Rabbi Saul Kassin Implicated In Money Laundering Scheme, Syrian Sephardic Community Shaken
In these tough times, when faith is often all some people have, the last thing anyone needs is a hint of impropriety from religious leaders. In the news from the New York Times today, Rabbi Saul Kassin and 4 other Syrian Sephardic Jewish Rabbis, have been implicated in an FBI money laundering case. According to the news, Rabbi Kassin, 87, along with the other Rabbis, used their congregations’ charitable contributions to launder over $3 million in what turned out to be FBI sting money. The Rabbi of the New Jersey Shaare Zion Synagogue in Brooklyn, is considered the leading Sephardic cleric in the US.
The Sephardic Jewish community is in obvious shock over the allegations that perhaps their most respected Rabbi had anything to do with anything illegal, let alone using their charity for monetary gain. Syrian Sephardic Jews number roughly 75,000 in the Brooklyn area, and Rabbi Kassin leads roughly 50 synagogues nation wide. His father, Rabbi Jacob S. Kassin, founded the Shaare Zion. The Sephardic community traces its roots to Spain, North Africa and the Middle East. The US community is primarily comprised of families who immigrated to the US because of anti-Jewish attacks in Syria after the formation of the state of Israel in 1948. David Greenfield, Vice President of the Sephardic Community Federation, had this to say about the unbelievable events:
“The community is shocked and saddened by these allegations, which go against every value and teaching the community holds dear.”
Rabbi Saul J. Kassin outside federal court in New Jersey
The FBI’s case is built upon what looks like a sting operation in which an informant, Solomon Dwek, also a Sephardic Jew, who offered Rabbi Kassin 5 to 10% return for laundering what was supposed to be “dirty money” via the congregation’s charitable contributions bank accounts. Other members of the congregations are showing confidence and support for the Rabbis, and David Ben-Hooren, publisher of The Jewish Voice and Opinion, had this to say in support of his leaders:
“When the facts come out, we’ll find out that those rabbis never broke the law,” he said. “I believe they’re going to be vindicated. Knowing those rabbis for many years, I know that they devoted their lives to charity, and there’s no way that they benefited from any of those activities.”
This community of devout Jewish people is well known for not only their charity and support of their community, but also for their entrepreneurial spirit. The congregation is encouraged to be successful in business, and several major brands have been launched from amongst them including, Jordache Jeans and the Century 21 department stores. If the charges prove to be true, it will obviously be a devastating blow to the congregation, and very bad for the communities efforts on a broader scale. I cannot help but think, if this news rings true, that theses Rabbis might have taken the term “entrepreneurial” a little too far. This is unfortunate news indeed for the people who rely on religious leaders for hope in troubled times.
About the Author
Phil Butler is editor-in-chief of Everything PR and senior partner at Pamil Visions PR. He’s a widely cited authority on beta startups, search engines and public relations issues, and he has covered tech news since 2004. Phil wrote in the past for ReadWriteWeb, Mashable, Profy, SitePoint, Search Engine Journal, AltSearchEngines. Follow Phil on Twitter or send him an email at phil [at] pamil-visions [dot] com.
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Comment by robin on 24 July 2009:
there is no way that the charges are true . These Rabbis are pillars and models of the community and of society. In the end it will be shown that a man tried to trick and rat out on people to save himself! what a shame.
Comment by EZ on 24 July 2009:
DONT BELIEVE IT !!! NOT THIS RABBI NO WAY
Comment by Diana on 24 July 2009:
I think that these are just alligations. They are innocent!!!!
Media had an opportunity to dirty-up the jewish leaders. But wait, what about when we hear priests molesting little children for many years or islamic religious leaders promoting terrorism and suicide bombings—MEDIA is very modest and quiet. Unfortuanetly, we see that America is an antisemitic country.
Wait till they are proven innocent.
Comment by jack on 24 July 2009:
shut the he__ up his my rabbi he didn’t steal crap
Comment by Avaton on 24 July 2009:
Interesting. Especially the ‘Organ Trafficking’ part… Iceberg or Conspiracy? Dear me I’m not jewish, but I also hope for the global community – this is not true!!! We ALL want this investigated and verified! But calling this ‘antisemitic’ immediately is just rediculous or proofs a serious lack of real arguments. Go online, make your mind…
Comment by mike on 25 July 2009:
what an sob. so he gets caught scaming a bank and he gets so greedy that he rather discrase the whole community , his father and his family?! i never seen an act of such selflessness. i hope he knows what he is doing because he made a deal with the devil. i hope non of these rabbis did anything wrong but you know the saying you dont get rounded up unless your part of it. its bad enough people hate us because were jewish and we made something of ourselves . now were going to look like mobsters infront of the whole world.john gotti got more respect when he was arrested and he killed alot of people. and rabbi dwek his father is sitting shiva for his son. he is so discusted that he is saying i have no son my son is dead. what a discrase .shlomo dwek should take off his kippa and put on a cross !!!!!
Comment by Phil Butler on 25 July 2009:
Thanks for the opinions guys. Like you I wonder how this can be really. I expect the trial will reveal the truth of it all, but I know the community is in shock.
@ Diana, I do not know about the media in general Diana, but I do no all those other instances you suggest do get reported. If you look at this reporter’s stories, I think there is a fair amount of balance. I do not think America is an anti semantic Country, any more than the world is anti semantic. Any way, I know I just reported this the same as if a Baptist minister had been accused.
Thanks guys,
Always,
Phil
Comment by shaul on 25 July 2009:
If it is true,i hope it is not,then they should be in federal prison.
It has to play itself out in court.
I acknowledege that there has been a history of anti-semitism among federal law enforcement.
I hope this not the case.
Comment by Avaton on 25 July 2009:
Those people are tiring everyone by repeating ‘anti-semitism’ without falling asleep, amazing… ANTI-SEMETISM is not the universal answer to accusations to be investigated. That’s so poor. America is the country who’s wealth is based on jewish activities as a big part. This wouldn’t have been possible if they were as some say, right – so I agree with Phil… I think it’s almost impossible they’re innocent, otherwise the whole story never would have been going SO far…
Comment by Avaton on 25 July 2009:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/press/files/pdffiles/Kassin%20compl1%20Final.pdf
Comment by Goldman on 25 July 2009:
diana is talking nothing but crap. talking about antisemitism in usa..Iam jewish and proud to be american too. I totally believe in our justice system..if this dudes did anything illegal they should and will face punishment. Other than that we are the guys who have immense influence in media and other areas..so dont talk about that the media is antisemitism in america..
shalom
Comment by Robert on 25 July 2009:
Rabbi Kassin didn’t personally benefit from this nor did any of the other Rabbi’s. All the percentage that Rabbi Kassin supposedly kept went to his charity to send poor kids to private school – Rabbi Kassin never personally benefited. He was just trying to help a fellow Jew from going bankrupt and ending up destitute. He was entrapped by the FBI which is looking to smear the Jewish community – it’s the same thing that they did to the two guys from AIPAC. The FBI dropped the case after 3 years – and the two AIPAC guys where ruined and ended up millions of dollars in debt from defending themselves.
Comment by Robert on 25 July 2009:
I read the entire criminal complaint start to end and it’s obvious that this is a case of entrapment. It’s also a problem of conflicting cultures. People have to understand that the Syrian Jewish community only survived 2000 years in Syria under despotic anti-Semitic regimes by sticking together NO MATTER WHAT. That attitude was transplanted from Syria to USA when the community escaped Muslim persecution in Syria to come to the USA. So look at the situation in that light – Dwek comes to the Rabbis and says the courts are going to take everything from him and leave him destitute and of course the Rabbi – who grew up in Syria under an oppressive Islamic regime of course says yes I’ll help you to his fellow Jew. And of course the way the indictment is written they try and make it sound like the Rabbis are personally benefiting – which they have no evidence of – and it’s clear to anyone who knows them that all the money went to the charities to benefit the community as a whole.
Comment by joe on 25 July 2009:
You m____s are so stubborn, stop denying what happened. These Jews deserve everything they got coming for them along with the rest of the crooked politicians. They believe and worship the all mighty dollar, not God. The FBI doesn’t go in for the kill unless they got plenty of evidence and proof. This investigation has been going on for years. These atrocious people who are dishonest, fake and greedy, might be your religious leaders or your mayor. They deserve to rot in jail.
Editor’s note: This comment was edited for improper language, the gist of the comment is in tact however. We appreciate your comments and contribution to our news, but in the future please use less colorful and inflammatory language. Thanks so much.
Comment by Alan on 26 July 2009:
Hello, I want to voice my opinion. I am not Jewish, hwever I do and have been living in Deal, N.J. my entire life and know many people of the Sephardic Jewish Community there. They are a most wonderful, caring and respectful kind of people. With that said, I really do NOT believe that these Rabbis would ever do these things for their own benefit. The “informer” tricked them by crying to that he has no money. What would I do if someone I knew cried to me??? probably the same… G-D BLESS AMERICA
Comment by H on 26 July 2009:
Allegations are untrue.
Dwek is a selfish liar and that is the only thing that the trial will confirm.
The FBI and NJ police are more corrupt than anything- they have nothing better to do than stir up controversy.
Comment by Joey on 26 July 2009:
These are allegations are totally not true. Rabbi Saul Kassin in a spiritual leader, a scholar, a modest man, whose teachings and beliefs define honesty and integrity in mankind.
Time will tell, but you will see that this whole thing was a set up by a scumbag (Solomon Dweck) who wanted nothing more than to receive leniency and save his ass from his prosecutors for all the fraud and scams he did years ago, and to hurt the Sephardic Jewish Community of New York and New Jersey.
I hope Dweck flips in his grave and rotes in hell for these unforgiving sins he’s committed. Its one thing to disgrace your friend, but to shame your leader in public, specifically with false accusations, is a sin that will effect his life and the life of all those that come from him for eternity.
The Sephardic Jewish Community along with it members of 75,000 people in Brooklyn New York and Deal New Jersey, stand united with its holy leader, Rabbi Saul Kassin.
Comment by jack on 26 July 2009:
Joey
Dont judge others and especially do not disturb the remaining calm. Clear heads and minds are essential to see how this incident plays out.
with shalom
Comment by Avaton on 27 July 2009:
@Robert: How do you know so much about the details and what DID NOT happen? Are you involved? Rabbi Saul Kassin lead criminal activities – you can look at it as you want it still remains a crime against public trust as well.
More bad is the Organ Trading part by a Isaac Rosenbaum for more then ten years as we have the proof now. Let the FBI do their work and comment it after Robert! People won’t believe what you’re saying now.
But I do believe the trusful community and followers don’t have a clue how much it’s lied at them and how their leaders failed now.
All major jewish organsiations (AJC, AIPAC) ignore the case on their websites, so they don’t contribute in helping to clear the situation. A hint of that’s more behind? Do they know what’s going on?
Comment by Levant on 28 July 2009:
They have been trafficking human organs, and the money laundering business that’s going on is most likely directly going towards funding the Israeli army so more Palestinians are killed, and expand Jewish settlement on Palestinian territories. Someone here said it right: the FBI wait to gather enough, solid evidence before going in for the kill. Besides, this has been going on for years under the Bush administration, but never surfaced. Why? Because Bush, an evangelical, was a staunch supporter of Israel. Either way, this is shaken the image of the Israel Lobby machine. During the Bush administration, the Justice system did not have so much autonomy, as it was closely monitored and manipulated by the White House. With the current admin, the Justice system’s autonomy has been restored to the era prior to that of the Bushes. Any political scientist will tell you that the judicial/legal system is to function in its own authority, not a tool of the state.
Comment by jack on 8 August 2009:
How Dare anyone say take off the kippa a put a cross on!!!! That is why your community is in trouble because you pray and are all so wonderful and go to shul all day long and the next minute you are cheating someone to gain you small fortunes and lets no talk about how you do not respect your wifes(cheating again)that to me is the biggest joke and than you all convince yourself you did nothing wrong and go home for Shavis.Than from Monday to Thursday sin sin sin…Trust me ,the goy does not want your kippa our cross is too good for you. All the Rabbi’s caught will be found guilty, money is not evil it is greed that is evil and the love of money and your community worships money. Praying, wearing a kippa, going to shul and giving the Rabbi’s money all day long do not make you religious nor orthodox. It is following the Talmud in its puriest form without looking for rules that you use to allow you to break the rules and somewhere along the line you make it someone elses fault???? Follow your 10 commandments like us cross wearing folks do and you will be alright…..
Comment by jack on 8 August 2009:
Robert… This the United states of AMERICA not your community in brooklyn/deal
Dwek committted a hugh crime, most of the money he made was from scheming, cheating and stealing from others…It was not honest money but dirty money and the Rabbi knew the government was going to take back what Dwek was stealing from others through lies and cheating!! Do you know how many Dwek made destitute??? Please tell me in your Talmud , torah and whatever other holy books, Quran Bible, Is it ok to steal!!!!!!!! The man was a thief and the Rabbi’s were helping steal some more …It does not matter who he gave too and FYI he gave it back to your community the syrian jewish community not to any other community outside your that needs help that are not Jews and this is the USA a country that give to all and who to you give back too?? Not us but only to your own. Rabbi Kassin lives in a big beautiful gorgeous home with an ocean view..please we will not sit shiva for him because it sure looks like he is getting his benefits.