ADL Asked to Opine on Corruption/Racketeering in the Los Angeles Jewish/Legal Community

The allegations, pertaining to Executives of Bet Tzedek, the “House of Justice”, could lead people to conclude that the Los Angeles Jewish community holds in high esteem, or even as its leaders, individuals, who represent the worst in any civil society - individuals who betray their public office through criminality.


Los Angeles, May 5 – in a letter addressed to Abraham Foxman, Director of the Anti Defamation League (ADL), Joseph Zernik, PhD, of Human Rights Alert (NGO), asked that ADL provide an opinion regarding his allegations of public corruption and racketeering in the courts by current and former executives of BET TZEDEK - the Los Angeles "HOUSE OF JUSTICE". [i]

The allegations were supported by opinions of fraud experts of the highest reputation, and were part of conduct that was opined in the 2010 Human Rights Council of the United Nations as “corruption of the courts and the legal profession” in California. [ii]

Over the past several years, Dr Zernik has often written, published online, and distributed by email to a large recipient list materials, which may be deemed by some as defamatory of key Jewish organizations in Los Angeles, California:
* BET TZEDEK, the "HOUSE OF JUSTICE", and
* THE GREATER LOS ANGELES JEWISH FEDERATION, with whom it is affiliated.

His writing alleged public corruption and racketeering in the courts by current and former Executives of BET TZEDEK:
* SANDOR SAMUELS, current and former President;
* DAVID PASTERNAK, former President (possibly current member of the Board of Directors)
* TERRY FRIEDMAN, former Executive Director.

SANDOR SAMUELS also lists himself as a Board Member in a number of other prominent Los Angeles Jewish organizations:
* AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES
* ZIEGLER SCHOOL OF RABBINIC STUDIES
* SHALHEVET SCHOOL
* ADAT ARI EL SYNAGOGUE, VALLEY VILLAGE

Dr Zernik has expressed his concern that his writing, and the positions held by such individuals, could lead people to conclude that the Los Angeles Jewish community holds in high esteem, or even as its leaders, individuals, who represent the worst in any civil society - individuals who betray their public office through criminality. Moreover, Dr Zernik has pointed out the large number of readers of his writings.

In order to remove any doubts on such important matter, and knowing that ADL has a good-size legal department and considerable resources, Dr Zernik has requested a formal opinion by ADL on these allegations. With the letter, large volume of evidence has been provided to ADL.

ADL's mission is "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.”

Joseph Zernik, PhD
Human Rights Alert (NGO)

Human Rights Alert is dedicated to discovering, archiving, and disseminating evidence of Human Rights violations by the justice systems of the State of California and the United States in Los Angeles County, California, and beyond. Human Rights Alert focuses on the unique role of computerized case management systems in the precipitous deterioration of the integrity of the justice system in the United States.