Survivors Speak Out: Yeshiva University’s Betrayal Runs Deep

The Pain of Silence

Many survivors describe the silence from Yeshiva University (YU) as harmful as the abuse itself, if not more. “The pain of being ignored compounds our suffering,” says one survivor, who asked to remain anonymous. “It’s not just about what happened—it’s about the institution that refuses to acknowledge it.”

Survivors allege systemic abuse at the university's affiliated Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy (MTA) - Yeshiva University High School for Boys spanning the 1960s through the 1990s. They claim the university and its affiliated institutions not only failed to act on reports of abuse but also actively concealed allegations, allowing perpetrators to remain in positions of authority. Despite these claims, survivors say YU has done little to address their trauma or accept responsibility.

One survivor, now a plaintiff in ongoing lawsuits against the university and its affiliates, including its Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, recalled the deep sense of betrayal he felt. “We trusted Yeshiva University to protect us, and they failed. But what hurts the most is how they continue to sweep this under the rug.”

A Legacy of Marginalization

The lawsuits, filed under New York’s Child Victims Act (CVA), have brought survivors’ stories to the forefront. Yet, survivors argue that Yeshiva University's response has been characterized by evasion and legal maneuvering. While the university has recently settled only a handful cases, according to court documents, other survivors question whether those settlements include apologies or admissions of responsibility. “We deserve acknowledgment and justice," says another survivor.

This sense of marginalization is heightened by Yeshiva University's continued refusal since 2013 to release the complete findings of the Sullivan & Cromwell report, an internal investigation into the abuse allegations. Critics, including legal expert Marci Hamilton, called YU's release of a summary report that year as “short on facts and long on public relations.”

Survivors vs. Celebration

The timing of the centennial Hanukkah Dinner is particularly painful for survivors. As YU honors major donors and celebrates its achievements, survivors say their experiences have been erased from the narrative. “They’re celebrating a legacy built on the suffering of students like us,” said one plaintiff. “How can they celebrate when they haven’t even acknowledged what happened?”

Moving Forward

Survivors say YU must take concrete steps to address its past failures and ensure that future students are protected. These include publicly acknowledging the abuse, issuing formal apologies, releasing the Sullivan & Cromwell report, and implementing policies to prevent future abuses. Without these actions, they argue, the university’s claims of moral leadership ring hollow.

“We’re not trying to destroy YU,” said one survivor. “We want it to live up to the values it teaches—truth, justice, and accountability. That’s a legacy worth celebrating.”

As Yeshiva University celebrates 100 years of Hanukkah Dinners, survivors remind the institution and its supporters that its true legacy will be defined not by what it celebrates, but by how it addresses its past.