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Chaim Walder, Author of Jewish Children’s Books, Found Dead at Son’s Grave in Israel

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Haredi author accused of sexual misconduct found dead of apparent suicide

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Haredi author and radio personality Chaim Walder was found dead in Petah Tikva Monday afternoon, after apparently taking his own life, according to a report on the Israel National News web site.

The 53-year-old writer and educator, best known for his series of children’s books, Children Talk About Themselves, was found dead at his son’s grave in Petah Tikva at the Segula Cemetery on Monday afternoon.

INN reported that Walder’s apparent suicide comes after a wave of allegations against him of sexual misconduct, including a report by Ha’aretz which cited the claims of 22 alleged victims, including underage boys and girls.

A special rabbinical court summoned Walder earlier this month to appear for a hearing into the matter.

Last month, Haaretz published an expose in which women testified that Walder had sexually abused them when they were teens. In response, the popular Eichlers Judaica bookstore in Brooklyn, New York, announced that it would remove all of Walder’s books from its shelves, despite the significant financial loss involved, as was reported by INN.

Walder ‘s radio program on Kol Chai Radio was also suspended.

The scurrilous allegations against Walder were made two women who claim that when they were 12 and 15 years old, Walder allegedly engaged in sex with them. In addition to their testimony, a third testimony alleges that a 20 year old woman, who had sought therapy with Walder was raped on a regular basis, according to a previously published JPost report.

The JPost reported that in the testimony that was shared with Ha’aretz, one of the accusers who went by the name Talia (not her real name) recalled the first time she encountered Walder, more than 20 years ago. The woman claims that Walder said she was very mature and that he admired her appearance.

Speaking to Ha’aretz, Talia said of Walder, “He was very smart and manipulative,” Talia told the newspaper. He did it very slowly, so as not to stress me out.”

INN reported that Walder’s attorneys told Haaretz, “Our client absolutely denies all claims of inappropriate behavior on his part, and especially that which was published in the article. These are false claims based on crass lies, which are equivalent to a literal blood libel.”

According to them, throughout the years Walder fought for children who suffered violence and abuse, “and as a result of this, there were several who joined up together with the goal of hurting him, and we have proofs of some of these foolish attempts to incriminate our client.”

“This article represents a direct continuation of this [issue]. which is sourced in a false claim filed against him many years ago and which was closed as quickly as it was filed.”

Vois Es Nais reported that before taking his own life, Walder penned a letter which read in part, ““I have gone to summon Yehuda Silman and Shmuel Eliyahu to a Din Torah in heaven. I have come to the conclusion that in the world of lies I have no chance of proving my innocence. I am dealing with horrific lies covered in anonymity, without any possibility of proving that they have no factual basis.

“I have reached the extreme limit of human suffering which is possible. They insulted me about the things which I was best at and which I dedicated my life to- supporting and protecting children.

“I am grateful to all those who believed in me: May you be blessed! To all those who didn’t I say that even if you have given up on me, do not give up on my books. Every line, word and letter of them was written from a genuine desire to do good, to be helpful, to improve, to strengthen, to help, to contribute, to build and to repair the world! I never wrote without first having a desire to bring good to the world and its inhabitants.

“I am thankful to the Creator of the World for my loving and supportive family who are my entire world, and for the mission which was placed in my hands – talent, inspiration and the ability to contribute to the world. Hashem gave and Hashem took away, may Hashem’s name be blessed.”

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