ZD:
Let’s play out the following scenario. Someone now in their 40’s claims to have been victimized while in yeshiva Ploni Almoni. This alleged crime occurred more than 30 years ago. The perpetrator is no longer alive, nor are any of the administrators or principals of that yeshiva. The yeshiva has none of the faculty from that era, and is no longer located in the same part of town. In essence, it is vastly different from what existed back then. This yeshiva has also embarked on a serious mission to insure safety, with placing cameras everywhere, doing background checks on all of their hires, and providing advanced and continuous training for all adults who are employed there.
The case goes to court, where there is nothing besides the word of the alleged victim. The matter is not being denied, as there is virtually no one who was present then who could remember anything at all. Now, do we hold this yeshiva responsible or not? Shall we bankrupt the yeshiva because it bears the same name as the one allegedly involved? Do we have reason to believe there was responsibility or cover up, while it is just as likely that no one was aware of anything?
I have zero problem with the Rosh Hayeshiva who drove to eat McDonald’s on Friday night getting the Divinely determined consequences for his chilul Shabbos. And someone who committed the crime of victimization or protected it being liable. But how does that relate to the above scenario? I suspect that much what could emerge in this 12 month window will be almost precisely this.