‘Concerns’ over charity

THE CHARITY Commission has appointed an interim manager to a Jewish charity that has been under investigation for more than four years.

Guy Hollander of accountants Mazar will take over the management of the East London-based Beth Yosef Foundation “to the exclusion of its trustees”, the charity watchdog said.

In a statement this week, the commission reported “ongoing concerns surrounding financial matters, including potential liabilities and debts, as well as the management of conflicts of interest”.

It opened an inquiry into the foundation, which supports Sephardi causes in particular, in December 2016.

The foundation’s accounts for 2017 were submitted 888 days late, according to the commission’s website; 525 days late for 2018 and 159 days late for 2019.

In 2019, it made donations of nearly £227,000.

Last year, it spent £3,240 but received no income, according to the latest accounts, which were submitted on time.