Case of Wilfred Krichefski

President and Co-Founder, Jersey Jewish Congregation - Jersey, England

Haut de la Garenne

Named as an alleged child molester at a children's home where 200 are feared to have been attacked. Krichefski, who died from a heart attack in 1974, aged 58, allegedly visited Haut de la Garenne to abuse boys sexually.

Krichefski co-founded the island's synagogue with Rev Wiseman in 1972. "He was a proud Jew and proud president of the community,".  

Krichefski was president of the community for 14 years. He held other high offices, including that of President of the States of Jersey Tourist Committee, and was made an OBE in 1958. The departure hall at Jersey Airport is named after him. He also had his own clothing store, W Krichefski and Sons.

Table of Contents:

1. Community leader linked to Jersey abuse (03/06/2008)

Also see:  

• Related Cases:

  1. Case of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

• Related Information:

  1. The Awareness Center's Brochure  
  2. Jewish Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
  3. Jewish Survivors of Sexual Assault
  4. Spiritual Abuse
  5. Missionaries, Cults and the Jewish Community
  6. Rabbis Investigating Sex Crimes
  7. Recidivism of Sex Offenders  (U.S. Department of Justice: Center for Sex Offender Management)
  8. National Sex Offender Registry

  9. Rabbis, Cantors and Other Trusted Officials

  10. Background Information and The History of Rabbinical Ordinations

  11. Offenders: Problems Our Parents Wouldn't Speak Of

  12. Policies Addressing Victimization and Offenders

By Candice Krieger

Jewish Chronicle - March 6, 2008

http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=58578&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=%22abuser%22&srchtxt=1&srchhead=1&srchauthor=1&srchsandp=1&scsrch=0

The tiny Jersey Jewish community reacted with disbelief this week as former Jewish senator Wilfred Krichefski was named as an alleged abuser at a children's home where 200 are feared to have been attacked.

Krichefski, who died from a heart attack in 1974, aged 58, allegedly visited Haut de la Garenne to abuse boys sexually.

This week, police revealed that his name was among suspects named by those who made abuse complaints.

Stephen Regal, president of the Jersey Jewish Congregation, said: "I am totally shocked. I was a young lad at the time and it's not the Wilfred I knew. He was a great friend of my parents and I find the allegations incongruous."

Reverend Malcolm Weisman , minister for small communities, said he had fielded many calls. He said: "Wilfred Krichefski was a very well-respected man. Everyone is in a state of shock."

An Orthodox Jew, Krichefski co-founded the island's synagogue with Rev Wiseman in 1972. "He was a proud Jew and proud president of the community," said Rev Weisman.

"I used to take my kids to his house for seder night. I can't believe it, but who knows. I don't know what to make of it all. When he died, he was the UK representative of the Commonwealth parliamentary association. I think he was in line for a knighthood."

Mr Krichefski's son Bernard, a television producer, lives in Highgate, North London, and is a member of Muswell Hill Synagogue. He declined to comment this week.

Krichefski was president of the community for 14 years. He held other high offices, including that of President of the States of Jersey Tourist Committee, and was made an OBE in 1958.

The departure hall at Jersey Airport is named after him. He also had his own clothing store, W Krichefski and Sons.

Jersey Police said they were unable to comment on individual suspects.

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Leave the dead alone

Jewish Chronical (London) - March 13, 2008

http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=58794&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=sexual%20abuse&srchtxt=1&srchhead=1&srchauthor=1&srchsandp=1&scsrch=0

I was both saddened and perplexed by your decision to promulgate the suspicions of the police as to the involvement of a former communal leader in an historical allegation of sexual abuse (Community leader linked to Jersey abuse, March 7).

The man in question died over 30 years ago. It follows that there would hardly be an opportunity for him to deny or put forward his recollections, if any, on the matter, yet you deemed it necessary to both name and approach his son.

This was not a case of someone in respect of whom it could be said that recent and credible evidence needed to be ventilated. At a time when, alas, there appears to be an increasing number of our co-religionists appearing in the courts, and with an insatiable appetite on the part of the national press to pick up such gems, it is unfortunate that such appetite needs to be satisfied by unproven tit-bits.

His Hon Barrington Black, London NW3

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Updated Last:  06/19/2008

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