25 Facts About Chaim Walder

Chaim Eliezer Walder was an Israeli Haredi author of literature for children, adolescents, and adults.

On 27 December 2021, Chaim Walder committed suicide, at the age of 53.

Chaim Walder was born in Haifa and raised in a Haredi family.

Chaim Walder's father was from Jerusalem and his mother from Haifa.

Chaim Walder attended Yeshivat Kol Torah and Knesses Chizkiyahu and married at age 21.

Chaim Walder served in the Israel Defense Forces as a soldier-teacher.

Chaim Walder encouraged his students to write down any problems or dilemmas that they were experiencing and send him a letter at his post-office box.

Chaim Walder named the protagonist after his eldest son Meir Zvi, then four years old.

From 1990 to 2021, Chaim Walder was a regular columnist for the Yated Ne'eman, writing about social issues.

Chaim Walder headed the Center for the Child and Family, run by the Bnei Brak municipality, and was a certified educational counselor working with children who have suffered trauma and abuse.

In 2011, Chaim Walder estimated that he had received over 20,000 letters in Hebrew and 10,000 letters in other languages.

Chaim Walder made use of the stories sent by children as well as his understanding of a child's mind to craft the plots and dialogue in his tales.

Chaim Walder published two Yeladim Kotvim al Atzmam collections and an adult version of Yeladim Mesaprim al Atzmam titled Anashim Mesaprim al Atzmam, which presented adult-themed stories that came up on his radio show.

Chaim Walder's victims included a female counsellor who worked at his summer camp, a 9-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy who attended the camp, and a 9-year-old boy that had been abused over a decade ago after coming to Walder for treatment.

In one of the recordings presented to Beth Din, Chaim Walder was heard coaxing a young woman to conceal evidence and withdraw her testimony and threatening to commit suicide if their relationship was exposed.

Chaim Walder was summoned to the Safed Beth Din, but refused to attend.

One victim was a relative of Chaim Walder who was groomed and abused by him after being referred to his care.

Chaim Walder complained to the police in 2018 but the case was dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Chaim Walder said his ruling was based on testimonies, other court rulings, pictures and recordings.

Chaim Walder sent threats to Eliyahu and Silman and the women that had testified.

Yedioth Ahronoth separately received testimony from five women that had been abused by Chaim Walder including friends of the family and a 15-year-old babysitter that had looked after his children.

On 27 December 2021, Chaim Walder was found dead next to his son's grave in Petah Tikva by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Edelstein and Chaim Kanievsky had six months prior written a personal endorsement of Walder's latest book.

Chaim Walder later moderated his stance after meeting with seven of the victims.

Nissim ben Shimon, who had previously defended Eliezer Berland, said Chaim Walder was a great person who did many good deeds.