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Max Blumenthal and Rob Bryan detail their investigation of controversial rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a self-promoting huckster who has positioned himself between pro-Israeli donors and Donald Trump….In this detailed report at Alternet, Rob Bryan traces the rise of Shmuley Boteach and his Zionist nonprofit World Values Network. Boteach writes a column for the New York Observer, which is owned by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and edited by Ken Kerson, a Republican PR hack whose former PR firm created the full-page smear ad in the New York Times, which falsely attacked Max Blumenthal and his father Sid as Hillary Clinton’s “anti-Israel advisors”.
Bryan and Blumenthal describe Boteach’s background, his rejection by many mainline Jews, his formerly cozy relationship with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and his use of the nonprofit to pay himself six-figure salaries and throw lavish events to honor donors like Sheldon Adelson. Boteach tried to get a tax break by claiming a synagogue at his home.
We also discuss the recent appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as Israel’s defense minister; Lieberman was profiled in Blumenthal’s book, Goliath. And we talk about NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order, blacklisting companies that support Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions toward Israel.