Corrupt Camp Official Accused Of Misusing $1.4 Million Gets New Cushy Job

Moshe Kahn, forced out of Camp HASC for allegedly misusing at least $1.4 million dollars, has just been named Camp HASC's new director of strategic planning.

 

Camp HASC is a well-regarded Orthodox camp for special needs children that gets funding from the government as well as from charitable sources.

Seven years ago, Bernard Moshe Kahn was forced out as the head of Camp HASC after a forensic audit allegedly showed he had misused at least $1.4 million of the camp's money.

Kahn apparently took his case to the Beit Din of America, which is associated with the Rabbinical Council of America, where the HASC board agreed to rehire Kahn as the director of strategic planning, and pay him $180,000 per year.

Many HASC staffers and supporters are outraged at Kahn's return, and have told the board in no uncertain terms that they will not go along with it.

What follows are two letters sent to the HASC board, one by key staffers sent February 21, and the other by fundraisers sent February 7. The board has not answered these letters.

 

To the Board of Directors of HASC Inc.,
 
The administration of Camp HASC is bewildered and chagrined at the course of events leading up to the return of Moshe Kahn to the administration of HASC Inc.  We do not see how this decision can be construed as being in the best interest of the camp or its campers and families.  As the professionals who actually run the camp program, we find ourselves torn between our love of the program, its campers and staff and our utter dissatisfaction with the lay leadership's decision to turn back the clock to the darkest time in the camp's history.
 
We are invested in the current and future reputation of the camp program. We have collectively dedicated many summers to its growth and professional development, and on a yearly basis, spend countless hours planning for the summers ahead. Yet throughout the recent process of returning Moshe Kahn to HASC Inc., we feel that our concerns have been largely ignored and that we have been communicated to with dishonesty. We are ashamed to see our beloved program recklessly guided down such a regrettable path and are most uncomfortable with the consent that our association with the camp implies.
 
We call upon the Board of Directors of HASC Inc. to reconsider their plans and to fulfill the charge that they have legally accepted - to lead HASC Inc. with yashrus, transparency and prudence, aiming only to benefit the organization and its campers, and not, chas v’shalom, to use their role for the personal aggrandizement of any person.
 
Signed,
 
(Names listed in alphabetical order)
Mrs. Yael Gitelis, Medical Director, 4 summers in Camp HASC
Mrs. Marcy Glicksman, Recreation Program Coordinator, 18 summers in Camp HASC
Dr. Stephen Glicksman, Psychologist, 22 summers in Camp HASC
Ms. Kayla Levin, Medical Director, 6 summers in Camp HASC
Ms. Deena Markowitz, Behavior Specialist, 2 summers in Camp HASC
Rabbi Judah Mischel, Camp Rabbi, 6 summers in Camp HASC
Rabbi Avi Pollak, Head Counselor, 13 summers in Camp HASC
Dr. Shulamis Pollak, Psychologist, 11 summers in Camp HASC
Dr. Rayzel Yaish, Head Counselor, 11 summers in Camp HASC
Rabbi Ronn Yaish, Program Director, 1 summer in Camp HASC

Excerpt from the fundraisers' letter:

The fundraisers' entire letter as a PDF file:

Download Fundraisers' Entire Letter to the HASC Board 2-2011

 Update 9:54 PM CST – Another letter was sent to the HASC board on April 11. Here it is:

Board of Directors of HASC Inc.,

On Thursday April 7th, members of the Team HASC committee once again had the opportunity to speak with Mr Abe Eisner and Rabbi Dr Chaim Wakslak. This conversation ensued a few months after our last conversation with them. During these few months, we respectfully stood by to see if an amicable resolution with the Board of HASC Inc could be reached in this catastrophic event that we have watched unfold. We believe with complete certainty that Mr Eisner and Dr Wakslak have the purest of intentions in their involvement with HASC Inc.

As a Committee, we had hoped that a cordial and acceptable resolution would be reached with regards to Moshe Kahn that would not jeopardize the name of HASC Inc. With progress and the complete certainty of Moshe Kahn’s disinvolvement with Camp HASC, Team HASC would have been thrilled to move forward with plans for Team HASC 2012.  Unfortunately, the only progress that we have seen thus far is not progress at all, rather stall tactics that are unacceptable to us.

After Thursday night’s phone call, we have decided to take the route that we have discussed with you in the past. Our committee raised over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars this year, and we realistically set a goal of one million dollars by our third year. Now, we will proudly create a running team and pour our hearts and souls into a different respectable organization that benefits the special population.  It is our hope that in the future HASC Inc will recover with an honorable new board in place or with a State forced acquirement of the HASC Inc program by a trustworthy organization. Until such events occur, we are cutting our ties with HASC Inc.

The Team HASC Committee has no intentions of remaining silent with regards to this miscarriage of justice. Spin doctors and smokescreens that the Board instates will surely be unsuccessful in the light of raw truth. Layer by layer the lies and corruption are being exposed and are forever damaging the purity of the place that our special souls call their summer home. Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me. You have fooled us enough and now we are walking away.

 - Team HASC Committee

Comments

[Jazz]

Now we can understand why Sima the failed messiah commenter has the I.Q. of falafel ball. With stupid comments like that she'll continue going nowhere in life. All she does is bitch and complain about educated professionals who care for the well being of adults and children in their care.
vey-oy-vey to her extended family for dealing with the embarrassment that she is.

[Snakebitten]

Sima,

Your remarks are quite venomous themselves. You personify the definition of a "rattlesnake".
If I were to open a dictionary to "rattlesnake",I would probably see your ugly face staring back at me. Since you yourself don't seem to mind using peoples names in public in a derogatory way, why don't you tell us all your real name?

[Sima]

To: Are You Kidding, Chofetz Chaim and Bill:
I have nothing to do with BH or MK. I'm just so disappointed in Karen. I used to have respect for her. But the way she talks about others, and even you fellows who write, without real, honest and truthful knowledge, just from hearsay are no better than Karen.
Talk to someone who has all the facts, all the true facts and all the honest facts before you degrade anyone.
There is no one on this blog who ever sat with one of the actual parties to get what really happened. Even Avi Sacks only gets his information from Shmiel which at best is third hand.
It's wrong to defame an organization or a person with incorrect information. And almost every accusation against them are no more than accusations. The comments above and on FB are all inuendos without anyone ever verifying the truth.
No one even botherd to look for the truth. You just assumed that if Avi said so, then it must be so. Well, it's not so.
It was wrong to refer to Karen the way I did, however, you should also acknowledge that you and she are wrong.
Bill, if you want me to keep out of people's private business, that's a very fair request. But so should you and so should Karen. I expected better from Karen than meddling in HASC's business or BH or MK or anyone else's.
To: Are You Kidding, I have no personal connection to any of those you mention. However, I sat with a FIRST hand knowledgable person and I realized that almost all that is said about the organization or MK and BH are false. So before you accuse anyone else of lack of information, sit with a first hand person not with third hand information.
You are the one's who are destroying Camp Hasc with your false accusations. I worked in camp Hasc for several summers and I probably have more inside information than any of you.
To Chofetz Chaim: there is no such thing as highest form of rechilus. Any loshon Horah is forbidden, any rechilus is forbidden. Hence, I may not be justified for writing what I did. But neither are you for writing anything about Hasc or anyone at Hasc that is derogatory or loshon hora or rechilus.

[Snakebitten]

Sima,

There is no way that you personally know Karen. There is no medical director named Karen. Stop BSing. Maybe if you were a person who is knowledgeable about HASC you would know that. Secondly, do not assume that "Karen" doesnt have first hand knowledge, it is a baseless assumption. Thirdly,who is this first hand knowledgeable person you spoke to? I would like to speak to them please.

[In defence]

Sima, you must be a genius to be able to pin point exactly why people don't get married. You must also be single because if as you say venting venom means not getting married, there is no way you are married.
I know "Karen" very well. "All she does daily is vent venom"? Actually, all she does daily is save the lives of tiny dying babies, and in her spare time prepares to be medical director for special people.
I wonder what it is that you do?

[oh sima give it up]

Sima - The truth is first hand contact the State Education Dept of New York to see for yourself. And for more information about the forensic audit contact Mort Cohen/Franklyn Snitow. For more information about the non psak - call the Beth Din of America -they will tell you no psak - arbitration between the parties. Truth speaks louder then falsehoods. Sima you are being misled and mislead - but thats how relatives are - I understand you. The transcripts of all the years of Beth Din will be uncovered. I hate to see that happen but it will..Its going to be an embarassing time period. Sima - time to change names like you do and post under another name so people actually think there are more backers.

[Drop it Sima]

Sima- If you think you know so much, then please tell us who you spoke to first hand… we have proof of everything…you're stupid and false comments about "Karen" are completely made up.. You don't know anything but a load of crap. if you worked in HASC, then you would know what side to be on regardless of the situation. Do you like to see money that was embezzled used for someone's personal use. If you really had a heart, you would choose the correct side to be on.. Stop trying to be the nice person, because you make yourself sound soooo dumb.. get a life and drop it, because you obviously have no one or anything backing you up right now. Way to go to start naming people like Avi Sacks.. instead of beating around the bush and calling his name out on this stupid blog, why don't you personally talk it out with him. Are you afraid that we will all take you down.. GIVE IT UP AND DROP IT!!

[Zedek zedek tirdof]

If "Karen" who cares for critically ill babies, who takes finger and toe prints of dead babies so the grieving parents can have some memories, who volunteers with cancer patients, and who spends her summers with developmentally delayed campers, can be bashed by an ass like Sima, then Vey oy Vey on all of us. How do WE improve the world every day?

[oh sima give it up]

You didnt think Moshe Kahn and Barry Hertz would back down - did you ? C'mon people - Hertz and Kahn have been asking people to get on facebook and on blogs to write how bringing him back was the JUST thing to do - PROBLEM--- they have no supporters. Only their own children and in-law children. They are in shock that people in the community care - they thought they could push this through under the rug. There are 5 oppositional groups against this "return act" and unification will come shortly- once it hits secular court - if thats where they want to take it. Old timers will be coming back to testify. I think Hertz gambled wrong this time. News reporters are already interviewing people.

[Outsider]

I heard RCA is about to come out with a statement saying there was no Psak.

Anyone hear anything on this

[yankel F]

Barry told the world that M Kahn was only coming back for strategic planning, it's a LIE. MK is involved in every major decision from finances, insurance contracts to personal and staffing changes. Barry has told people that HIS sole purpose at the HASC BOARD is to bring back MK as CEO. It’s simple; any decision coming from Barry is directly from MK or calculated to benefit MK. All of the above can be verified with the executive staff at HASC and with Barry himself.

[Michael]

A LIST OF FRAUD COMMITED BY Barry and the Board
1 – They gave Moshe Kahn an employee contract that was never awarded to another employee, let alone to someone who has stolen millions from the organization.

2 – Barry has instructed all executive employees not to send any email with Moshe Kahn’s name in them; they don’t want to leave any TRAIL of the fraud.

3 – The HASC Board has spent tens of thousands for the counsel of David Samuels and Sheinkopf, all of this to protect Moshe Kahn. They are using HASC as a piggy bank to pay for protection on MK.

all this can be verified by the HASC Board or executive staff

[Jessica]

More fraud they discharged a board member with out cause.

[Dan]

Lawsuits have been filed in Beit Din and with permission from them in New York Supreme Court: http://www.scribd.com/full/58216100?access_key=key-e8tbaz5arha1dkhnnx7

[Truth]

The only board member who stood up for whats right, Lillian Lieberman, has been DISMISSED.

On prior occasions, this Committee has contacted you in regards to the return of the “disgraced former executive” Bernard Moshe Kahn to HASC Inc.

We see this as unacceptable and not in the best interest of the organization. In fact, as a direct result of the news of Bernard Moshe Kahn’s return, it is alleged that 70% of private charitable donations to HASC Inc. have ceased. Aside from canceled parlor meetings, the CONCERT SPONSORS have begun to desert the organization, this combined effect has cost the Camp MILLIONS of dollars. Donors simply refuse to associate themselves with Bernard Moshe Kahn.

The New Board of HASC Inc. has not been fulfilling their fiduciary duties to the Camp and the entire organization. As such, a lawsuit has been filed against them in the Beth Din of America (Rabbinical Council of America). Former Board member Lillian Lieberman, Larry Pollack, and Rabbi Sokoloff have all signed the complaint.

All lawsuits are public record, and the complaint filed in Beth Din known as “Exhibit B” is on pages 27-30 of the PDF file attached to this email. Hertz and his co-defendants have ignored the first Hazmana. A second one is being issued.

After attempting repeated threats to get Lillian to retract her complaint in Beth Din, the New Board of HASC Inc. has dismissed Lilian Lieberman from her position as a Board member in retaliation to her filing the complaint. As a result of that, a lawsuit has been filed against the Board in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. All lawsuits are public record and can be found on pages 4-13 of the PDF file.

Lillian has been replaced with another puppet of Moshe Kahn, David Fuld. They continue to stack the Board to their pleasing with pro Moshe Kahn supporters.

You will also find that there was never such a “Psak Din” finding Moshe Kahn innocent or asking for his reinstatement. It was simply mediation between Moshe Kahn and his proxy Barry Hertz. Information about that can be found on page 8 of the PDF file. It is quoted here, “Pursuant to the rules of the Beth Din, the settlement is not deemed an award of the panel. As set forth in rule 29 of Beth Din “(a) if the parties settle their dispute during the course of the arbitration, the Beth Din , at the written request of the parties, may set forth the terms of such settlement in an award, although such a settlement shall not be considered an "award of the panel”.

In a disgusting attempt to silence the people who have been speaking out against the return of Bernard Moshe Kahn, the Board has threatened the shidduchim of several people involved. They have even gone to great lengths to create aliases on the Internet to disparage posters. They will stop at nothing to silence the masses and stop us from trumpeting the truth.

We also feel that you should all be made aware that many of the Head Staff of the Camp will be removed en masse effective September 1st, for refusing to pledge allegiance to and publicly praise Bernard Moshe Kahn.

Maybe we should all be asking the Board of HASC Inc. why they publicly lied to us about the Psak Din? Maybe we should all be asking ourselves what will happen to our precious campers when their beloved staffers are removed? Maybe we should ask the New Board how they plan to operate the Camp next summer when people refuse to support an organization headed by Bernard Moshe Kahn? Their email addresses are below.

Barry Hertz-, Judge Danny Butler-, Rafi Knepler-, Abe Mordowitz-, Shlomo Pearl-, Zev Silberstein- msilberstein@focuscamera.com

[Jonathan]

Lillian Lieberman was terminated by the board of directors how sad.

[Michael]

Barry and Bernie Kahn have access to free counsel and public relations services by David Samuels and Sheinkopf, HASC IS PAYING THE ENTIRE BILL
THEY ARE USING THE HASC BOARD AS A WAY TO MILK STATE AND CHARITY MONEY, TO PAY FOR THE BATTLES

[no way]

Are you kidding me - my donation to hasc - pays Bernies legal bills ?

[Michael]

YES - in fact HASC was penalized on their CFR rates for trying to bill the state for his legal bills, now they need to use public charity money

[Santa Clause]

As a HASC employee i usually get a nice holiday bonus at this time of year, wich i depend on for christmas gifts for my family... funny this year Mr. Kahn is back and there are no more bonuses... Wonder where the money went? his pocket? while the rest of us get stiffed? this is a joke, the man should be in jail where filthy pigs like him belong. oh yeah i said it.

[Truth]

"Town hall meeting" with Barry Hertz and the public. Audio here: http://soundcloud.com/tzedek/hascmeeting

[ronald]

ALRIGHT!!
TO ALL U NYORKERS WHO R FULL OF BS IF THE RCA MADE A DEC. THEY KNOW WHAT THR DOING
I WZ A COUNSLE THR AND KNOW THE SITCH.
GO TO HELL U RETARDS!!