Federal and city officials confirmed today that a joint investigation was underway into charges of misuse of federal funds allocated for some programs to help New York City’s Jewish poor. Rabbi Bernard Weinberger, an administrator in the city’s Human Resources Administration, one of two rabbis named in the probe, flatly denied all charges, Rabbi Ronald Greenwald, who was active in the Nixon 1972 re-election campaign, the other rabbi named, could not be reached for comment.
An aide to city Investigations Commissioner Nicolas Scopetta confirmed to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Scopetta was investigating “a number of different allegations” concerning Rabbi Weinberger but refused to give any details. He also confirmed that subpoenas had been issued by U.S. Attorney Paul Curran. The report of the probe came to light last night on WNET-TV (Channel 13), a public service station.
Curran told the JTA that Hal Levenson of Channel 13 had met with him yesterday to present “certain information” which his office was “now investigating.” Asked if his office had issued subpoenas, he declined comment. One of the allegations reported on the Channel 13 program involved the Council of Jewish Manpower Association, selected by the Federal Labor Department to administer a manpower training program in poor Jewish neighborhoods.
It was asserted on the program that at least $10,000 in manpower funds had gone to a gasoline station and to a limousine service, both in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn as payment for “training fees.” The program said Rabbi Greenwald was an officer in both businesses. A second federal grant reportedly being studied is one for $65,000 to Jewish Orthodox Youth. Rabbi Weinberger is president of JOY and of the Council of Jewish Manpower Association. The grant to JOY, which was arranged through Marvin Schick, a former Lindsay administration consultant, was designed to help Hasidic youth gain admission to secular colleges. The program is called Talent Search.
Rabbi Weinberger told the JTA that the “insinuation” on the Channel 13 program of a Jewish “rip-off” in use of anti-poverty funds was “an outrage.” He said it was “unprecedented” that a television program which generated an investigation would report on the investigation without speaking to the principals.
He said the manpower training fund used for the gasoline station and the limousine service was “perfectly legitimate” and in line with federal government goals in helping to provide career opportunities in job training; that the government wants employers to train applicants; and the costs of such training are shared between agencies handling training programs and the employers with whom trainees are placed.
Rabbi Weinberger termed the Hasidic program completely legitimate, adding “there has been no illegal behavior anywhere.” Dr. Schick said the Talent Search had helped more than 400 Hasidic youth since last Sept. and called Channel 13 allegations against the program a “smear.” Rabbi Weinberger said he had not been subpoenaed but that records of the two agencies had been.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
