Nathan Lewin (center) arguing Chabad's claim against Russia before the Supreme Court in March.

WASHINGTON, DC [CHI] — In what is the largest step forward in decades in the effort to free the Rebbe's Seforim and Kesovim from captivity in Russia to its rightful home in 770, the United States Court of Appeals granted Agudas Chasidei Chabad a victory on all arguments and appeals!

The “Schneerson Archive” are the Kesovim that the Frierdiker Rebbe managed to take with him when he fled Russia in 1927, but were later seized by the Nazis, and then again stolen and secretly taken back to Moscow by the Russians. The “Schneerson Library” are the Seforim that were stolen by the Russians in 1917 and which remained in Russia when the Frierdiker Rebbe fled in 1927.

Full Ruling in the Extended Article!

DIDAN NOTZACH! United States Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of Chabad!

Nathan Lewin (center) arguing Chabad’s claim against Russia before the Supreme Court in March.

WASHINGTON, DC [CHI] — In what is the largest step forward in decades in the effort to free the Rebbe’s Seforim and Kesovim from captivity in Russia to its rightful home in 770, the United States Court of Appeals granted Agudas Chasidei Chabad a victory on all arguments and appeals!

The “Schneerson Archive” are the Kesovim that the Frierdiker Rebbe managed to take with him when he fled Russia in 1927, but were later seized by the Nazis, and then again stolen and secretly taken back to Moscow by the Russians. The “Schneerson Library” are the Seforim that were stolen by the Russians in 1917 and which remained in Russia when the Frierdiker Rebbe fled in 1927.

Full Ruling in the Extended Article!

Previously, the lower court ruled that Chabad may sue Russia in the United States for the “Schneerson Archive” but not for the “Schneerson Library”. The United States Court of Appeals ruled today to grant Chabad’s appeal on the “Schneerson Library” and to deny Russia’s appeal on the “Schneerson Archive” granting Chabad the right to sue Russia in the United States to recover both the Library and the Archive in the United States.

The following excerpt from the decisions sums it up:

“We therefore affirm the judgment of the district court finding jurisdiction over Agudas Chasidei Chabad’s claims concerning the Archive; we reverse its finding of Russia’s immunity as to the Library claims based on the events of 1917-1925 and 1991-1992; we affirm the court’s rejection of Russia’s forum non conveniens defense; we affirm its rejection of Russia’s act of state defense to the Archive claims; and we vacate its application of the act of state doctrine to the Library claims.”

Click Here to read the entire claim. (PDF)

14 Comments

  • DIDAN NATZACH

    DIDAN NATZACH!!!DIDAN NATZACH DIDAN NATZACH AY AYA YA AYA AYA AYA…………DIDAN NATZACH………..!!!…….AY YA YA YA………..

  • what didan notzach

    This is stupid. The only way the sforim are going to come out are if you work quietly with the Russians… These court cases only set things back.

    Glad everyone is saying didan notzach but it counts for nothing until the sforim are out.

  • YYS

    so does russia have to listen to the usa??? and if yes so then when will we get the seforim??

  • Moshiach Now!

    Didan Notzach!!! Todays Tehilim is Pada Beshalom Todays Chumesh is Vayehi Binsoa Aron may we merit to the Geulah Kipshuto Bikorov Mamash!!!

  • yid

    I don’t understand how the same movement can simultaneously be suing a government and being very close to those in power. This concept boggles my mind. Lubavitch would be much more limited in its potential to grow and make an impact without the support of the government. As important as they are, it may be better leave the seforim for ymos hamoshiach and instead focus on bringing him in the meantime.

  • CN

    It doesn’t say Aguch won. It just says they can sue in US Federal Court. Obviously the Russian government must care about this, or they wouldn’t have bothered opposing it, but it sounds like a long, long, long road still ahead for Aguch. Hatzlacha rabba.

  • dude

    it means they could put sanctions on the russians which they cant afford and will hopefully be pressured into giving back the seforim

  • Shlome Seldowitz

    I propose that in the mean time, all pages of the entire archive, whether in book form or actual ksovim be digitally photographed for reproduction purposes with high quality digital cameras.

    In this way, the contents will be preserved now, before the materials disintegrate.

    This is in accord with the Rebbe’s own instructions to me from Menachem Av (1992) through Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky.

  • you dont get it

    to yid

    Dont dance with the devil

    the russian goverment “meant well” when they wanted to force secular studies in the chedorim. or control the rabbonim etc
    i know times have changed but the agenda of the goverment right now is opposite what the rebbe wants

    the rebbe wants the seforim

    the “chanfoning” to putin or the goverment at the rebbes expense is not a party i would want to attend

  • Wake up call

    Since when did the Russians care about what the United States(or any nation for that matter)says? You fools, this will change nothing. We may have the sympathy of the US but it will do no good.