It’s been three decades since Manny Waks last spoke to the man he alleges abused him as a child back in the late 1980s.
But in a chilling confrontation caught on video and aired on Israeli television this week, the prominent child abuse survivor and activist confronted Velvel (Zev) Serebryanski, a former member of Melbourne’s ultra-Orthodox community, to demand the elderly man admit “what you did to me”.
In a scene filmed on a cold New York night, Mr Serebryanski said that he “loved” Mr Waks and was “completely infatuated” with him.
“It seems to me that I was seeing what you wanted, and trying to follow along,” Mr Serebryanski said.
“I wanted to do what I thought you wanted.”
He then apologised to Mr Waks.
“I can completely assure you that nothing has happened 30, 20 years whatever it is, since before I came here. I’m very sorry for any pain that I have caused you, I never wanted to do that.”
After further questions from Mr Waks about whether the alleged conduct would continue in New York, Mr Serebryanski said: ” I can’t imagine that anyone would ever, now want to do anything with me, look at me … I’m fat, I’m old.”
Mr Waks asked if he could control the impulse of being “turned on by little kids”.
Mr Serebryanski: “It takes two to do anything.”
Mr Waks: “No it doesn’t. With a child?”
Mr Serebryanski: “Yeah, I’m not going to force someone to do anything.
Mr Waks: “There are different ways, you never forced me physically … but you manipulate, you groom … I’m genuinely concerned for kids around you.”
In response to Fairfax Media’s questions, Mr Serebryanski’s attorney said his client’s decision to move to New York had “nothing to do with allegations of abuse”.
“Indeed, there were no allegations of abuse at the time.”
The footage of the encounter is understood to have been handed to Victoria Police.
Police confirmed in a 2014 letter to Mr Waks that they were investigating Mr Serebryanski but the investigation was put on hold, as an interview with Velvel remained “outstanding”.
Mr Waks said he has been told by police that the footage has strengthened their brief of evidence and enquiries would be made to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to seek an extradition.
Victoria Police has not confirmed this with Fairfax Media.
Mr Waks first contacted police in 1996, alleging that during the first night of a Jewish festival called Shavuot, when it is customary to stay awake all night studying Jewish scripture, Mr Serebryanski followed Mr Waks upstairs to the women’s section at Yeshivah’s synagogue. Mr Waks was 11 or 12 years old at the time of the alleged abuse.
Mr Serebryanski allegedly sat next to him and started “caressing and rubbing his thighs”, reached his groin area and touched his genitals over his underpants, according to his police statement.
Mr Serebryanski then allegedly led Mr Waks to another room and continued to abuse him, according to the statement.
The “same things” occurred “possibly on another two occasions”, according to Mr Waks, who also reported these incidents to the federal child abuse royal commission. He made another report to police about Mr Serebryanski in 2012, after a request from Victoria Police for further information.
Mr Waks, who is now chief executive of global victim advocacy group Kol v’Oz in Israel, said he was deeply troubled by his interaction with Mr Serebryanski.
“Everything needs to be done to bring him to justice because that is the only way that some people will take it seriously,” he said.
A spokesman for Yeshivah Centre said: “The Yeshivah Centre condemns all forms of abuse. We will fully cooperate the Victoria Police and relevant authorities to assist with any enquiries that they may have.”
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Timna Jacks is a Senior Reporter, covering health for The Age. Timna has previously covered transport and education.Connect via Twitter or email.
