DEBUNKED: Controversial Letter on Social Media in Name of Rabbi Hershel Schachter is a Fake

NEW YORK (VINnews) — There is a fake letter being spread on social media in the name of Rav Hershel Schachter, written on his letterhead, in which he seems to prohibit people from attending a controversial event hosted by his close talmid, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, in the Boca Raton Synagogue.

The letter has been debunked by multiple sources, and the shul has put out a statement saying that Rabbi Schachter has given the event his blessing.

There were many strong indications that the letter is a fake:

1. It is poorly worded and uses improper syntax
2. The letterhead is blurry and appears to be Photoshopped
3. It contains multiple grammatical errors.
4. It was sent from Rabbi Schachter’s “gmail” account
5. The letter falsely says that the event is taking place in Rabbi Schachter’s shul, not Boca Raton Synagogue

In addition, sources on Twitter say they confirmed with Rabbi Schachter that the letter is a fake.

https://twitter.com/DBashIdeas/status/1480667832753037322

The event scheduled for today, January 11, is a highly touted conference to discuss American support for Israel. It features keynote speaker David Friedman, in addition to Ben Shapiro and other high-profile Jewish activists.

The event and Rabbi Goldberg have come under fire, because one of the guest speakers, Pastor Mario Bramnick, the head of “Latino Coalition for Israel”, is an Evangelical missionary with a history of making controversial comments, suggesting that he wants to persuade Jews to join his Christian movement.

PASTOR BRAMNICK SAYS HE NEEDS TO TEACH JEWS ABOUT LOVE OF JESUS RABBI EFREM GOLDBERG IS ACCEPTING THE OFFER BY BRINGING HIM TO SPEAK TO 1000 JEWISH FAMILIES IN BOCA RATON SYNAGOGUE pic.twitter.com/lBuuG7LGpa

— Rabbi Yaron Reuven (@YaronReuven) January 6, 2022