Regrettably, it is time for another alert. Mr. Yaakov Yosef Deutsch is now in Cleveland and claims to be collecting for Chasdei Shabbat in Beitar, Israel. Various tzedoko agencies (Lakewood, Far Rockaway, Los Angeles) and even his own brother have indicated significant problems: may be modifying checks received, aggressive, inappropriate behaviors, and utilizing funds for his own purposes. Do not give any money or hospitality.
1234 says
This man came to my door last week, was polite, and when I told him my husband was out of town, he immediately left. It’s terrible to hear that other people in the community have had a bad experience
joshua says
HOw can we print this based on 1 persons word? Are there any Rabbi’s Backing this up
I think we need to be careful with what gets listed here based on 1 person, WHo we dont even know who it is. So Until Cleveland gets its own form of Verifying eshulachim We need to be more careful
seriously says
please don’t tell strangers that your husband is out of town
LocalJewishNews says
This report was based on extensive evidence including reports from 4 different city tzedakah vaads and his own family members. Research was provided by the Hachnosos Orchim here.
Avrohom Henfield says
Joshua, email me your email address. Mine is hochorchcle@gmail.com. I’ll be glad to place you on my email list including some of the details about this guy. My offer goes out to anybody who’s interested. Sad that these things occur. Moshiach must surely come soon.
City Member says
We need to be made aware of what his issues are? Is he a danger to the community?
Avrohom Henfield says
City Member: He has left Cleveland and moved on to Cincinnati. I am not aware of him ever being a physical threat. I received an email today from a member of the Cincinnati Orthodox Community informing me the this person is now in Cincinnati (even sent me photos) and thanking me for the heads up. Since the alert was published in LJN (thanks Akiva!) I have received emails from Miami and the UK validating information I received from Lakewood, Five Towns, and Los Angeles. I want to make it perfectly clear that I do not convey negative (or even positive for that matter) information regarding meshulachim based on my own opinion. I rely on information gathered from vaadei tzedakos including the cities mentioned above, Detroit, Chicago, Miami and even London and Sydney. These vaadim phone references including Eretz Yisro-l before deciding to approve or reject a certificate. If you wonder why Cleveland doesn’t have it’s own vaad, I suggest you approach your rav and advocate for one. As you can see, this is the second alert in just two weeks. As Akiva has said repeatedly, the vast majority of meshulachim that visit here are sincere and needy individuals. Remember that Hashem didn’t bless us with the mitzva of tzedakah because there are poor people in the world, He creates poor people in order to give us the mitzva of tzedakah.
sara moskowitz says
look at the positive: We are known as a charitable nation and that is why these shenanigans can happen.
Yet on the other hand there is no mitzvah in encouraging this by rewarding inappropriate behavior. Many years ago a very well dressed man came to my home in Brooklyn with a great story of our rich relatives in Europe- then easily convinced me he was a successful businessman raising funds (on his weekends when he finds some free time) for a Yeshiva in Israel –whose sole purpose is to say mishnayos for the millions who went “al kiddush Hashem”. He tugged at my heart…..imagine all those neshamos that have no one here on earth saying kaddish or learining mishnayos for them?? I gave him a check and for some reason I made a photo copy of his appeal letter and asked for an envelope. One of my guests at the time noticed the letter and (he is an attorney) warned me that it did not look kosher. I phoned Rabbi Eli Teitelbaun a’h (he was valiantly attempting to clean up these fraudulent “causes”) Rabbi Teitelbaum a’h called me back the next day and told me to stop my check. He was extremely exasperated he said I have been begging everyone to give where they know the people– that a huge percentage of these causes are fraudulent – we all have places we can give to, places we know are kosher why get snagged where there is greater that 50% chance it is illegitimate..
Since then I encountered yet another incredibly convincing man who actually printed receipts with several legitimate addresses collecting for victims of Terror. He was brilliant: he started out with one person telling them I am collecting for the victims and I need a local address would it be ok if I use your address and I will either pickup the mail that arrives here or send you a prepaid envelope. He even got Rabbis to agree to allow him to use their address.
Each name he got made the rest of the names an easier sell. Brilliant! He was a total fraud – actually he was/is a sad soul – He no longer has access to the U.S.
Which decent human being would ever suspect that one would USE the kedoshim or the victims of terror in eretz Yisroel for their own selfish use????
Yidden after all are recognized for bayshanim, RACHMANIM and goymel chassadim.