RHONDA BARAD February 5, 2014 Attorney General Eric Schneiderman Office of the NYS Attomey General The State Capitol Albany, NY 11224 Dear Attorney General Schneiderman: ‘have known Wiliam Rapfogel, professionally and personally for over 35 years. Our careers: intersected during the decades we both served the Jewish community. During my 28 year tenure as Eastern Director for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, we workea together on many joint projects and programe and served as each ather’s sounding boards, ‘When there was a crisis, Wille was my ‘go to’ person for a balanced opinion of any situation and guidance. |n 2008, | left the Simon Wiesenthal Center and became a volunteer for Met Council and sSubsequertly a chair for its “Food for Life” program. If not for Mr. Rapfogel’s, commitment, tenacity and our longstanding friendship, | am not sure Met Council would have been the first choice for my involvement. | cannot put into wards, my feelings on the day in August when the news crossed the wires of Mr. Rapfoget’s dismissal from his position at Met Council and the subsequent charges, While | know Mr. Rapfoge! will and should be held accountable for his actions, | hope that weighing the overall good he contributed fo the community will merit some leniency in the decision. His leadership and counsel will be sorely missed by many. Thank you for your ‘consideration. ‘Sincerely, FOIL 150078 000096