Woodmere resident accused of stealing money from local congregation

Isaac Zucker, 47, of Westwood Road, Woodmere, a treasurer for Congregation Aish Kodesh also in Woodmere, allegedly stole $600,000 from congregation bank accounts and transferred the money into his own personal bank accounts, police said.

Congregation members discovered the alleged misappropriation of the funds and notified police. Zucker was arrested June 30 at 1:55 a.m. at the Holiday Inn in Ronkonkoma near Long Island MacArthur Airport.

He is charged with grand larceny-second degree and was arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead. Zucker was scheduled for another court date on July 5, the Nassau County District Attorney's office said.

Elliot Ganz of Congregation Aish Kodesh said the congregation does not have an internal or external auditor. "We will be reviewing all procedures and will be adopting the best practices [recommended] by an appointed committee," he said.

Captain Daniel Gluck of the Five Towns Auxiliary Police said Zucker's son, Josh, is an auxiliary police member. Gluck said Josh was with his mother, Renee, and family on June 24 when his father went missing. The family filed a missing person's report with Nassau County detectives on June 25.

According to the family, Zucker is secretive and the family was not aware of his actions. "Josh is one of the nicest guys on the unit," Gluck said. "We are trying to help the family and do whatever we can."