In fact, you can easliy teach about pointers and memory management using Java. Simply have them use a large array to simulate physical memory and give them exercises chasing pointers through the array, etc.
Unsupported hypothesis: They will actually learn about memory management and pointers faster and easier this way becauses debugging will be easier; addresses will all be integers starting at zero, rather than hex starting at an arbitrary offset. I've even heard of giving exercises like this when teaching C++, before introducing the native pointer constructs, because of the easy of visualizing what is taking place. Ruven Brooks
