Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's Charity Under Fire – Again

The 2009 Form 990  filing indicates  the charity took in more than $651K in contributions and other revenue and racked up $638K in operating and administrative expenses--but only $70 K of that figure amounted to  charitable disbursements.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Michael Jackson's former spiritual guru rakes in more cash than he dishes out from own nonprofit
Gatecrasher • New York Daily News

Charity really does begin at home for Rabbi Jacob (Shmuley) Boteach.

According to Guidestar, a website that specializes in reporting on U.S. nonprofit companies, 2009 tax filings by This World--The Jewish Values Network  reveals  the the onetime spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson was paid $229K for his services as director of the charity.

There doesn't seem to be much of a commute involved either. This World lists Boteach's Englewood, NJ home as its address.

The 2009 Form 990  filing indicates  the charity took in more than $651K in contributions and other revenue and racked up $638K in operating and administrative expenses--but only $70 K of that figure amounted to  charitable disbursements.

Boteach's 2009 pay was a big improvement over the previous year. The charity's 2008 tax filing indicate Shmuley-- who was named one of the 50 most influential rabbis by Newsweek magazine in 2007, '08 and '09--was paid approximately $59 K. 

Guidestar lists This World as a society  "dedicated to promoting Judaism and to the continuing development of the state of Israel."

Investor Michael Steinhardt's foundation donated a total of $200K to the charity in 2008 and '09. A foundation bearing the name of  real-estate developer Charles Kushner, whose company owns 666 Fifth Avenue, is also among the contributors listed.

Dr. Mehmet Oz and his wife donated   $5K in 2008.

Interestingly, the tax documents indicate that This World was formerly known as  "Oxford "L'Chaim Society."

In 1999, London's Observer newspaper reported that Britain's Charity Commission froze the bank account of Boteach's "Oxford University L'Chaim Society and its associated charitable trust."

Showbiz 411.com writer Roger Friedman reported in May 2001 that the commission's investigation into L'Chaim determined that "a number of apparent inappropriate payments" were being made by Boteach and his wife, and that "administrative expenses were high in relation to relatively low charitable expenditure."

As a result of the inquiry, Friedman noted,  the  trustees decided to "wind up" the charity and its London and Oxford offices were closed.

This World president Arash Farin initially informed us that the charity was "preparing a statement in response" to our questions about its operations. He eventually stopped responding to our emails, however, and we have yet to receive the statement.

Comments

[.]

Is that picture from Twilight Zone?

[ruthie]

great jew?
maybe
great con artist?
no doubt. none

[PrettyBoyFloyd]

Great Jew, maybe????
Definitly not!

[jancsipista]

on this picture here he looks like his circuits are crossed tzishosen or tzmisht

[Ethel Mertz]

Interesting factoid:

Cantor, Boteach, and Steinhardt are supposed to hold a fundraiser today for NORPAC, a political action committee dedicated to electing friends of Israel to Congress.

The press was originally invited, but the invitation was rescinded at the last minute.

As the saying goes, "What goes around comes around," so the Boteach story picked up by this blog was leaked by the NYDN in today's paper.

Boteach is supposed to hold one of his "Jewish Values Network" talks this evening in NYC. Both Cantor and Steinhardt are scheduled to be panelists. Let's see what happens with that.

[Turd Degree]

Boteach is the greatest jew alive today.

And if you don't believe me, ask him.

[Adams]

He is without a doubt America's Chareidishe con man. Jewish Values network, what a disgrace this dope. Let him talk again about his Libyan neighbor. And this vermin held newspaper vendetta's agains the local congressman and govenrnment officers what a Chilull Hashem Gamur.

[Isaac]

I recall reading an article of his in the Jerusalem Post about him not being able to afford his daughter's wedding. Then he ended the article by promoting his book.
Love it!

[Bfeirush in Fartscroll]

I never read his book kosher sutra. Is reverse cowgirl kosher?

[Betzalel]

Whatever you say about him, he's a darn good and inspiring speaker.

[Ethel Mertz]

I felt that way the first time I saw him in 2002.

I saw him speak again in 2006 (with Steinhardt). Loud isn't the same as good and isn't the same as inspiring.

[B. Newman]

The apple does not fall far from the tree. Ganav Ben Ganav...check out Yoav Botach
Los Angeles.

[Uncle Sam]

If he goes to jail, he can share a cell with his cousin the drugs and arms dealer. Hiney Ma Tov Uma Naim Shevet Bney Dodim Gam Yachad!

[Adams]

He must blow a lot of money though. doesn't he still get residuals from the tv show though? and the books, articles and speaking engagements? Why the hell would he need to steal a small sum overall for his operations? someting does not add up here. I read somewhere that he grosses over 3 mill a year. It makes no sense to pad the expenses like that for what, 200k?

At any rate, the can get away with this by claiming they are investing in those dopey speaking tours they do. He will probably get out of this one.

[batyahgirl@yahoo.com]

Aw, come on now, I like Rabbi Boteach. I'd like to hear his side of the story before I make a judgment.

[Abracadabra]

So in 2008 the charity paid him $59K and in 2009 the charity paid him $229K. Nice raise! And all for doing what? Managing a charity that distrubutes $70k of charity while running up $638 of expenses (including $229K to the rabbi, which leaves $409 of expenses).

Now with numbers like that it makes you wonder where the other $409 of "administrative" expenses went? Could it be for salaries for his wife and kids?

Oh, you mean it's not part of the charity's administrative expenses if you need to make your daughter's wedding? Oh, I'm sorry your honor, I was busy teaching "Jewish Values" to "This World" - I didn't notice there were laws that needed to be followed.

I wonder what country he'll move the business, I mean the "charity" to next. Israel? Are there tax laws in Israel? I'm sure he can defraud the tax authorities there for 10+ years before he moves the business/charity to the next country.

Congress should make all not-for-profits into taxable companies. If they make profit they should pay taxes on it like every other business. And if they don't make profits, they can claim losses like everyone else. Stop the non-profit status across the board. It's just a magnet for fraud and doesn't help anyone but wealthy people who start these non-profits for their own PROFIT.

[No Light]

batyahgirl - did you miss the part in the article where it mentions he's done this before? That's why he's in the US now and not the UK, he left in disgrace.

Just because you like someone- that doesn't mean they're not capable of fraud or other shady dealings.

[batyahgirl@yahoo.com]

Maybe he's just incompetent in business matters.

[FH]

And maybe he's a charlatan. Writes wild books though.

[A E ANDERSON]

Links to arms dealers? Funny money? Far from being a disqualifying character flaw, indeed. For in most heimishe circles, they call that myuchas! (Psst: Is America's Rabbi in line to inherit his tate's questionably gotten gains? Inquiring minds....

[i,]

when i called shmuley for an appointment to help us with some shidduch problemhis advisors insisted i should pay for the visit,an exorbitant amount,of course,i didnt.he,shmuley is a fraudulent claimer,and just full of shyte.

[Adams]

yeah same here. People look up to him like he is a Mother Teresa type, which is as huge mistake as u get.

[Mjjjusticeproject.wordpress.com]

This man will have much to atone when he finally faces God on judgement day. He has embezelled money from the children's charites more than once- What can be more despiciable? He did the same when he had his hands in the till within Michael Jackson's Heal the Kids Charity in late 90's and left Michael holding the bag with the IRS for all of his financial malfeasance. I hope the investigators will find the evidence to shut down this shill in rabbincle clothing once and for all.

[Claudia Mancini]

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's tricked Michael Jackson
He made his money on trust and on the death of Michael Jackson
He will answer to God sooner or later ...

[Ninabee]

What's new ?! He used and betrayed Michael Jackson in 2001 when he was supposedly working with Jackon's Heal The Kids project. He used his power and influence to raise money which Schmuley ate up in "expenses". Michael Jackson was left holding the bag and cut him out of his life. Schmuley has been trying to exploit him ever since...especially since his death.

1. He has admitted to never seeing Jackson take any drugs but states unequivocally that he threw his life away using them. Autopsy shows that there were NO Opiates, and NO Barbituates in his body… and the Chief Medical Examiner said Michael was HEALTHIER than most men his age.

2. He claims that Michael gave him permission to tape his most private conversation but WE all know that is lie. Michael Jackson never let anyone tape him, either audibly or visually without his own recording going on simultaneously. (remember Martin Bashir Doc and This Is It?)

3. He says that the 2005 trial totally broke Michael’s will to live and he was a broken man, despite the fact he hadn't spoken to him since 2001. But everyone knows that Michael Jackson was embarking on a tour that had never been produced by any other entertainer, ever. It would most assuredly been the greatest show on earth.

How is this "latest" surprising in the least?? He has been booted from Oxford, lambasted by a number of respected Rabbi, with integrity, for publishing a book on recorded conversations with Jackson barely 2 months after his death...interesting he never published this book until AFTER his death and then claimed he had authorization. *eye roll*

He doesn't lose an opportunity to make the HLN rounds. To quote, "Shmuley Boteach has once again been making the rounds on many HLN programs avowing he was ”a friend” of Michael Jackson. Please notice the next time this man in Rabbincal clothing starts running his motor mouth barely taking a moment to inhale as he spurts and sputters baseless opinions until spittle flies from his mouth. He is extremely obsessed with mis-characterizing Michael now just as he was during the 2005 trial, only this time he’s spinning a different story." LMAO
Spot on.

[June]

Boteach is right up there with Murray and all the others who screwed up MJ's life. Boteach secretly taped Michael's private conversations and then released them in a book; Murray taped Michael after Murry himself had drugged him up, then saved the recording for who knows what purpose (blackmail most likely); Schmuley stole $ from MJ, as did Murray; only difference Murray was foolish and soulless as a result of which Michael is dead.