Attorney General Eric Schneiderman was hailed as a hero by leaders of the Met Council on Jewish Poverty and the Boro Park Jewish Community Council for his efforts that “recouped $9 million for us,” said Met Council President Abe Biderman.
“Every penny that was taken inappropriately [by William Rapfogel and two other conspirators] over the last twenty years, the attorney general recouped it all and gave it all back to the Met Council and we’re here today because of him,” Biderman proclaimed.
Schneiderman, wearing a snazzy kippah, was the keynote speaker and told the gathering, “As attorney general I regulate the non-profits in the state. That’s how I got involved with the Met Council and I’m very pleased that we were able to recoup that money.
“The JCC here is a gem of a non-profit and I want you to understand that. This is a superb organization. We see many organizations through our work in charities bureau. It’s really amazing the services you deliver. A good quality non-profit is the difference between a community where people are fragmented and people who are afraid and a community who can pull together in support of each other after a tragedy like this explosion.
“This is the connective tissue. This is what keeps community strong. This is what keeps Jewish life strong in the community.”
