"…Last night, as I hugged one of my grand kids who turns 7 in April, I wondered how many birthdays of hers and my six other grandkids that I would miss. My youngest son is 22 and "in the parsha" and my wife was talking with a shadchan last week (I cannot begin to describe how I fear my situation has impacted him) and it dawned on me that I might not be at his aufruf, or his wedding, or sheva brachos.…"
William E. Rapfogel
The following email is allegedly circulating in Modern Orthodox circles. It contains instructions for where to send money to help former the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty CEO William E. Rapfogel get a lighter sentence in the $7 million dollar theft from the Jewish Community's New York City anti-poverty arm.
Note that Rapfogel is concerned about the embarrassment he caused to the Jewish community and through it to God's name, but he does not write that he is concerned about the very real hurt and damage his alleged stealing has done and continues to do to New York City's Jewish poor:
…Checks should be written and overnighted to Zuckerman Spaeder (Paul Shechtman Escrow for William Rapfogel)
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31 floor, New York, NY 10036
please let me know what checks, how much and from who so I can keep track- thank you
Willie sent out the following letter to many of the people who wrote to the AG on his behalf.
Dear XXXXXX-
Thanks so much for your beautiful letter and support. I now find myself trying to raise funds to try to lower the prison sentence. Several people have been helping me along the way and we now have about $1.7 million out of $3 million that we have to come up with.
I am sorry beyond belief to be asking for help like this but someone suggested that you would know who might be interested in this mitzvah (although one day I hope to be able to repay everyone) of lessening my time in prison. Judy and I wondered if you would consider helping us in this time of crisis.
Last night, as I hugged one of my grand kids who turns 7 in April, I wondered how many birthdays of hers and my six other grandkids that I would miss. My youngest son is 22 and "in the parsha" and my wife was talking with a shadchan last week (I cannot begin to describe how I fear my situation has impacted him) and it dawned on me that I might not be at his aufruf, or his wedding, or sheva brachos. That's a worst case scenario but after 6 months of scenarios worsening, I should be prepared.
I pray that I can turn my chillul Hashem around and one day bring about only Kiddush Hashem. If you can help in any way, I am forever grateful. If you cannot, I truly understand and hope that you might be able to point me in the right direction.
All the best,
Willie