Ha-Kodesh, is now part of a power struggle.
Now one of them — Rabbi Sholom Ber Krinsky, a Chabad-Lubavitcher who arrived in 1994 to serve as the community's rabbi — not only has lost control of the synagogue but is literally scrambling to keep a roof over his and his family's head.
Krinsky may soon become the only Chabad emissary among the more than 200 in the former Soviet Union to be evicted from his Chabad House premises for non-payment of rent. Krinsky once owned the property but was forced to sell to satisfy his debts.
Vilnius Shul Duel Heats Up Over Restitution
Ha-Kodesh, is now part of a power struggle.
Vilnus, Lithuania — Here in the former home of the Vilna Gaon, the historic center of the anti-Chasidic Litvak movement, two rabbis have been battling for three years for control of the city’s lone synagogue.
Now one of them — Rabbi Sholom Ber Krinsky, a Chabad-Lubavitcher who arrived in 1994 to serve as the community’s rabbi — not only has lost control of the synagogue but is literally scrambling to keep a roof over his and his family’s head.
Krinsky may soon become the only Chabad emissary among the more than 200 in the former Soviet Union to be evicted from his Chabad House premises for non-payment of rent. Krinsky once owned the property but was forced to sell to satisfy his debts.
“The owner was fairly patient,” said a U.S. official familiar with the situation. “Even if Rabbi Krinsky comes up with the necessary funding, I don’t think the owner is interested. It’s too late.”
This is the latest twist in the power struggle between those in the Vilnius Jewish community who support Krinsky and backers of Rabbi Chaim Burshtein, a Litvak rabbi who came to the community in 2004 and shares its traditions and customs.
At stake in the power struggle is which side will benefit from the long-awaited restitution of Jewish communal property, which in Lithuania eventually will include at least 200 buildings and an estimated $60 million in compensation for property that cannot be returned.
The proceeds could become the lifeblood for local Jewish institutions that now only dream of weaning themselves from their dependence on foreign donors.
Krinsky’s eviction is expected in June — the same month the Lithuanian government is expected to introduce to parliament a revised restitution law. The new law will broaden the definition of “religious” communal property to more appropriately cover what had been owned by Jewish communities.
The pending eviction and restitution issues are not unrelated.
Krinsky, while acknowledging that he “has made mistakes along the way,” insists that “no one had a problem with us until restitution came along. Give us what we objectively deserve: fair representation in the restitution equation and a fair share of whatever monies are given out.”
Krinsky blames his troubles on the anti-Chabad bias of local and international Jewish groups that he says are trying to shut him out of the restitution process. In particular he faults the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, which operates social and welfare services in virtually all the same areas of the former Soviet Union as Chabad.
Andres Spokoiny, the JDC’s Paris-based country director for Lithuania, dismissed Krinsky’s allegation “as nonsense,” noting his agency’s “excellent cooperation with Chabad all over the world.”
Krinsky’s critics, in turn, accuse him of trying to dominate the restitution process as well as Lithuanian religious life.
“What Rabbi Krinsky wants is to be at the front of restitution instead of being a part of it,” said Simonas Alperavicius, chairman of the Jewish Community of Lithuania. “But he cannot be more equal than others.”
Vilnius, or Vilna, as it was known to world Jewry before World War II, boasted 100 synagogues plus related institutions, virtually all of them controlled by the Litvak community. The Chasidic presence was minor by comparison.
Lithuania’s quarter-million Jews were nearly wiped out in the Holocaust. They were further crippled by Soviet repression, including state seizure and nationalization of their religious and communal institutions. Only the Taharot Ha-Kodesh Synagogue in Vilnius remained open.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. government made the return of Jewish property a precondition for admission to NATO and other Western institutions. Lithuania joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union in 2004.
Soon after Lithuanian independence, the re-emerging Jewish community in Vilnius began looking for a rabbi.
Sholom Ber Krinsky answered the call, arriving in 1994. He is a nephew of Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, a key leader of Chabad-Lubavitch’s international operations who was secretary to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, for 40 years.
Some speculate that Chabad headquarters did not send Krinsky as an official emissary, but Chabad spokesman Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin said that is untrue.
Krinsky said he was invited by the local community, which Alperavicius and others confirm. But they also suggest that invitations can be rescinded.
By all accounts, Krinsky has worked exhaustively to rebuild Jewish life. He opened a day school, runs a soup kitchen, teaches classes and organizes activities throughout the countryside.
Jewish activists acknowledge his efforts, but challenge almost every success Krinsky claims, from how many people show up at his events to the quality of his soup kitchen and day school.
Meanwhile, local leaders continued to look for a rabbi, a Litvak like them. They found Burshtein, a St. Petersburg native and former refusenik who estimates that he was detained by the KGB some 40 times before immigrating to Israel.
Burshtein was elected chief rabbi by leaders of the country’s religious Jewish communities. His installation at the synagogue sparked an eruption, beginning with fisticuffs in the shul between pro-Krinsky and pro-Burshtein factions during Shavuot services in 2004. The fracas was covered extensively by the local and foreign media.
Burshtein later reportedly was roughed up by Krinsky supporters. Krinsky and his followers were barred from the synagogue; they countered by holding vigils in the courtyard for months.
The community took Krinsky to court, the rabbi retreated to his Chabad center and the synagogue was closed for more than a year.
It reopened in August 2005, and morning and evening services are now held daily — without Krinsky, who presides over his own services in a first-floor room at the Chabad center that after two years he still describes as “temporary.”
Krinsky has hinted that the fight isn’t over.
“Our community here is every Jew,” he told JTA, “and this community absolutely doesn’t need two synagogues.”
Krinsky, who is described by foes as “very charming, very sophisticated” as well as “very extreme, very unstable,” seems to be operating with little support from Chabad.
While Shmotkin says there is no talk at Chabad headquarters of replacing him, the Moscow-based Federation of Jewish Communities, an umbrella for Chabad-affiliated efforts across the former Soviet Union, isn’t going to bat for him publicly.
The federation’s Web site lists Krinsky and his activities as its recognized community in Lithuania. But asked whether he supported Krinsky, Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, the federation’s executive director, responded, “We only partner with him in supporting his day school.”
Californa-based Chabad Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie was more forthcoming, saying Krinsky “has had some financial challenges and made some poor decisions along the way, but if you look at him in his totality, it’s astonishing how much one man has been able to accomplish.”
Eliezrie added that if everyone involved “came together at a table, we probably could resolve this problem.”
Krinsky says he is pinning his hopes on restitution. The Vilnius Jewish community offered him a seat at the negotiating table, but he insisted on three. He is now outside the process.
The plan is that once a restitution law is passed, neither the properties nor the cash will be apportioned. Jewish religious, cultural, educational and welfare organizations will have to apply to a foundation, proposing projects and making their case for support.
Krinsky will have to compete with the others.
“I’ve said repeatedly that I think Chabad would merit support, just as other institutions would,” said Rabbi Andrew Baker of the American Jewish Committee, who leads the international team negotiating restitution with the Lithuanian government. “However, I don’t think that’s what Rabbi Krinsky is speaking of. He believes he’s the only bona fide religious Jewish organization in Lithuania.”
Krinsky has tried to circumvent the process. Several months ago he approached the Lithuanian Ministry of Health requesting the return of a former communal property. But he was rebuffed.
As a U.S. citizen, he approached the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius for help in obtaining a state-owned music academy in the desirable Old Town. According to the U.S. official familiar with the situation, the embassy sent a letter to the government supporting Krinsky, but also asked Krinsky and local leaders to bury the hatchet.
“We’ve seen a lot of quotes in the press where some people from the government or on its periphery have said the Jewish community can’t even agree on restitution, so how can we make an agreement,” the official said. “We’ve told them we don’t want that as an excuse to not go forward.”
In April, Krinsky met with local Jewish leaders. Afterward they sent him a letter outlining conditions for breaking the stalemate. Among them: Krinsky must publicly acknowledge the community’s ownership of the synagogue and its choice of chief rabbi; cease referring to himself as “chief rabbi”; and submit to “a sound, open and transparent financial management.”
Krinsky told JTA that he plans to respond to the letter soon.
Meanwhile, the threatened eviction nears for Krinsky, his wife and the seven of his eight children, aged 1 to 10, who live with him. And community leaders worry that more trouble lies ahead.
“If he accepts the conditions in our letter, then for sure peace is possible,” said Simonas Gurevicius, executive director of the Jewish Community of Lithuania. “But if someone doesn’t want peace with you, how can you find it?”
Insight
Wow! What a mess. Can someone explain this to me? Is Yudel Krinsky on good terms with his nephew? Does he not want to get involved? Is he an official shliach? And if he is, where is Chabad help or was there?
been there
Rabbi Krinsky has done amazing, amazing work. Chabad should rally around him.
Vilinus
BH
I believe that the fact this article is posted on a CH and Chabad website is an indication that together the intl Chabad community can brainstorm an idea to assist the Rabbi and his family from this tragic mess.
Let’s see a true demonstration of Achdus
ch
What an embarrasment to Chabad that FJC chooses politics over shlichus and won’t back Rabbi Krinsky.
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Non Crown Heightser
I have known Sholom Ber a long time and have much respect for him.
why can’t there be two shuls, let the snag have his shul and sholom ber can have a separate location, let international pressure and negotiation assure that krinsky gets a decent sum from the allocation of funds so the two can live in sholom, i hope this is not a ploy of self agrandisement that he needs to be the chief rabbi, he is there to have a positive influence on yidden and spread chassidus, but nephew or not nephew, does not yudel have to look after and preserve the reputation and good name of chabad in its entirety, sholom ber has admitted that he made some mistakes.
But the bottom line is that all situations can be solved reasonably with money, if substantial funds are channeled in his direction, he would not have the financial pressure to compete with that snag and have his own successful operation.
Am I far off the mark?
Bochur
I was by him.
He’s a nice guy who has a lot going on. Including (but not limited to): A boys school, a girls school, a soup kitchen, a shul, a pesach camp, a summer camp, and a big pesach seder.
spelling
you have to differnet spellings: vilnus and vilnIus… which one?
Surp
This article is biased and practically entirely untrue. I was in Lithuania from the time this mess began until it calmed down. And yes, it did calm down. I have no idea why it’s being brought up again. Furthermore, the JTA has taken to slandering Rabbi Krinsky and purposely misquote people.
Oy
Witnessed first hand his amazing work. I was there in his dorm were he would house orphan students for his Jewish day school. I happened to meet one of these “children” who I got to know, approximately 7 years later in a Lubavitch Yeshivah in Moscow. I have to say it would be extremely difficult to distinguish him with another bochur on the streets of Crown Heights. Needless to say I was extremely impressed. This is just 1 of thousands of success stories this extremely energetic “Shliyach” has diligently achieved. He must have our full support, as this ugly controversy been going on for way to long.
Mottel
I’ve been there extensively and can fairly say that Rabbi Krinsky does an amazing job. We must find a way to rally behind him and help . . . as it is the situation brings me close to tears.
Chabad Image
I as a bochur, have been working for shluchim for a few years in different countries around the world and let me tell you that not always is the shliach so innocent.
Sometimes the shliach gets so caught up in his vision of building a community and forgets about the people living there. I am not saying that in this case the shliach is wrong, but not necessarily are his actions accounted for by “shlichus” b/c he wants to receive the bulk/all of the compensation money, although he may deserve it since when the money wasn’t available he was the only Rabbi there. Now the money is available and there is a power struggle, but according to the average member of the community, should the shliach receive it? Should a religious group receive it?
If the fight was only if the Shliach should receive “some” of it then Rabbi Andrew Baker already said the Chabad could benefit from the money.
Nowadays all strugles and fights come from money and power, something the Rebbe did not give as a guideline for a successful shliach.
If a shliach wants to run a successful chabad house then they should do mivtzoyim, make shiurim and mekarev people. Controlling people should not be given shlichus, since the essence of a shliach is bittul. They should appoint boards and together they can develop a chabad trust where the community can see the budget and understand how much money is needed to run a successful chabad house and therefore will be able to contribute accordingly.
No more should controlling “Shluchim” continue to make horrible decisions in the name of “shlichus”, giving Chabad a bad name.
Mottel
Chabad Image . . .
Perhaps before you write your words you should learn a little about the history of what’s going on in Vilna. You may be right b’chlal, but to be frank . . . in this case you are wrong, having improperly assumed with out get your facts correct.
U’kyedua the pisgam of what happens when one assumes etc.
The Broader Picture
From what I heard (which could be very slanted) Chabad “central” (i.e. in NY and Moscow) initially offered Rabbi Krinky alot of support. Apparently he was not able to work with them and/or did not follow their advice so they pulled back (for financial and PR reason).
Chabad Image is more or less correct. Unfortunately the days of “lechatchila ariber” and “mesiras nefesh” shlichus is over. In the old days when the Rebbe first launched the (modern)shlichus campaign (not including the few shluchim sent by the Rayatz), it took real mesiras nefesh to transport your family to Milan or California rather than remain in the Rebbes 4 amos. Today a candidate for shlichus must understand the political landscape of Lubavitch and the specific community where he intends to go (not to mention the nepotism) if he is to have a fighting chance of being successful. He also generally must raise his first (and second?) years salary so as not to be a burden on the “head Shliach” or create bad PR. There is no question that this waters down a perspective Shliach’s idealism and passion.
Face it, for the most part Lubavitch no longer has the entrepournal spirit that drove us through the lameds and mems. We are no longer a start-up; we are now a conglomerate. Let’s hope we are the next Google and not GM,Ford, etc.
I’ve heard Shluchim saying that this was the Rebbe’s intention from the start. In the earlier days the Rebbe sent forth shluchim that were lechatchila ariber’niks and later on reigned them in a bit and sent more strategic shluchim out there (i.e. a shliach that says build, build, build and we’ll figure out where we’ll get the money from later vs. the shliach that says I need to figure out how I will make mortgage payments before I can purchase a plot of land). Hence so much talk about a centralized/decentralized Lubavitch.
Chabad Image
I wrote explicitly that in this case I am unaware of exact details, but it is hard to imagine and only in the most extreme circumstance (I am talking about real circumstance and not one imagined by the shliach that everyone is out to get him) would the shliach be innocent like he makes out to be and he is not telling people that he is the “Cheif Rabbi”, (while clearly he is not) b/c of the compensation money and land?!?
I still find it very hard to believe that the shliach is a straight guy and yet he doesnt have a place to live?
Maybe he is the only one that believes that he is a victim?
Maybe he doesn’t care about the land and money?
He is just trying to do his shlichus and everyone in Vilna still carry a disliking to Chabad?
It is very hard to find a shliach who is in a fight and didn’t do anything wrong. If he stuck with his shlichus he wouldn’t have gotten into this mess.
The Broader Picture
‘It is very hard to find a shliach who is in a fight and didn’t do anything wrong’
Image,
I generally agree your view but take exception to this statement. With all politcal menouvering going on these days (internally) there have been many innocent shluchim that have gotten hurt. There are so many guys that have been brought out by “senior” Shluchim in order to consolidate their turf. The SSh get’s wind that his neighboring SSh brought out a Junior Shliach so he in turn brings out his own JSh and puts him near the border so that the other guy’s JSh does not encroach on his teritorry. Meanwhile, the JShluchim don’t realize that they are stepping into a war zone until (somtimes) it is too late. This is hapening across Israel, LI, FL, MA and probably a few Europeen countries. I have friends that have gone through this with many different places and have spent considerable sums of money and underwent agmus nefesh until they “found their place” on Shlichus. Amul the Rebbe decided, today the Rebbe and some serrious political menouvering decides.
Worse, you have SSh that are setting up JSh temporeroly and than booting them when their sons or daughters need a place to go to.
dovid g
why should the shliach listen to a bunch of
a) amortzim
b) misnagdim
c) money hungry goyim
i personally lived in vilnius, vilna many years ago….i know whats going on, the community is 60million off selling theses building do nothing jewish with the money and throw in a misnagin as the rabbi of a shul who pays the mispallimim 100 a month
hashem yeracha, kol tuv
dovid g
Non Crown Heightser
The Wisconsin model for sholom among shluchim should be used internationally.
stand by one of own!!
I personally know rabbi krinsky and I can only say that 99% of what is written about him in the article is factualy not true. Pure lies!! give our brother shliach the benefit of the doubt! Remember that until the entire story of returning property started there was no problems and even according to the article everyone admits he’s doing outstanding work. When monay came in to the picture all of a sudden rabbi krisnsky is making problems!! In truth with all of his mesiras nefesh he’s not even getting what Chabad rightfully deserves. If you want to know the real story see the article that came out from lubavitch.com today.
Reuvein Korb
I know Sholom Ber Krinsky since his very first coming to Lithuania. In his camp a had a bris. Thanks to Hashem, the Rebbe, and Krinsky I have a kala from Vilnius (Vilna) whom he personally put through Liubavitch school in London and Girls Seminary in Moscow.
I also spent some time living at his own place and i’ve seen the work that he has done, not a single misnaget could even start comparing his achievements to the one of Sholom Ber. And people of Chabad unite as one, and let’s help our brother who is in need. Do it for the sake of OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE.
govilna!!
chabad image SO GO TO VILNA!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAVE A NICE TIME. DONT EVER EVER JUDGE ANYONE UNTIL YOU ARE IN THEIR SHOES. it is embarresing to chabad that you are judging a fellow Jew struggling just to do the rebbe’s shlichus AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW AND HAVE NOT SEEN THE TRUTH. and I happen to know the truth.