07/19/2023
To all my dearest friends,
Rosh Chodesh Tov
I hope all is well with you.
I believe the integrity of Beith David Synagogue is highly important. Please let me know if you agree with the letter below and will sign it.
TO:
Beith David Educational Center-Synagogue
Rafael Raz; Ken (Kia) Pezeshki;
We as the members of Beith David Educational Center-Synagauge (now on BDEC) and the larger Iranian Jewish Community of the Los Angeles, CA (the undersigned), who have made our generous donations to the Beith David Educational Center during the past decade, and are considered legitimate members of the BDEC according to the original Bylaws of BDEC Article I, Section 1: “ Membership of the congregation shall primarily consist of men and women of Jewish faith and eighteen years of age and over” are communicating our concerns to the above body mentioned people whom have no legitimacy in our opinion as follows:
Your hostile and irresponsible actions and behaviors are endangering the sanctity and legitimacy of this organization which was established for the benevolence of our community. You have not complied with the conditions and rules of the original BDEC bylaws which are set as follows:
1. Article VII calls for quarterly meetings of Board of Trustees. There has not been any active BOT and there have not been any meetings that we have been aware of for the past decade. As a matter of fact a handful of those people have passed away.
2. Article XI, section 1: “Regular General Meetings of membership shall be held once a year…” & Section 2: “Once every four (4) years the principal and alternate members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the annual General Meeting of membership” There has not been any General Meeting of membership for the past decade that we are aware of.
3. Article XVI, Section 3: “To present a full report on the financial and administrative activities of the congregation…..at the end of each year as well as a report on the outcome of the meetings of the BOD and the resolutions adopted by the Board” We have never received or seen any kind of such reports for the past decade.
4. Article XVII, Section 1 calls for a twice a month meeting of the Board of Directors. There has not been any evidence of such meetings.
5. It is our understanding according to the testimonies of Mr. Enayat Ahdoot that Mr. Rafael Raz and Mr. Ken Pezeshki with abuse of power have denied Mr. Enayat Ahdoot as CFO to have access to all bank accounts, financial records, or any other decision making. This is an action which cannot be tolerated.
Our purpose is to perform the election with utmost integrity and to create a trusting environment. SOMEONE WHO IS A CANDIDATE HIMSELF CANNOT EXECUTE THIS ELECTION. Therefore, we are requesting peacefully from you to the following:
· Please provide us with the list of people who have registered as BDEC members.
· Please provide us with a list of the people who have registered as candidates for the upcoming election.
· You are disqualified to enact any election. You shall step down and an independent supervisory board consisting of one of the Orthodox Rabbis of the community, an experienced lawyer, and one other person, who is not a candidate and has experience in social affairs and is known to have good faith, to supervise the upcoming election. This is what the bylaws require as a matter of fact.
· Your compliance with this request is expected on or before July 21, 2023. In case of your non-compliance, we will take the necessary steps to save the integrity of Beith David Educational Center.
