WHY STAY NOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, mittee of lay leaders, chaired by Berger and another noted tax lawyer, Daniel Shapiro of New York, to look into CJF's internal procedures, to see if they contributed in any way to the debacle. An outside investigator has been engaged by CJF's New York law firm, Proskauer, Rose LLP, ro examine the situation and make recommendations. CJF's leaders put the blame for the • alleged tax fraud on deceitful maneu- vers by Payroll Express, which it says may have made partial tax payments in some quarters and no payments in others. Under normal circumstances, the IRS would notify an employer of delinquent tax payments first by letter, then by telephone. CJF's director of accounting, Martin Wallack, said that he received no such notification. CJF's leaders anticipate that the independent investigator's report will vindicate the organization's internal procedures and its hiring of Payroll Express, which according to the CJF statement, had a stable financial rating and excellent references at the time it was engaged. "At this point, there is no evidence of mismanagement by our institution," said CJF's president, Dr. Conrad Giles of Detroit. "My sense is that this will not mate- rially, affect any of the ongoing discus- sions in the creation" of the merger with the United Jewish Appeal and the United Israel Appeal, Giles said, adding that UJA President Richard Wexler was invited to sit on the inter- nal oversight committee. CJF recently entered into a partner- ship with the UJA and UTA, but remains a separate legal entity with its own accounting department. "It is obvious that while this is a contingent liability moving forward," Giles said, "this liability will not stop the momentum toward the creation of the new unit." The heads of the other affected Jewish organizations said they are satis- fied with CJF's handling of the situa- tion so far. "I think they've been very respon- sive," said Lawrence Rubin, executive vice chairman of JCPA, which has had CJF handle all its financial affairs since 1994. "So much needs to be uncovered." said JESNA's executive vice president, Jonathan Woocher. In a case with combined bankruptcy, fraud, taxing authorities, multiple agencies and insurance companies," he said, "there's a lot to sort through." El " WHEN YOU CAN GO TO A COOL SPORTS CAMP?! PLAY SIX DIFFERENT SPORTS EACH DAY! TENNIS SWIMMING GYMNASTICS BASKETBALL MARTIAL ARTS SOCCER DANCE (NOVI only) DECEMBER 21-23, 1998 DECEMBER 28-30, 1998 FEBRUARY 15-19, 1999 APRIL 5-9, 1999 Camp for kids ages 6-12 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Pre- & Postcare available Space is limited, call now to RESERVE YOUR SPOT! The Sports Club NOW TWO LOCATIONS NOVI 42500 Arena Drive (Off Novi Rd, South of 10 Mile) 248-735-8850 WEST BLOOMFIELD 6343 Farmington Rd. (Just north of Maple) 248-626-9880 12 19 Detroit Jewish News Z.