Ostreicher Thanks Chabad Efforts

Sandy Eller – VIN News

Just days after being released to house arrest in Bolivia, Brooklyn businessman Jacob Ostreicher was a surprise guest on The Dov Hikind Show, which aired at 11 PM last night on WMCA.

During the approximately thirty minute long telephone interview Ostreicher, who is still under house arrest in Bolivia, thanked not only the many people who worked tirelessly to secure his freedom, but also those who support and encouragement gave him the strength to go on while in Bolivia’s notorious Palmalosa prison.

Calling Hikind the first government official who did more than just monitor his case, Ostreicher expressed his profound gratitude to the Brooklyn assemblyman calling him “an incredible human being.”

Ostreicher credited the Chabad organization the Aleph Institute for putting into play the sequence of events that won his freedom from jail.

“They never gave up,” said Ostreicher. “They were right there next to my wife and their phones were open to my wife twenty four hours a day, and not six days a week, but sometimes seven days a week. They are amazing. It if wouldn’t be for them, Dov, you and I wouldn’t be talking tonight. I would still be in Palmasola.”

Among the Aleph Institute’s efforts on Ostreicher’s behalf was contacting actor Sean Penn, known for his humanitarian work and his strong connections in South America. Ostreicher praised the actor for his willingness to do whatever he could on behalf of a fellow American citizen and the decision to grant Ostreicher’s bail came just days after Penn made a direct appeal to Brazilian president Evo Morales, as previously reported on VIN News.

Ostreicher predicts that ultimately twenty to twenty five high powered government officials will be arrested for their part in what he calls “the biggest heist in Bolivian history.” Ostreicher estimates that forty five million pounds of rice was stolen from him and that his farm provided jobs to almost five hundred needy Bolivian workers.

According to Ostreicher, anti-Semitism never played a part in his arrest nor was it ever an issue while he was in prison.

“They don’t know much about Judaism in this country,” explained Ostreicher. “Somebody saw me once there with a yarmulka, I usually used to go with a cap but he saw me once with a yarmulka and he asked me if I was a Moslem.”

“When I walked out of the prison, there were 4500 prisoners and I was the only, the only American in that prison,” added Ostreicher.

Ostreicher and Hikind were also joined by Steve Moore, the former FBI special agent who, after investigating the facts of the case, devoted himself to helping Jacob Ostreicher obtain his freedom.

The Brooklyn businessman praised the former FBI agent, saying that it was only through Moore’s relentless efforts that members of congress began to take his case seriously.

” After spending 3 days with me in prison, the night before he left, I told him ‘Steve, how will I ever be able to pay you back’ and Steve told me, ‘Jacob if I can help you get out of this hell, you have paid me in full and you will buy me a nice kosher deli sandwich when you come home.’ When I called Steve right after I was released he told me, “Jacob, I can smell that kosher deli sandwich.’ I don’t smell it yet, but Steve is smelling it.”

Audio: Phone interview starts at Min. 9:30