WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS LAWSUIT

The World Jewish Congress is facing controversy because it has sued a whistleblower who prompted New York state to investigate the charity for financial wrongdoing, reports The Forward. Grahame Leonard, president of the Australian chapter of the Congress, said that his group might drop out because of the lawsuit, and that he would urge members of affiliates in other countries to do the same. The lawsuit is charging the whistleblower, Isi Leibler, defamed the organization and is seeking $6-million in damage. Mr. Leibler, who was fired after he complained about wrongdoing at the charity, is considering a lawsuit of his own, because he says his calls for change were vindicated. New York’s attorney general last month required the World Jewish Congress to prohibit its former chairman from any position that involved financial oversight.
(Also: Read The Chronicle’s article about penalties against the Jewish group.)