Manny Waks was raised in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family, the second oldest of seventeen children. As an adolescent, he was sexually abused at his religious school. Betrayed by those he trusted, Waks rebelled against his way of life, though he later went on to become a prominent Jewish community leader.

In mid-2011, Waks went public about his experiences, seeking to bring justice to the abusers and those who covered up their crimes. For his courage in speaking out, Manny and his family were intimidated and shunned by their community, and he was forced to leave Australia.