Gerald Hersh, treasurer of Temple Beth Or of the Deaf was arrested by Nassau County police on July 17th on charges of embezzling more than $40,000 over a five year period according to NewsDay. “The theft has had a very bad effect on us says Alice P. Soll of River Edge, N.J. who has previously served as president. Her signature was allegedly forged on 57 checks. “It has given our membership feelings of anger and betrayal after trusting him. We will have to start over again in our fund-raising which will not be easy,” she says. The temple, in its 36th year, currently has 89 members and in recent years began meeting at the LaGuardia Marriott Hotel in Elmhurst, Queens for worship services and breakfasts. The embezzlement was discovered when Hersh would not provide bank statements or cancelled checks. A subsequent audit revealed that he took $40,152 from the temple and faces up to seven years in prison if found guilty to charges of grand larceny and forgery.