D.C. deals with Madoff losses http://jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/dc-deals-with-madoff-losses/ If the economic downturn and plunging stock market weren't bad enough, a number of Jewish organizations in the Washington area were smacked in the face with even worse news this week: A portion of their endowments had vanished, victim of the $50 billion Ponzi scheme of Bernard Madoff. en-us efingerhut@jta.org Copyright 2008 2008-12-16T;20:20:00-05:00 Comment by Richard D. Weiss idleeyes63@comcast.net Mr. Madoff’s house arrest is not appropriate.  He should be made to walk around New York as a homeless man and live the way such people do.  He has basically caused many people to become paupers.  Therefore, he should live as a pauper. Mr. Madoff’s house arrest is not appropriate.  He should be made to walk around New York as a homeless man and live the way such people do.  He has basically caused many people to become paupers.  Therefore, he should live as a pauper.

]]> 2009-11-08T;03:12:00-05:00 Comment by Yitzchak Richard Yellin yellin@mindspring.com Mipnei Hatayeynu Galeenu mayartzaynu- Because of OUR sins were we exiled. Who destroyed the first Temple!? - obviously the Babylonians- but anyone could come up with blaming the criminal. The Rabbis say it was Avodah Zarah - idolatry on our part that destroyed the Temple.  What is is about the Jewish community and many others as well that knew and know:  you cannot get rich quick and that something was truly wrong about the huge profits that were being made on other people’s money. What is it about us that makes us greedy, short sighted and willing to cut corners in order to make a buck? Madoff made off with the lucre of greed. Let us stop hating Madoff more than we hate ahmadinejad (J.T.A report) )and start looking at ourselves and the god of MAMON that has taken hold of the “stars” of Jewish life.  The ethos of our Jewish community needs to take stock of itself. Everytime I pass by Mifal Hayis (ottery) in my Israeli neighborhood of Netanya - I want to cry as I watch poor people - Jews - trying to get rich quick taking a gamble and then only to bet more the following week. Another poor example of Jewish values. On this coming “poorim” we should stop casting lots, and on this week’s Hanukkah - let us protest by not spinning anymore dreidles. Let us stop making a betting game into a sacred way of life. It is hard for all of us to believe that so many of us were involved in a grand larceny scheme that is having such a devastating effect on all the good projects of Jewry in the Diaspora and Israel.  Anyone in a leadership position in the Jewish community who gave funds to Madoff ought to do a mea culpa and ask for forgiveness for being blinded not just by the criminality involved, but moreso for the greed that allowed the Ponzi system to devour us all....... Yitzchak Richard Yellin, formerly of Palm Beach County, Florida and Newton, Massachussetts Mipnei Hatayeynu Galeenu mayartzaynu- Because of OUR sins were we exiled. Who destroyed the first Temple!? - obviously the Babylonians- but anyone could come up with blaming the criminal. The Rabbis say it was Avodah Zarah - idolatry on our part that destroyed the Temple.  What is is about the Jewish community and many others as well that knew and know:  you cannot get rich quick and that something was truly wrong about the huge profits that were being made on other people’s money. What is it about us that makes us greedy, short sighted and willing to cut corners in order to make a buck? Madoff made off with the lucre of greed. Let us stop hating Madoff more than we hate ahmadinejad (J.T.A report) )and start looking at ourselves and the god of MAMON that has taken hold of the “stars” of Jewish life.  The ethos of our Jewish community needs to take stock of itself. Everytime I pass by Mifal Hayis (ottery) in my Israeli neighborhood of Netanya - I want to cry as I watch poor people - Jews - trying to get rich quick taking a gamble and then only to bet more the following week. Another poor example of Jewish values. On this coming “poorim” we should stop casting lots, and on this week’s Hanukkah - let us protest by not spinning anymore dreidles. Let us stop making a betting game into a sacred way of life. It is hard for all of us to believe that so many of us were involved in a grand larceny scheme that is having such a devastating effect on all the good projects of Jewry in the Diaspora and Israel.  Anyone in a leadership position in the Jewish community who gave funds to Madoff ought to do a mea culpa and ask for forgiveness for being blinded not just by the criminality involved, but moreso for the greed that allowed the Ponzi system to devour us all.......

Yitzchak Richard Yellin, formerly of Palm Beach County, Florida and Newton, Massachussetts

]]> 2009-11-08T;03:12:00-05:00 Comment by Edward Ordman edward@ordman.net I’ve lived in at least one city small enough that we couldn’t afford three separate buildings.  Some of the disputes were solved in ways that would seem odd to an outsider - e.g.  an agreement that people would “act respectfully, like in church” on Friday evenings, but feel free to move around during services on Saturday mornings.  If the people like each other and really want to work together and allow for each others’ feelings and preferences, it can be done. I’ve lived in at least one city small enough that we couldn’t afford three separate buildings.  Some of the disputes were solved in ways that would seem odd to an outsider - e.g.  an agreement that people would “act respectfully, like in church” on Friday evenings, but feel free to move around during services on Saturday mornings.  If the people like each other and really want to work together and allow for each others’ feelings and preferences, it can be done.

]]> 2009-11-08T;03:12:00-05:00 Comment by Richard rmplans1@gmail.com I cannot think of an adjective bad enough to describe this vulture of a criminal. He singlehandedly and with full intention to dessimate charities and individuals savings to be released on bail, under part time house arrest, a home which is a huge, luxury condo is not justice. He should remain in a jail cell with other criminals until his trial which cannot be too soon. I cannot think of an adjective bad enough to describe this vulture of a criminal. He singlehandedly and with full intention to dessimate charities and individuals savings to be released on bail, under part time house arrest, a home which is a huge, luxury condo is not justice.
He should remain in a jail cell with other criminals until his trial which cannot be too soon.

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