Rabbi Goldstein deserves prison, not probation

Other items in today’s column include:
*Political bytes
*In memoriam

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — A letter in today’s San Diego Union-Tribune from Ralph E. Hughes argues that Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, formerly of Chabad of Poway, deserves to be sentenced to prison time Oct. 19, notwithstanding the recommendation for probation made by U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer.  As Hughes framed the issue, he imagined a “poor Black man” joining a protest and in a moment of anger, throwing a rock through a window. Prosecutors, in Hughes opinion, would want that man imprisoned.  On the other hand, Hughes argued, “a wealthy White rabbi” who steals millions from the government and “has intentionally caused our community … far greater harm than that caused by the Black man” is recommended for probation.  Where is the justice.?

While I am not ready to concede that Brewer was motivated by racism, either conscious or unconscious,  I do agree that Rabbi Goldstein, who has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court,  should be given a prison sentence.  For decades, he had schemed, lied, and cheated to defraud the federal government of income taxes, causing to our society, as Hughes says, “far greater harm” than people who commit lesser crimes.

The late Rabbi Aaron Gold, of blessed memory, used the expression, “Big Beard, Small Jew” to characterize those people in our religion who make a big outward show of their piety, while having inside hearts so corrupted that they are willing to violate the very Torah lessons that they preach, including the eighth commandment, “Thou Shalt Not Steal.”  (Exodus 20:15).  It is bad enough when any Jew commits a crime, but it is even worse when someone does so who is a Rabbi.  By accepting that title, the person bearing it becomes a representative of the Jewish people, a spokesperson and exemplar for our moral beliefs.  In breaking the law, Goldstein not only brought shame on himself, he brought shame on the Jewish people.  He deserves to be punished.

In explaining why he was willing to recommend that Goldstein be let off with probation, Brewer cited the fact that after the April 2019 armed attack on Chabad of Poway, which left Lori Gilbert-Kaye, z”l, dead and three persons, including Goldstein, wounded, that Goldstein gave speeches in national and international venues preaching against hate (while gathering for himself a measure of celebrity.) However, we should note that Goldstein’s larceny was not a one time occurrence. By the time of the shooting,  he already had confessed months before  to the IRS and FBI agents who had raided his home, office, and bank deposit box that he had participated for decades in a pattern of unlawful conduct.  Passing  himself off as a loving, pious, representative of the Jewish community after the shooting was nothing less than hypocritical, hardly worthy of praise.

Currently, an attorney for Almog Peretz, who also was wounded in the attack along with his then 8-year-old niece Noya Dahan, has a suit pending against Goldstein and Chabad of Poway, alleging that although Goldstein had obtained funds to beef up security at the synagogue, the funds were not used for that purpose.  The alleged gunman, John T. Earnest, was able to simply walk through the front door and start shooting.  Had Goldstein given sufficient attention to security–instead of spending so much time scheming to cheat the government — Earnest might never have gotten inside the synagogue.

“Justice, Justice, Thou Shalt Pursue,” it says in Deuteronomy. Giving Goldstein a simple slap on the wrist — notwithstanding his cooperation in the prosecution of five co-defendants — is not justice.  It is a travesty. Goldstein betrayed his important office as a rabbi.  Let him go to federal prison and reflect there on his misdeeds.

*

Political bytes
*Political candidates send out a variety of pitches to raise money for their campaigns.  Common ones are “help us raise (some amount of money) before the reporting deadline” and “Our opponent is being funded by wealthy donors.  Help us provide a voice for the people.”  Now comes one that I haven’t seen before.  It’s from Terra Lawson-Remer, a candidate attempting to unseat incumbent Kristin Gaspar in the 3rd District San Diego County Board of Supervisors race.  “Many of you have gotten to know my baby daughter, EevaKai, out on the campaign trail. She’s been with me at endorsement meetings, picket lines, and door-to-door canvassing. This weekend, my baby girl turns one! Can you help us raise $1,000 in honor of EevaKai’s 1st birthday?”  “EevaKai,” according to campaign Spencer Katz, combines the Hebrew “Eeva” meaning life and the Hawaiian “Kai” meaning ocean.

*
In memoriam
Congressman John Lewis’s life works were celebrated by Rabbi Josh Dorsch in a weekly column he sends to congregants.  The rabbi wrote: ” This past week, we learned of the passing of Representative John Lewis, civil rights activist, and long time congressman from the state of Georgia. I had the honor of hearing him speak when he was the keynote address at my rabbinical school graduation. His words were inspiring; in light of our Torah reading and the Shabbat to Shabbat week of learning this past week, the message he shared with us is as true now as ever before. Despite making progress, he knew that he would never reach his promised land. He spoke to us as the next generation of religious leaders, trying to give us the confidence and the tools we need, to carry his vision into the future, long after he was gone.

“Like Moses, he spent his life fighting for freedom and justice. With each step he took, many of those walking side by side with the likes of Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, he brought all of us closer to our own land flowing with milk and honey.

*Barbara (Levine) Farfel, 82, died Tuesday, July 21, Am Israel Mortuary announced. Rabbi David Kornberg of Congregation Beth Am officiated at graveside services on Thursday, July 23, at the Mount Sinai Jewish Lawn at El Camino Memorial Park. Her family provided the following information: “Born to Nathan and Shirley Levine, she grew up near the boardwalk of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Soon after graduating high school, she moved to Washington DC and worked as a lab technician in a medical practice. She met and married the love of her life “Sully,” and they enjoyed a wonderful and loving 57 years of marriage. While raising two children, she worked part-time and eventually pursued a career as a sales professional in the medical lab testing field. She enjoyed great success as a salesperson and then as a sales manager and sales trainer. Her career progress led to the two of them relocating from Maryland to a wonderful new life in San Diego. They eventually retired so they could enjoy travel, skiing, time with friends, and enjoying many wonderful traditions with their two children and six grandchildren. She lived a life full of gratitude and generosity and was a role model to many.”

*

Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com