Mumbai, India – Chabad House: Caught in Court Battle

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    Mumbai, India – In stark contrast to its dusty surroundings, the High Court Receiver’s notice stands out at the Chabad House, better known as Nariman House, an emblem of the 26/11 attack.

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    But the property now finds itself caught in a bitter legal battle within the Jewish community.

    Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg, whose son Rabbi Gabriel and daughter-in-law Rivka were brutally killed in the attack, has accused Chabad of India Trust of trying to grab the property as well as millions of dollars raised worldwide to renovate and reopen it.

    The allegations came after the Chabad of India Trust dragged Eliran Russo, holder of Rabbi Holtzberg’s power of attorney, to court.

    Holtzberg says in the capacity of a lifetime trustee of Nariman House, in 2007, he undertook its renovation with his own money. The repairs were overseen by Eliran Russo who holds his power of attorney.

    Holtzberg has also alleged that most of the money collected for the cause of Nariman House and collected in Baby Moshe’s name, was never released by the Chabad of India Trust.

    In October this year, the Chabad of India Trust moved court and got the renovation halted arguing Russo is not a trustee and hence cannot be an overseer, spilling the dispute in public domain.

    Rivka and Gabriel’s son, Moshe is being raised by Rivka’s parents in Afula in Israel in the care of the heroic nanny Sandra who saved him.

    They dream to see Moshe return as Rabbi to the same Nariman House, his parents so lovingly developed as a community centre.

    Chabad Authorities have denied all charges. They say a large portion of the funds is being sent for Baby Moshe’s welfare and a significant amount is being spent on repairing Nariman House.

    When work on the restoration started, the focus was to get Nariman House ready in time for the second anniversary.

    But as Baby Moshe’s home gets caught in an unfortunate crossfire, it is clear it’s going to miss its deadline, as all restoration work has come to a complete standstill.


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    23 Comments
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    13 years ago

    Nebach.

    Thoughtful
    Thoughtful
    13 years ago

    Oh boy does this just add tons of salt to an forever open and deep wound… How sad that this has to happen in a situation where – if there was ever a place to show an extra dose of unity – it is precisely there, and now we have a legal battle where quite frankly i’m shocked that a battle like this would take place between two chabad chasidim (shluchim) no less…..

    I’m not part of chabad and this pains me terribly… Hashem yazor.

    13 years ago

    It’s a shame that certain Lubabvitchers go against the Rebbe’s teachings.

    Reuvain
    Reuvain
    13 years ago

    This is a sad story. it seems the Holztberg family has been manipulated by Eliran Russo, an Israeli, not a rabbi, who thinks he should be running things in Mumbai. He is making the claims in court not Holtzberg.

    The Rosenberg Family in Afula, parents of Rivkie, are taking care of the orphan are standing on the sidelines, not willing to be part of this circus Russo is orchestrating.Russo has used the Holtzberg family in great grief for his own purposes..

    Russo is putting people at risk, wanting to use the present building without proper security. There are very grave issues of security in India. Operations there must be undertaken with proper procedures.

    Chabad has set up a trust fund for the child who has been promised when he grows can take his fathers positions. In the meanwhile Chabad had Rabbinical Students in Mumbai until the recent arrival of the Shliach in his wife. They are operating from a secure location.

    sbialoguski
    sbialoguski
    13 years ago

    “Chabad Authorities… say a large portion of the funds is being sent for Baby Moshe’s welfare and a significant amount is being spent on repairing Nariman House.”
    It is exactly this lack of transparency which repeatedly lands Chabad in hot water. We live in a cynical age born, in part, by repeatedly experiencing the dishonesty of people whom we believed – or expected – to be beyond reproach.
    Let Chabad say exactly how the money is being used.

    EmesMeieretz
    EmesMeieretz
    13 years ago

    How come they are not going to Din Torah??
    where are all the Satmer bashers???!!!!!

    Yerachmiel
    Yerachmiel
    13 years ago

    If the Chabad accountants and CEO (whoever that might be) defuse the issue by providing a full accounting of the funds and a statement of the intended uses for the funds.

    Godol-Hador
    Godol-Hador
    13 years ago

    I will say this once again, loud and clear, if you knew the party involved, as I personally do, you would understand the money grab going on here.
    Add to the mix the famous uncle YDG who never misses a fund raising opportunity, you will understand that the very last thing they have in mind is the welfare of Moishe and the future of the chabad house.
    Where were they when Gabi was literally, and I mean literally starving?
    Is anyone aware that one of the reasons Gabi was in Mumbai that week instead of on the way to the kinnus was because he simply didn’t have money for a ticket.
    This has become a pot of gold for people that were literally door to door shnorrers a few years ago.
    Disgraceful

    mottyvloimotty
    mottyvloimotty
    13 years ago

    How sad and tragic for the Mumbai kedoshim that people are cynically using their death for their own financial advantage.

    Barsechel
    Barsechel
    13 years ago

    The lesson to be learned from all this is that before you give Tzedaka make sure you know who you give it to.
    Ask Lubavitsch Shlichim worldwide who owns the Real Estate of the Shul’s they schnorring for? Yes they do perform a useful service to the community but its a business they are running. Not a charity its a business. Remember this and think hard before you give out your maaser money.
    Millions were collected for “Moishele” where is that money? Who decides what he gets? Why is there no transparency?

    The-Macher
    The-Macher
    13 years ago

    Is anyone aware that one of the reasons Gabi was in Mumbai that week instead of on the way to the kinnus was because he simply didn’t have money for a ticket.

    While the rest of your post is partially accurate, this is not true. Gabi HYD was not the type to want to leave his people behind even to go to the kinnus. If he had really wanted to go, he would have found a way as many shluchim did. He was pure emmes – his shlichus was 24/7 and he was not a kinnus kibitzer (with all due respect to the many emmesdige shluchim who do look forward to the kinnus every year).

    The problem here is that a simple man, Nachman Holtzberg, a working shoichet who has been thrust into events and the limelight and cannot handle himself, is being used by someone – most probably this Russo character.

    The-Macher
    The-Macher
    13 years ago

    Most of the Chabad Houses’ real estate is owned by the BANK – it is mortgaged to the hilt. The 2% of shluchim who live well (from wealthy sponsors and not family wealth) stand out among the bulk who are living from day to day and shouldering the burden of caring for those who other communities reject and send to their doorstep.

    13 years ago

    This is ridiculous and has become an international three ring circus. Poor Moishe. He is being used a pawn in this chess game. How nice that all of the adults in his life have already decided that he will become a Rabbi and return to India to carry on his father’s work. Won’t it just be the icing on the cake if he decides that he wants a different future?

    jacob
    jacob
    13 years ago

    The good news is that chabad did not get scammed by sinking millions from trust accounts… Tha bad news is chabad does not have any trust accounts because they use every penny to help anouther nishoma.