A probe has cleared two Hadassah leaders of misusing the women’s group’s funds,
it announced on Tuesday.
Lawyer Daniel Kurtz headed an ad-hoc committee
which exonerated Hadassah lay leaders Marcie Natan and Nancy Falchuk of
allegations that they bought support from members by upgrading their flights to
business class and extending trips to Israel.
“We are happy that Marcie
Natan and Nancy Falchuk, along with Hadassah, can put this matter in the past
and can move forward with the important mission of education, teaching, and
healing that has been the core of Hadassah’s work,” the group said in a
statement.
Last February Hadassah COO Larry Blum, who is on a leave of
absence because of claims he misused his company credit card, said Falchuk and
Natan misappropriated funds.
After investigating his claims, the
committee found “no volunteers, including Marcie Natan and Nancy Falchuk,
breached any fiduciary duties owed to Hadassah in connection with the
allegations.”
Natan, who took over from Falchuk as Hadassah president
last year, welcomed the committee’s findings.
“We are pleased with the
conclusions of the committee and the Skadden firm and we are thankful to
everyone for standing by us during this time,” Natan said. Kurtz, of Skadden
Arps, supervised the committee’s investigation.
Hadassah will celebrate
its centennial anniversary in Jerusalem next October.