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.

To Elyahoo:

What the heck are you talking about?? It was not his right to expose any Rabbis to any Federal agents to lessen his own jail time for fraud.

If you dont want him to be judged or suspected of allegedly money laundering and passing bad checks on a bank, defrauding the bank and its shareholders out of millions of dollars, allegedly, then why should he judge Rabbis for their alleged misdeeds, judge them, and help turn them in?

If he thought that some Rabbis were not acting properly, he did not have to have anything to do with them, or, he could have taken them to bais din.

If he owed banks, or people, or relatives money, if he owed money to anyone then he had no right to give “charity”, no right to give any money anyway.

If he was a"benefactor” to someone, as you say, then he should have taken the time to fully check on them beforehand and distance himself from them, NOT to hang out with Federal agents, entrap them, to set them up.

“benefactor”. That is just hogwash nonsense ludicrous

Madoff is an ashkenazi pathetic traitor.

He knowingly and willingly used the Torah to defraud charities. And he was heartless enough to defraud charities for the widows and orphans.

Solomon Dwek is a true Kohen. He is a wealthy philanthropist, and a multi-billionaire.

The men that Solomon Dwek exposed are abhorrent. Solomon Dwek exposed those so-called ‘rabbis’ because of their corruption - and the Avodah Zara in question is Money. What would Solomon Dwek, the generous benefactor of those so-called ‘rabbis’ have had to gain by exposing those men? Use your logic. Even a little child would have been able to work this out. 

Solomon Dwek is to be highly commended for his actions. He has uplifted the commendable principles of hessed and truth.  Those so-called ‘rabbis’ were warned by Solomon Dwek 3 times, to clean up their act. They all blatantly refused to do so – three times. Solomon Dwek had no option but to expose those people pretending to be religious, and using the Torah as their cover and cloak as good guys when they are not.

The Dweks from Aleppo, Syria, ARE the only true Cohanim. You should know that any Lashon haRA – slander - on a true Cohen – is completely Assur.

the word in lakewood is that he has goods on one of the heinemann brothers and has threatened rabbi heineman with jail if he doesnt let him into baltimore

good news! I heard from a reliable source that there was a meeting of the vaad harabbonim last week, at which it was decided to give the piece of drek two weeks to leave town, after which his residence and other information would be publicized. I guess there is some justice in this town.

The Lifetime Movie Channel runs movies all day about true life psychopathic narcissistic cons.

Con men like Dwek are not something that the average person imagines. Most people really see the good in people- they don’t expect a seemingly respectable person in the community who has all the community trappings of acceptance- a home, wife. kids, clergy, a place of worship, friends- they do not not expect a person like that to perpetrate a scam on them, on a small or large scale, because they think that nooone in their right mind would take such a risk, would risk what they have, or risk the embarrassment to their family and standing in community.

Well, let me introduce you to the pathological risk-taking con man. This kind of person is driven to take risks- that is one of the thrills. One of the thrills and compulsions of this type of psychopath is that the manipulation includes the excuses and lies they always have to make to cover themselves.

Look at Dwek. He was conning people for a long time in NJ, NY and Florida. He got away with the real estate scams for a long time. Authorities looking into his scams now are shocked to find that some of the scams did not even make him any money at all, he just did it because he could.

And because most people are ashamed when they have been swindled and won’t come forward publicly about it- they will usually try the courts quietly to get their money back. That is what the con depends on- people are usually quiet about it.

The only reason anyone in NJ knew about everyone else who was scammed, is because of Dwek’s recklessness (remember, he is a psychopath) that led him to actually cash $25 million dollar bad checks on a bank. Now all those shareholders are victims too. And they never heard of Dwek.

Now the fact that Dwek went on to become an informant to the Feds, after his Ponzi schemes, and multiple Frauds, only proves that he is on a psychopathic level. Most people, even small time cons, do not risk the wrath of community, clergy, friends, and family. But they will risk everything, because the Narcissistic con only cares about manipulating and getting what he wants. Everyone around them are merely pawns.

A Psycopathic con like Dwek will always try to find a new place, where not many people may have heard about him, or where people tend to be NICE, show Ahavas Yisroel, to those who they think MUST SURELY, OH SO SURELY be repentent- doing Tshuva- for their past ways that people are so SURE that they “must be so sorry for”, because of course, most normal people ARE sorry for past misdeeds. A brand new place to live, with family intact, and outward respectability ensured, is just like drugs to an addict.

It always starts small- borrowing a small amount, then borrowing a slightly higher amount to pay back the first person. A small quiet deal here, a small quiet deal there, after all, many may say, “everyone has to make living!” Everyone has to “take care of his family”. If someone is not paid back, how would someone else here about it? “And he’s so sincere!” ” And he’s so sweet” “and such a religious man”, “such a family man!” “And he really is trying to turn himself around!” This can go on and escalate for years, until the con gets caught again for something big.

If it all comes crashing down again- he’ll just move on- there are many communities, and he is very young.

All the many many many people who Madoff and Dwek duped and defrauded over many years are not stupid people, they are just nice people who were taken advantage of.
There are many nice people in Baltimore.

The kids should stay here with other family members, but the parents should go- they are not a good Torah and moral influence on the children.

Leiner writes “Particularly in areas of Halacha you seem to understand better than they when tzedaka and ahavas Yisrael ends and Chillul Hashem begins.”
First of all most all Rabbonim in town don’t want Dwek.
Secondly you might not know anything about “tzedaka and ahavas Yisrael” there are parameters and laws but seeing from these posts that when it comes to torah thought you are lacking, let me tell you what Chazal have taught us. “Anyone who shows mercy (not bends over backwards like in this case)on or to cruel people will end up being cruel to kind people” This is our case. You never reached front page of 30 papers. Dwek did! You don’t stand a chance! He will entrap you and the likes before you even know what hits you, and then we will have to take care of your children. It’s been tested and proven for 2 years! So good luck- you reap what you sow.

jen, do you want your kids going out with other kids who have such a retarded view of the world?

who cares if those freaks wont go out or set someon up with your daughter - what a horrible shiddch that would be!!

Daniel, though I doubt purposely, said something worth remembering. He described me as a “defender of the Dwek”.

And that is precisely the problem.

Note that he did NOT say “defender of the rabbis”. And the question is why.

A law and order society is based on judicial principles. More importantly, the application of them.

Frum Jews can take solace in knowing that the local arbiters of Halacha are competent. They ruled. Ultimately, their decision is also their responsibility.

If the laity here can show how the rabbis erred Halachicly—or for that matter in American law—they should do so. That’s what this debate should be about.

As for my “showing no ahavas yisroel for anyone disagreeing” with me” ... Huh? The point of a debate is to emphasize the flaws of one’s opponent(s’)arguments and then show the validity of yours. It’s not to validate the others’ feelings. (From above: “You have a right to your feelings. You have the right to express your feelings.)

I find these last few comments very interesting. After spending $20,000. for my daughter to go to Israel, I found out that her Frum seminary, at which she excelled, was not acceptable to those Shadchans associated with the yeshiva, and they would not give her shidduchim with the kind of boy she was looking for. Apparantly they have decided that only girls who go to 2-3 certain seminaries, certain ones, are deemed worthy of the “their boys”, no matter the personality of the girl, no matter what the hashkacha level of the girl, no matter if she just went there and was bored to tears the whole time.

And a girl could be the greatest girl, but if she didn’t go to that seminary that the Shadchins and the Rebbes like, forget it.

It is true that the personalities and qualities of the girls themselves are not considered. Rather, certain other random factors are deeemed critical to these Shadchanim associated with Yeshivas-

    The most grievous sin according to these Shadchanim is if the   mother does not wear a Shaitel.

    Second is if the father is “modern”. They have certain ways of assessing this- mainly has to do with a hats, Kippah srugahs, etc.

    Third is if there is Baal Tshuvas in the family, and the boy’s family isn’t. This is to me the most rediculous, absurd and offensive. They of course won’t admit to this. No never will admit to it. , but the proof is in the constant “sorry the boy is busy” line said by the Shadchans over and over and over again.

    Fourth to tenth are other nonsensical variables.

    DEAD LAST, of MINIMIUM importance, is if the Father is considered Frum and thought to be rich, but is a CROOK, thief and Malshin. Thats pretty much OK as long as he wears a hat and has some money stashed away for the kids.

HFKB;

Thats interesting, since no Shadchan associated with the local Yeshiva, Ner, would set up my fantastic Frum ala Mailos daughter, because they said I did not cover my hair. My friends daughter could not get a shidduch with these shadchans because the parents were Baal tshuvas and grandparents were not so frum.  Another girl I know who didnt meet their criteria was set up - with an alcoholic

So your right that all the girls who for some reason like this, such as their parents being too “modern”  -will be set up on a Shidduch to Dwek for a shidduch with his kids.

Shadchan:

i’m a single and would have no problems going on a shidduch date with a child of dwek’s. why don’t you shadchonim evaluate people for THEMSELVES instead of as others who they are associated with in ways that are beyond their control? dwek’s children are innocent, and you are mamish nobody to judge dwek either. your callous attitude and superficiality epitomizes the apparent reason davkah for why there is a shiduch crisis m’ikarah. i hope you realize this.

you should be solving this crisis instead of perpetuating it over the jewishtimesblog. oy .

This is getting tedious. Maybe it’s time to shelve this discussion and find something constructive to do?

Don’t worry, Mordechai. You have just heard from A. Leiner, defender of the Dwek, and belittler of all those who disagree, showing no ahavas yisroel for anyone disagreeing with him.

You have a right to your feelings. You have the right to express your feelings. Many feel as you do, but there is little we can do. Life is unfair. Very often in this world we see rewards for the bad, like Dwek riding around in a Lexus because it is in his WIFE’s name, as is many ill-gotten properties and fraud corporations. All we need to do is Daven and do the best we can in our own lives.

What you are hearing, Mordechai, is voices. I’d suggest telling the town Rabbonim, but, obviously you have disqualified them from helping you. See, are superior to them. Particularly in areas of Halacha you seem to understand better than they when tzedaka and ahavas Yisrael ends and Chillul Hashem begins.

Everyone is missing the point- the Rabbonim faccilitated his coming here by letting his kids into the schools in middle of the year(which is I assume a privelage extended only to felons). The question is quite simple. Do we have to worry about every Jewish kid in the world? Second, at what price? Dwek is a huge price! For him to be present among us is a tremendous Chilul Hashem as well as a clear and present danger. He owes hundreds of millions to people and destroyed countless children and he can be accepted and live amongst us with lexus and all- that is untill the authorities throw him in jail. Doesn’t sound right to me. I hear the cries of his victim’s children!

To Lakewood Guy:

There is nothing to be done about it. As the previous guy said- there are lots of criminals in Baltimore. BUT…

He will get his comeuppance when he’ll need a SHIDDUCH for his kids. Then he’ll need to go to Pluto or Mars to get one.
Imagine having Dwek as a Father-in-Law !!!!!
You’d have to lock up the wedding gifts!!!
He’d promise you one daughter-but at the baddekin you’d find out it was the other daughter!!!
You’d have to check your house for FBI listening devices and wiretaps!!!
He’d give you a house with 17 leans and 15 lawsuits on the property!!!
The SEC would garnish the Chosson watch he’d hocked at the Pawnshop!!!
He’d pay the Caterer and photographers with bad checks!!! (Just thinking about it could make any potential bride or groom vomit violently)

Lakewood Bochur: Did you read my comments? How would you deal with him? Maybe the man did teshuva. How can you judge him? Would you rather this man and his innocent children live in a town devoid of yideshkeit?

i cant belive baltimore is taking this guy in!!!!not only did he steal from banks and people he took mortgages out on peoples name with out them knowing his best friends are all going to jail because he didnt just moiser on them he set them up with coaching from fbi on what he has to say and what they have to say in order to get convictions this group includes his brothers father inlaw his own brother inlaws brother, his rabbi growing up the chief rabbi who was like an uncle to him and he told them that im going to jail my wife and kids need money while im away>>> this worse than a regular moiser look up halachos what you are allowed to do

I don’t understand why so many people are making such a big deal about this. Don’t you know that you are living amongst HUNDREDS of criminals? From predators to con-artists, there are likely many on your very block. Just because this guy is jewish doesn’t mean we should target him. I am not denying he did horrible things. He did; no doubt. My point is that people are blowing this out of proportion. If you don’t want anything to do with this man, no one is forcing you to invite him over to your house. His children are not him, nor is his wife. Though he might con you, so might hundreds of others among us. If you are a prudent person, you won’t get conned, if you’re not, you will, whether it’s by this guy or some other joe-shmeldrick.

As a Jew and as an American, he is entitled to live wherever he wants, and we should at least not prevent him from partaking in the traditional Jewish elements of our community.

If you aren’t happy with the system of justice in this country, then leave, or at least try to change it. Kvetching about the situation and speculating about what he will do here is meaningless.

For all you know, this man could have done teshuva, and repented. He may not have, but the point is you don’t know.

If this man wants to eat at Tov Pizza, then Fine! Who cares? Why can’t this man eat Kosher pizza in peace? Would you rather him eat at Papa-Johns? Kol Yisroel Arevim Ze L’ Zeh. By targeting this man and maligning him, WE become the true criminals.

And I have a 4 letter word for them: JOBS. Get Jobs.

I have just 3 letters for Mr and Mrs Dwek, their teenage kids, and any Rabbi paving their way here in Baltimore. J-O-B…JOB…get a JOB.

As part of getting a free pass into Baltimore Shuls and Schools, it should be mandatory for Dwek and his family to go downtown by bus, and volunteer downtown at a food bank and soup kitchen, and at a nursing home. Seeing how poor people live, no materialism, and showing caring and kindness to actual people will do alot for the kids seeing their parents acting kindly to others and considerate of others,  without checkbooks of other peoples money involved. It will also garner the respect of the community.

Yes sure, Leiner, the family losing anything would do terrible things to the kids yiddishkeit- It is a great moral life lesson for them that you can cheat lie inform on others and steal and still get everything you want there are no consequencs to you or your family. No repentence necessary! How will they respect him or themselves if they become charity cases in a new community.  The focus is not and should not be on us it must be on him what is he doing to show his kids the truth, justice, repentence, downsizing, consequences to your actions, remorse, returning money, making sacrifices, caring and respecting others, living an honest life that in turn encourages others to respect you.

eged:

Indeed. And doing so would only make it worse.

The correct response is to lead by example. To show love and warmth.

~~~

Curious: “crook rat fink?” Are you 12?

Why cant Pearl Dwek, yes Pearl Dwek, get a job- A JOB- 8 to 5 and help pay her kids tuition   no rabbi in town should have the nerve to ok a tuition break for that pair of dweks unless they have a job.

JJ

And where and when, pray tell, did I say otherwise? Jacobs’ article is about how Bal’more rabbanim “allowed” Dwek to move here and all of that.

There have been hysterical responses from parents who’d have to “suffer” because their kids might share classrooms with the Dwek kids. Or, might have to forbid them from playing with them and put in a position to come up with a reason to explain why innocent kids are being treated like lepers.

Another feared that Dwek’s very presence will cause folks to be scammed, as if he has magnetic rays from his eyes that lifts money from wallets and forces signatures to business contracts.

Others are angry that somehow the Dweks received money (from SOMEBODY) to purchase a house and so on and so forth.

I find all of it rather bizarre.

And pathetic.

Leiner you said that if things are taken away from his children, and if they are not helped by this community, they will suffer “Stigma”, and be alienated from Torah Judaism.

What about the Stigma they suffer from their father being a crook rat fink?

A. Leiner, your reasoning is twisted. It is Dwek’s choice not to live according to what he can afford, and to keep up a farce, a lie, to his kids. When you take out 4 mortgages on a home and multiple properties, and have hundreds of creditors in court wanting to be paid, you are living a lie. Noone is obligated to continue this lie to the children. In fact, The opposite is true.

Baltimorean:

Who said anybody is saying the Dweks MUST be given the same lifestyle they were accustomed to? Who said family members didn’t lend them money for their house?

I’m tempted to make a comment about a variation of the moniker you chose.

The Frum, warm wonderful people living in basement Pickwick apts can be very warm caring neighbors to the Dwek kids in their basement Apt. They can show them that a Torah Lifestyle does not include a Big House, his hers and theirs SUV’s, and automatic paid tuition to a school of their choice without showing attempts at the parents in getting a JOB either in or out of the school.

If their own families wont lend Dwek money and help provide the Deal Lifestyle for their kids, maybe they know something you want to ignore.

I guess you feel that a Big House and an SUV is a Right, rather than a privilege, and that taking those things away from kids would be dangerous to their Jewish belief system and our fault as a heartless community. That is simply preposterous.

Those Dwek children have no more right to live in a big house than any other Frum family who lives in a basement apartment in Pickwick, Fountainview Apts, Cross Country, or in Borough Park, or Flatbush.

We as a Frum comunity do not have to show what a good warm torah community we are by ensuring the past lifestyle of the Dwek children.

Dwek has ripped off every single person he borrowed from, and he has given them im sure many reasons for the loans, including the care of his family.

Dwek can get a job at Home Depot, or collect cans, but noone in this town is obligated to keep his kids in a big house and SUV’s.

Baltimorean asks “How will Dwek’s kids grow up ‘endeared to Torah Judaism’ when all they see is their Father’s religion: The Dollar Bill and all it can buy.”

A start would be seeing warm, caring neighbors and teachers who show what being not only frum but also ehrlich.

With all due respect,“Chinuch is the key”, you are comparing apples with oranges.

A kollel couple that sacrifices in order that a father can continue his studies has made a choice. And that choice is commendable. It is a choice that the couple’s children, no doubt, will pick up on.

But what you wrote is that the Dweks should be living in a basement and forced to homeschool the kids. This, as has been proposed repeatedly, even if somebody has lent them money (providing) for housing and if a school is willing to give scholarships to the kids.

That, too, is sending a message. And it’s one that, no doubt, they will pick up on.

Nobody is arguing that materialism brings happiness. Ask any wealthy person. It does not. Nobody, either, is arguing that anybody should be living above their means. But read your smug tone of, along the lines of, “somebody better teach those children!” and honestly ask yourself if what you are proposing is meant to send a message to the young or their father.

A community that shows loves and applies the values it holds dear is much more likely to impact children who are certainly suffering.

And that, to be sure, is your concern, right?

How will Dwek’s kids grow up “endeared to Torah Judaism” when all they see is their Father’s religion: The Dollar Bill and all it can buy.

Really, Mr Leiner, you are so keen to defend the continued ill-gotten lifestyle of Dwek’s Kids. Many hard working Honest, Frum people, in fact many Kollel families live in small, cramped apartments, some in NY have no cars and only use public transportation. Are you saying that living honestly according to your means in an apartment you can afford is a stigma?

How will Dwek’s kids grow up with any morals or values if they don’t learn to appreciate what truly has value in life? About an honest work ethic, and that you don’t get to have things that you don’t honestly earn? That in hard times you learn to adapt to less, and appreciate what you do have, not what you cannot afford! What did children of the depression learn- to work hard and apreciate the simplest joys of life that were not monetary!

Yes, CHINUCH, is the key. It is NOT proper Chinuch for Dwek to continue his familys lifestyle that he cannot afford. It is not proper Chinuch to show your kids that having ‘things’ is a measure of self-worth and admiration. Starting to live in an honest spiritual manner, full of remorse, not a fake showy one in houses mortgaged 4 times over, is the best Chinuch for children.

Chinuch is the key

And you think that his children, after suffering that sort of stigma and humiliation, would ever be endeared to Torah Judaism?

They’d leave the frum world as soon as they could.

Man, are you ever short sighted.

I agree with a previous posting that Dwek and his wife should live in a basement apartment in Brooklyn and homeschool his kids. That would teach his children proper values about living according to what one can afford, and not taking advantage of others. He should apologize to his kids and say that the mansion they lived in, and lifestyle they lived, were from ill gotten gains, and was dishonest.

Baltimorean:

Actually, you should likewise brush up on your ability to read what I wrote.

I never said anything close to one could be “able to track what exactly hes really using it for or how theyd be paid back”.

The bottom line is if a family legitimately destitute they are in need of help. Period, end of story. If somebody feels a family is worthy of support I doubt that they’d ask, as a stipulation, for a dollar by dollar accounting.

wow- A Leiner must really be a ‘gullible shtetle dweller’ if he thinks someone in baltimore could halachikally give Dwek a loan for his families needs and then be able to track what exactly hes really using it for or how theyd be paid back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heshy:

Mrs. Madoff was using MR. MADOFF’s money. She was living in one of his multiple homes. She might have, according to press accounts, been part of his schemes.

Do you really think that the FBI and other agencies that put Dwek’s every transaction under a microscope allowed him to keep funding/resources that were not his?

Again, Heshy, READING COMPREHENSION.

What I said was, “If somebody lent Dwek money SPECIFICALLY for taking care of his family responsibilities, he would not be obligated to repay with that money others he owes.”

Mrs. Madoff is not homeless. SOMEBODY is seeing to that. By your illogical thought process (ignorance of the law?) she should be on a corner begging for bread. Why? Because every last penny would have to be returned to all who were damaged before she could keep one for herself.

You then go on to question Dwek’s obtaining of other loans for his family. The implication, of course, is that his doing so is morally wrong. If he’s seeking a LEGITIMATE means of helping (taking responsibility for) his family with nobody being deceived, what has he done wrong?

Instead of filling your heart with hatred toward Dwek the con, you should be feeling pity for his innocent family.

It would do your neshama good

wow- A Leiner must really be a ‘gullible shtetle dweller’ if he thinks someone in baltimore could halachikally give Dwek a loan for his families needs and then be able to track what exactly hes really using it for or how theyd be paid back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To A. Leiner, who is already quoting halachicaly permissible loans and halachic sources and Dwek in the same paragraph::

Mrs Madofff tried to get away with something similar to what you are suggesting. She maintained that she should be able to live in her $7 Million family home, and other “needs”, because why should she be “punished” for the sins of her husband? She was soon thrown out on her keester, because morally nooone would tolerate her maintaining her lifestyle as others were driven to bankruptcy and were unable to obtain loans.

Dwek can very well, and should, live in a two bedroom apartment, say, Cross Country Apartments, with his family, as that would suit his family’s “needs” and he can very well drive a used Chevy van. His wife could sell her jewelry and furs, just as Mrs. Madoff was forced to do. He and his WIFE can locate some of the MONEY they absconded with and USED, before taking out halachically permissable loans. Instead of going to court and possible jail for fraud, he and his wife decided it was OK that he should work with the Feds for 3 years setting up others to take the fall and go to jail instead of him. What about those peoples’ kids “needs”- they don’t have the millions of dollars of collateral Real Estate that Dwek and his wife have to obtain loans!

Many hard working families live in apartments. You are clearly a stooge of Dwek and his ilk if you think he should be getting halachically accepted “loans” to live in a big lavish house here and maintain his “family’s needs”. He can home school his kids and live in a basement apartment, like every other person who cannot afford a house. He cannot continue to use other people’s money, money that he has not earned- THAT IS NOT PROPER CHINUCH FOR HIS KIDS. IT IS NOT PROPER CHINUCH FOR HIS KIDS TO SEE THE FAMILY CONTINUE TO LIVE A LAVISH LIFESTYLE IN HUGE HOMES, FANCY FURNITURE AND CARS, WHILE THEIR FATHER OWES SO MUCH MONEY TO SO MANY PEOPLE, AND WHILE SO MANY OTHERS ARE SUFFERING.

You are exactly what Jacobs was warning against. The innocent victims, the children of all Mr. and Mrs. Dwek’s victims, should suffer, but Dwek should be able to obtain even more loans for what HE WANTS “his family’s needs” to be.

Ruchie implies that her child’s shidduch will be ill impacted because of a situation that’s not in her control. Who is the bigger genius, the shadchan or Ruchie?

Heshy writes:

“You have already given an example of how people’s either stupidity, gullibility or not knowing about his past, mixed with his manipulative behavior could have already produced sinister results”

And just where did I do that? I actually said that members of the frum community of Baltimore are NOT gullible shtetel dwellers.

Is it possible that your lack of reading comprehension equally reflects your inability to discern reality?

I’m not giving anybody a “pass”. Halacha, as does American law, allows for basic needs—- egad, even for criminals and their families. Just because one is married to an evil person, or his offspring, doesn’t mean they must suffer for something they did not do.

For the record, I did NOT lend Mr. Dwek money. <GRIN> It is possible, Heshy, to examine a subject objectively and understand, to quote the late, great Rabbi Aharon Kotler, that “daas Torah is lehepach of daas baal habayis.”

If only all of you posters had this much passion about the child abusers that live amongst us in baltimore.  You have no problem yelling and screaming about this guy that stole money - GET HIM OUT!!  but molest your kids?!?!  ah, let him stay!

your priorities are out of whack, baltimore

The Rabbi who runs a kashrus agency and fed many people non-kosher food on a cruise awhile back. Whom has endorsed ovens to be used on Shabbos that all Poskim but him say is ‘Chilul Shabbos’ has now given us Solomon Dwek. May Hashem gaurd us from such wisdom and clarity of thought! I think Mr. Dwek should start looking into the Aguda Charity fund.

The Schools who take Dwek’s kids because we don’t have set standards of what type of families join our schools; must take innocent children of people who might not be able to pay tuition or don’t conform to our religious ways in dress,behavior,etc.
Having this criminal among us as one of us, has given the Baltimore community another mark of shame. Thank you Rabbis! I will now try to explain to my daughter’s shadchan in LA that we are not such a bad place after all!

Nobody realizes what a psycopath we are dealing with. We are not just dealing with a thief and con artist. He is thoroughly evil. I f he asks you to hold something for him while he goes to the bathroom. Before he gets out you will be surrounded by agents in possesion of drugs and he’ll testify that you were trying to sell to him. He came to the perfect naive, backwards community! People are worried about lashon Hara! Google his name! Anything you see is the tip of the iceberg. Picture the thousands of suffering children that this guy created by stealing and defrauding their parents from all their money.

As mentioned before:

The Rabbis should say NO to the Shul and NO to the kids Yeshiva here and send him and his wife back to DEAL, NJ, where he and his WIFE should locate the missing money, help to sell some or all of his and Her properties to pay back all the BANKS (and their SHAREHOLDERS) and all the people he owes money to….

....THEN the RABBIS should welcome Him and his Family to Baltimore.