A Yeshiva University campus. Photo: Jim.henderson.

JNS.org – Yeshiva University (YU) Chancellor Rabbi Norman Lamm, 85, has stepped down from his position at the university.

The rabbi’s resignation comes several months after The Forward reported on allegations of sexual abuse against two rabbis at Yeshiva University’s High School for Boys that occurred under his watch as President of YU during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

“While I have yet to reach my father’s age, at this moment of transition in accordance with an agreement reached three years ago—as I step down from my positions as Chancellor of Yeshiva University and Rosh Hayeshivah, ending over 60 years of official affiliation with my beloved Yeshiva University as student, faculty member, Rosh Hayeshivah, President, and Chancellor,” Lamm said in a statement.

Lamm indicated in an interview last December that he knew of some of the allegations and chose to deal with them privately. In his resignation letter, Lamm expressed regret over his handling of the sexual abuse allegations.

“At the time that inappropriate actions by individuals at Yeshiva were brought to my attention, I acted in a way that I thought was correct, but which now seems ill conceived,” Lamm said.

“True character requires of me the courage to admit that, despite my best intentions then, I now recognize that I was wrong,” he added.