Celebrity Englewood Rabbi Threatens to Sue Newspaper, Reports Say

Englewood Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a bestselling author and 9th District congressional candidate, has threatened to sue a Jewish newspaper for publishing a “materially false” and “misleading” article questioning payments made by his charity, according to reports Wednesday.  

The Jewish Daily Forward reported in February that “the charity Boteach heads spends a significant portion of its revenues on payments to Boteach and his family.”

In a letter dated April 16, an attorney for Boteach called the article “a grievous departure from journalistic standards,” according to freebeacon.com, a conservative news website, which published the letter.

The charity covered by the Forward’s report, called The Jewish Values Network, is run by a board of directors separate from Boteach and his family, the letter said.

The letter, from attorney Robert Wolf, calls for the Forward to remove “the entirety of this offending article” including “false and misleading statements.”

Forward editor Jane Eisner said by e-mail the newspaper stood by its article, but declined further comment.

Boteach, known for books including “Kosher Sex,” could become the nation’s first rabbi in congress if he wins the .  Bergen County’s Republican Organization the rabbi in March.

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