'Indiana Jones' rabbi accused of fraud

Print

Torah fraudA Maryland rabbi described as the "Jewish Indiana Jones" is accused of fraud for allegedly making-up stories of finding Torahs in former concentration camps.

Menachem Youlus, 50, was arrested Wednesday in New York City on federal fraud charges for allegedly misrepresenting the origin of Torahs sold through his "Save a Torah" organization and then pocketing some of the money, The New York Times reported.

Youlus is accused by U.S. postal inspectors of taking more than $340,000 of the $1.2 million collected by the charity, the newspaper said.

U.S. Postal Inspector Greg Ghiozzi said in court documents he could find no evidence Youlus found Torahs at the sites of the Auschwitz or Bergen-Belsen concentration camps.

More...