The issue came to the fore in November when Haaretz newspaper published the allegations of several women. Two of them said they were raped by Walder when they were 12 and 15 years old, respectively. A third victim said she was raped by him at age 20 during therapy sessions.
In the middle of last month, Walder was summoned to appear in a Jewish court. More than twenty women have already filed accusations against him. Jewish courts usually deal with religious disputes, and they have no jurisdiction under the rule of law in Israel. The author refused to come and defend himself.
Walder was found guilty by the Jewish court of abusing a large number of women, girls, and boys, who asked him for help in his role as chaplain. According to the court, this happened over a period of more than 25 years.
Abused in his office, in his library, and at a summer camp he runs. Some sayings about him were decades ago. In a recording, Judges overheard Walder trying to silence one of his victims: “If this case is revealed, I will kill myself.”
Books are forbidden
As part of the ruling, the court banned all Walder’s books. It is now forbidden to read. Other rabbis have called Walder’s books to stop selling them. Publisher complied. His column stopped at an Orthodox Jewish newspaper and the radio show he was hosting.
Walder’s books are still for sale on Amazon:
