Yehoshua Eichenstein similarly claimed that Walder's detractors were guilty of his murder and that teachers should educate their students of the injustice perpetrated against him by wicked people.[62] Tzvi Tau said that Walder was the victim of a plot and one shouldn't believe the accusations which were all lies,[63] and though he later met with Eliyahu and said they had "settled their differences,"[64] he reiterated this view in a public letter in early January.[67] In November 2022, the Israeli Police opened an investigation into accusations that Tau had sexually abused minors; the Walder story had convinced his alleged victims to go public.[68] Zev Leff said that victims of sexual abuse should not be believed unless their claims are tested in beth din in front of the accused, and that Walder wrongly lost his livelihood after his books were banned.[69] Tziporah Heller said that lashon hara had killed Walder and that people were not allowed to judge him, only Hashem or an appointed dayan could do this;[70][71] though after facing a backlash,[71][39] she clarified that she'd been uninformed and in denial.[82] In a Times of Israel op-ed, Scott Kahn wrote that the Haredi media's posthumous lionising of a serial sexual abuser showed contempt towards Walder's victims.He and his fellow author, Shira Elek, were invited to a senior rabbi in Bnei Brak to present their findings about Walder and were encouraged to urge the Haredi community to seek change.