"Haredi Madoff" Steals Millions

Moshe Zussman bilked about $50 million from Bnei Brak residents and wealthy families overseas.

'Haredi Madoff' bilked Bnei Brak families
Nati Toker • Ha'aretz

Another Ponzi has been uncovered in the ultra-religious sector. Kikar Shabbat, a news Web site caters to the sector, reports that Moshe Zussman bilked about $50 million from Bnei Brak residents and wealthy families overseas. He claimed to be an expert on currency speculation and even ran a Web site purporting to show detailed reports of client accounts. After investors became suspicious and asked to meet with him, Zussman reportedly broke down and admitted: "I'm a haredi Madoff." He told the investors that their "profits" had derived from other investors, that their account reports had been faked and that the Web site itself was a fake domain. Meanwhile, Zussman has reportedly fled the country with his family, apparently to London. 

[Hat Tip: Joel Katz.]

Comments

[Asa]

This story is priceless for its irony: a secular Ponzi, a haredi Ponzi. Torah's nothing but a costume, I reckon. And that costume obviously means squat, effects squat, is worth squat. I guess he figures so long as he wears those 70-some-odd garments on his back his heart can run around exposing itself to innocents with no 'divine' consequence...

All these months reading this blog, I'm still as disappointed as when I read my first story.

[jpeditor]

"Torah's nothing but a costume, I reckon."

Only for thieves like this guy, and other defamers of Torah.

"All these months reading this blog, I'm still as disappointed as when I read my first story."

So be a better Jew.

[Asa]

'So be a better Jew'.

I already am.

[Dr. Dave]

Once again it would be better to eat a ham and cheese sandwich on Yom Kippur than be a public chilul hashem, a thief violating the laws regarding the actions between a man and his fellow.

According the the Talmud (Shabbat 31a), the first question one is asked in heaven is: "Were you honest in your business dealings?"

And the Talmud in Moed Kattan 17a says:

Rabbi Ila'i said: If a person is tempted to do evil he should go to a city where he is not known, dress in black clothes, cover his head in black, and do what his heart desires so that G-d's name will not be desecrated.

I guess Rav Ila'i meant you move to Bnei Brak and dress like a chareidi.

[critical_minyan]

great quote from moed kattan dr. dave.

[harold]

- test post - I am having a problem posting, maybe content related - please disregard -

[harold]

Torah's nothing but a costume

Because a person does not follow the teachings of the torah is not a reflection on the torah. You should take a course in logic.

A person brings a car to a dealer and says that his car is defective because it does not work. The dealer says, did you put the key in the ignition?

The torah is a collection which includes a set of laws, if one chooses to not follow them and commits transgressions that are clearly stated as wrong (ex: you should not steal) then the failing is in them, not the torah.

[ah-pee-chorus]

harold, i agree. if only he would have killed a few homosexuals, sabbath violators and non-virgin brides, while tending to his slaves, he would have been a good man who DID follow the torah.

[Asa]

Harold, my comment was directed at the con-man. TO HIM it's nothing but a costume, and the likes of him render it as such. I don't believe it's nothing but a costume. My logic is perfectly sound, thanks. You're just looking to fight with someone. Take a pill.

[harold]

my comment was directed at the con-man

In that case I apologize. I am accustomed to people on this board using broad strokes to paint Jews, orthodox, in particular, in negative light.

I also am pissed when people take a story about some pathetic loser who does evil and because he is orthodox indirectly imply that this is representative of all or most orthodox people. I am also pissed when there is no acknowledgment that the vast majority of orthodox people who go about their lives in a law abiding manner trying to eek out a living and provide to the best of their ability for their family.

Then there are those jerks who try to poke fun whenever possible at the customs, traditions, and dress that their religion or sect of their religion asks of them. Hey, listen, I don’t follow that I have to wear my tzitzis over my clothing, but have no problem if someone grew up being told that this is what they have to do – just don’t tell me that I have to do it, that is all I ask.

[nachos]

Do you think the people in Bnei Brak think he should get parole?