Zev Serebryanski: Prominent activist Manny Waks gives evidence against accused abuser

The man accused of abusing long-time victims’ advocate Manny Waks has appeared in court as he waits to learn if the case will go to trial. Mr Waks, who has given NewsWire permission to identify him, alleges he was sexually assaulted by Zev Serebryanski, also known as Velvel, when he was a child in the late 1980s within Melbourne’s ultra-orthodox Jewish community. Mr Serebryanski was charged with the alleged offences of taking part in an act of sexual penetration and three counts of indecent assault of a child under 16 between the dates of January 1987 and December 1988. He was extradited from the United States last year. It’s alleged Mr Waks was abused at the Yeshivah Centre in St Kilda East, a synagogue and learning centre, after the family moved from Sydney in 1985. He returned before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday as a committal hearing, in which a magistrate will judge the evidence and decide if the case should go to trial, began. Much of the hearing on Wednesday was held in closed court as Mr Waks was called to give evidence over a three-hour period. The court was told Mr Waks had chosen to give evidence in person, rather than remotely as is common practice, and wanted to refer to the accused by his first name. His younger brother, Shneur Reti-Waks, told the court the family lived 30 to 40m from the Yeshivah Centre and would frequently attend. “I’ve got memories over a number of years there’s not one that stands out,” he said when questioned if they would attend for the Jewish holiday Shavuot. “Staying up all night drinking tea and eating biscuits while supposedly learning … As kids we used to run around in the women’s gallery.” He also gave evidence he was present when Mr Waks told a Rabbi in the 90s he had allegedly been molested at the Yeshivah Centre, but didn’t recall any names. “I was a very sheltered rabbinical student at that point in time,” he said. Mr Serebryanski is represented by prominent barrister Ian Hill KC, who last year acted for Malka Leifer, the former principal of the ultra-orthodox Adass Israel school, as she was jailed over the abuse of two students. The court was told prosecutors intend to call five more witnesses at the committal which may conclude on Thursday. The hearing continues.