Suppose you knew that Bernard Madoff, the man who swindled some $50 billion from Jewish organizations, you, your grandparents, your friend’s 401k and countless others, was moving to your community?
Free country, a person can move wherever he wants.
Suppose you knew that he was moving here with the blessing of the Jewish community federation leadership?
What if you later learned that Madoff moved here with the knowledge of the leadership, but unknown at first to you, your neighbors and fellow community members?
Maybe it would be okay, you’d think, as long as Madoff wasn’t permitted to be a board member of any organization, especially the treasurer. Or maybe it would be fine as long as he wasn’t hired as a fund manager.
Come on.
You know it wouldn’t be okay.
And you know it wouldn’t be a great moment if you happen to run into Madoff in a public place. You’d say, “what’s he doing here?”
You know people who have lost money to this icon of deception.
He ruined lives.
Baltimore isn’t Bernie Madoff’s new home. Indeed, he is in jail.
It appears, however, that Solomon Dwek is a new Baltimorean.
Remember Solomon Dwek? He, himself, was convicted of bank fraud. And as an informant, he led to the arrests of people charged in crimes as wide ranging as money laundering to human organ trafficking.
Well Dwek is now ordering pizza at the local kosher pizza shops. Indeed, he was seen at Tov Pizza on Reisterstown Road.  He is here in Baltimore apparently with rabbinic knowledge. They knew he was coming, but we, the community they supposedly serve, were supposed to find out when he showed up in public.
After all, it’s a free country.
Dwek and his wife were once prominent members of the Deal Jewish community before bringing shame on themselves and that community. He was a real estate investor in central New Jersey, and was chief executive of the Deal Yeshiva, a prominent philanthropist and political donor.
It was in May, 2006, when Dwek was arrested after he deposited two, $25 million checks at a New Jersey bank, only to immediately withdraw $22 million. One check didn’t clear, the other one was refused by the bank. He was charged with bank fraud and faced a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. This is our new neighbor.
He would become an informant for federal investigators which would result in public corruption and money laundering investigations, and then charges against rabbis and elected officials.
“Our belief is that Mr. Dwek used his closeness and the sterling reputation of his family to manipulate individuals who trusted that he never would have involved them into criminal activity,” said an attorney quoted in the Newark Star Ledger.
It was called “Operation Big Rig” and it involved political corruption in New Jersey. It was an investigation spearheaded by the FBI and IRS and the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. It has resulted in the arrest of 44 people, including five Orthodox rabbis from the Syrian Jewish community. The arrests also included mayors and other Jersey municipal officials.
You know what, go ahead and Google Solomon Dwek, you’ll learn what you need to know.
He is to be sentenced in February.
In the meantime, is it possible that his very presence poses a risk to the Jewish community? Is it over the top to even think that?
But Solomon Dwek is bringing the baggage of his fraud conviction and even his informant status to Baltimore.
It just seems as if our rabbinic “leadership,” has acted on this community’s behalf without checking the pulse of the very people they serve.
Or maybe the leadership doesn’t care what you think or what I think.
And yes what adds to the pain here is that his family should be able to live a life of anonymity. His children deserve a welcoming Jewish education. I just wish he had thought of all of this, using his own blessed Jewish education to steer him away from the behavior that certainly impacted many.
Many of us have been here most of our lives, have served and lived here, building and contributing to this community.
Can’t we even get an opportunity to voice our concern?
Oh, right, it’s a free country.

So in November of 1999, I was standing on the corner of Park Heights Avenue and Strathmore talking to five teens when a person pulled his car over, opened his window and shouted out, “is everything all right?”
The question was not directed at the teens, it was directed at me. It was an early evening time, and the sun was still out.
These teens were pretty much rejected from the Jewish community. They all came from Orthodox homes. Some had body piercings. They were ingesting a pretty regular flow of alcohol and drugs.
They were medicating themselves. And they saw in themselves an “us vs. them” dynamic.
Some were estranged from their parents and siblings, or already had been arrested.
I remember during one interview, the kids had just returned from the beach and were significantly sunburned. One had a piercing in his tongue.
That same teen came home one evening to find his belongings stuffed into garbage bags on his parents’ front porch. They had left already for an out-of-town Pesach.
Over the years, I’ve become reacquainted and have befriended some of the teens from back then.
Many are now clean and working recovery plans successfully. Some have good jobs and surprisingly are connected to Judaism, davening and spirituality.
I wonder, though.
Since the molestation stories have come out over the years. I wonder about those teens on the corner, those rejected kids.
Maybe the reason for self-medication was to hide a pain that nobody was able to discuss in 1999.
Let’s hope it can not only be discussed now, but it can be treated now.
Oh, and next time someone sees me talking to so-called “rejected” teens on a corner in the middle of the Jewish community, don’t bother pulling over and asking if everything is all right.
If you see a stigma with these teens, your fellow Jews, your children, your brothers and sisters, then you need to ask yourself “if you are all right.”

Young Israel of Shorai Emunah of Greater Washington, a shul located in Silver Spring,accomplished a heroic act recently.
Members received information about a policy regarding convicted or admitted child sex offenders.
It should be an example copied by every shul in Baltimore, not to mention Ner Israel Rabbinical College and other Jewish schools.
The policies are the following:
1. “Shomrim (guardians) will be identified who will be asked to discreetly and confidentially monitor convicted or admitted child sex offenders while they are on the premises of YISE.
2. Gabbaim will be requested to avoid offering kibbudim (honors) and offers to act as shaliach tzibur to convicted or admitted child sex offenders.
3. Civil and criminal consequences will be left to the proper authorities. Unless indicated by the Rabbi, other actions regarding the individuals will be left to the Highest Authority to judge and to punish.
4. Should the Gabbaim err and offer one of these individuals a kibbud at a service, individuals with knowledge of the mater are asked to show derech eretz and demonstrate to others and our children proper public behavior. The gabbaim can later, privately, be reminded of the shul’s policy.
5. Convicted or admitted child sex offenders may not attend YISE youth events or the youth minyan.
6. Any family hosting a convicted or admitted child sex offender is to notify the YISE president 48 hours prior to the person’s visit.”
YISE should be congratulated for exhibiting leadership and courage in this area.
It is a real indication that the issue of child sexual molestation is being taken for what it really is: a serious problem within our community.
May Baltimore’s rabbinic leadership and synagogue leaders use this as a template for what is good and what is right.

I don’t want to go through the motions this year.
When Chanukah candles are kindled beginning Friday night, it is my hope that we will, every last one of us, make sure that our fellow community members are fed, sheltered, kept warm and given some sort of comfort. We talk a beautiful talk of the warmth of the lights and lighting up the dark, and all of that. It’s all good. But don’t just make it talk.
Last week my wife and I went out and purchased gifts for the JCS toy chest for Chanukah. Last year, some 120 families received gifts through this service.
But while it’s a wonderful gesture, I don’t want us to think, okay, we gave a gift, and leave the problems for someone else to solve.
Barbara Gradet of JCS told me that it’s not November and December or Chanukah alone that we have to worry about. I’ve heard that before.
We as a society do wonderful acts of community service between Thanksgiving and the New Year. But unemployment, hunger, homelessness, foreclosure, abuse and other issues are as difficult in March or July or September.
So it’s not a matter of dropping off a gift, and feeling, “okay I’ve done my part.”
No, our part is to stay concerned, to stay in touch to ask JCS and other agencies what it is we can do.
I don’t understand why we can work in a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving, and then not show up again until the following year.
Maybe the food you don’t use for your bar or bat mitzvah celebration or your family birthday party can feed another family.
Maybe the gifts someone gives you from the office can be given away to someone who could use them.
Maybe, just maybe, the job you’ve heard about isn’t beneath your unemployed friend. Don’t prejudge anymore. People need positions, even if it under-employs them.
And who are we to prejudge anything?
Indeed, a friend told me recently that she was sitting in County Social Services applying for food stamps, and she asked herself, “what am I, a Jewish woman doing here?”
Know someone like this? You’d be the same way if it happened to you. I know I would be.
Again, maybe we go with our friends to social services and sit there with them, letting them know that it is all okay. It’s all hopefully just temporary.
So when the candles are kindled and Chanukah is over next week. Put the menorah away, but don’t put the meaning in storage.
Keep it burning.

I know that no person or organization is perfect, especially one dealing with some of the more daunting challenges of day-to-day life.
But I really think a “shout out” has to go to Jewish Community Services with its executive director Barbara Gradet.
In a little over three years, JCS has increased financial assistance to families from $300,000 to $1.25 million. A year ago, the agency was averaging one new client family a day. Now, it’s two new client families a day.
Still, JCS is doing what it can and then some to meet every need. It is working with over 1,200 unemployed area Jews, and it’s giving everyone the training and re-invention needed to reengage with the workforce.
I know that if Ms. Gradet and her team could do it, they would snap their fingers and make the job of one’s dreams available. Instead, JCS is offering a realistic, but hopeful approach to unemployed community members. Over time, it is her firm belief, that that wonderful juncture where opportunity and preparedness meet will happen for JCS clients.
In the many years I’ve covered the Jewish community, I cannot remember a time of more urgency for JCS. And when one walks through the agency, there is a real sense of meeting the sometimes desperate issue of unemployment with clarity and purpose.
Almost every person I’ve interviewed over the recent weeks on issues related to unemployment were pleased with the organized Jewish community’s sincere efforts during these difficult times.
A reminder: on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., JCS is accepting gifts of new toys, school supplies and gift cards to be given to clients who otherwise might not be able to get a Chanukah gift. Items can be dropped off at JCS, 5750 Park Heights Avenue (adjacent the JCC). All items should be new. If that date doesn’t work for you, call 410-843-7351. Last year, about 120 families received gifts from the JCS Toy Closet.
Also, on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 2 to 3:30, JCS is hosting “Networking Your Way to a Great New Job.” Call 410-843-7515 to reserve a spot.