New York, NY – Calling accused swindler Bernard Madoff a “crook, a thief, a scoundrel,” Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel said today he could never forgive the man he says stole all of his foundation’s money.
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Wiesel said he twice met Madoff, a once-respected Wall Street trader who authorities say preyed on the Jewish elite of North America and Europe in what grew to be an estimated $50 billion fraud. They discussed ethics and education, not finances.
“Could I forgive him? No,” Wiesel said during a discussion, “Madoff and the Meltdown,” hosted by Conde Nast Portfolio magazine. “First of all, it would mean he would come on his knees and ask for forgiveness. He wouldn’t do that.”
He said the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity had $15.2 million under management with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, substantially all of its assets. Wiesel said he and his wife also lost personal investments, but he did not disclose the amount.
Asked about so-called affinity frauds and whether Madoff’s being Jewish had any relevance, Wiesel said Madoff “is simply a crook, a thief, a scoundrel. It is not the Jewishness in him, it is the inhumanity in this man.
“What he has done to people breaks my heart.”
Wiesel, who survived Nazi Germany’s concentration camps in World War II and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, said he was introduced to Madoff through a friend. He said the unidentified friend lost $50 million in the purported fraud.
The 80-year-old Wiesel, on a panel with former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Harvey Pitt and veteran short seller James Chanos, suggested a government bailout for the charities.
“I would like, just as they bailed out the banks, to bail out all of the charitable institutions,” Wiesel said. “I think it would be a great demonstration that the Obama administration showed that they really think of those who are helpless.”
“I would like, just as they bailed out the banks, to bail out all of the charitable institutions,” Wiesel said.
Beware, Yidden! Fascism is coming (in fact, it’s already here in part).
Why consider forgiving him in the first? He did not ask for mechila, did he? But Elie, it is your fault too, right. The oldest lesson in the world is “two types of animals make money in the Market…bulls and bears. One typs of animal does not….a chazar.” Why would you think that he could give returns on your money beyond anyone else was capable?? Oink oink.
That is a great idea. Why bailout the crooks when you can bail out those that actually help people. Kol ha kavod to Mr. Weisel.
“It is not the Jewishness in him, it is the inhumanity in this man”
What is that suppose to mean?
The odds that charities would be bailed out are zero to none. Maybe if they registered as a bank holding company?
#4 you hit the nail on its head anyone who tought they could make money with him was greedy and in a way got what they asked for clear thinking went out the window greed took over and this is the result the basic thing when its too good to be true you know the rest
What blows my mind is the tens of millions that these charities (YU, Elie Wiesel) have and they still fund raise. Yet our mosdos hachinuch are chocking and we can’t figure it out! We need to hire the fundraisers of these institutions.
Why should Bernie the Goniff be forgiven, if it was up to me I would burn him at the stake! And even that would be too good for him! While he is literaly not a murderer he figuratively is one. Many people arecing financial death as a result of his ganaveiss. And at least 2 people have taken their own lives as a direct result of his actions. So I say BURN THE GONIFF.
Sorry, at post #16 I meant that “religion didn’t play a factor in this heist”
Elie Wiesel is a briliant man who can cope with surving the largest massacre of jews the world knows about he has told his tall many time and writen books on it. if any of you dare to say anything bad about the amazing man shame on you!