AMERICAN RABBI CONTENDS LITHUANIAN PROPERTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 001065

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/OHI, EUR/NB

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI CASC LH
SUBJECT: AMERICAN RABBI CONTENDS LITHUANIAN PROPERTY
RESTITUTION NOT KOSHER

REF: VILNIUS 937


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Escalating discord within Lithuania's
Jewish community has surpassed the bounds of a religious
dispute and threatens to become a fight over community
property. At the center of the dispute is Rabbi Sholom Ber
Krinsky, an American citizen, who publicly contends that
Jewish community leaders refuse him the title of Chief
Rabbi in order to exclude him from the process by which
Lithuania will restitute Jewish communal property.
Privately Krinsky told us he faults the USG for supporting
what he believes is a "corrupt and nontransparent"
restitution process. Krinsky and his supporters have
challenged the authority of both the secular Jewish
community leader and other rabbis. Vilnius police are
investigating allegations that Krinsky disturbed the peace
at the synagogue in Vilnius; the synagogue remains closed.
We continue to offer Krinsky consular assistance, while we
resist Krinsky's efforts to entangle us in his dispute with
Lithuania's Jewish community. The USG continues to
encourage the GOL to advance the restitution process and we
remain confident that the process is transparent and fair.
END SUMMARY.

Krinsky: "It's All About Restitution"
--------------

2. (SBU) The Jewish Community of Lithuania, under the
leadership of chairman Dr. Simonas Alperavicius and in
coordination with an international committee of Jewish
organizations, has been in protracted negotiations with the
GOL to restitute former Jewish communal property seized
during the Nazi and Soviet occupations of Lithuania.
Research on restitutable property has slowed the GOL-
supported process. Controversy within the Jewish community
has now spotlighted the restitution issue as Rabbi Sholom
Ber Krinsky, an American citizen who heads the local branch
of Chabad Lubavitch, has demanded to be included in the
decision making process. Publicly and privately Krinsky,
who for most of 2004 has been unsuccessfully battling for
recognition as the Chief Rabbi and leader of the Jewish
religious community (reftel),now contends that his
controversy is in fact about property restitution. Krinsky
claims that Alperavicius wants to exclude him from the
restitution process, although he (Krinsky) is "the only
person who has done anything to advance Jewish religious
life in Lithuania during the last ten years." Krinsky
argues that he should have a position on the board of the
foundation that will make decisions about who benefits from
the GOL's restitution of property and claims that he
personally should also be a beneficiary of the process.


3. (SBU) The foundation board, as currently envisioned,
will comprise six local representatives and six
representatives from interested international groups. From
Lithuania, we expect the board to include the heads of the
three largest religious communities of Vilnius, Kaunas, and
Klaipeda, as well as three prominent members of the
national Jewish Community of Lithuania (two from Vilnius
and one from Siauliai). Alperavicius will represent the
Vilnius religious community. Neither Krinsky nor Rabbi
Chaim Burshtein, the country's other resident rabbi (hand-
picked by Alperavicius),are Lithuanian citizens, and
neither will have seats on the board. Nonetheless,
international and local interlocutors have assured us that
Krinsky's Chabad Lubavitch will be eligible to receive
property, as will all other Jewish institutions in
Lithuania.

Righteous Warrior or Criminal?
--------------

4. (SBU) Krinsky and his followers have been waging a
public campaign against Alperavicius since August 1,
distributing anti-Alperavicius literature at many community
events and taking out advertisements in local newspapers.
Krinsky twice visited the Embassy within the last few
weeks, seeking "political" support. During an August 25
meeting at the embassy, he became belligerent (for which he
later apologized) and accused the USG of being "party to a
crime" for "driving the restitution issue," which he
described as "corrupt and nontransparent." (NOTE: We had
previously met with Krinsky to discuss property
restitution, among other issues, on March 23. Krinsky, at
that time, never expressed concern about the process or
plans for disbursing property. END NOTE.)

Criminal Allegations and Investigation
--------------

5. (SBU) The MFA notified us by diplomatic note August 27
that Vilnius police are conducting an investigation
regarding allegations that Krinsky criminally disturbed the
peace in an August 1 incident at the synagogue, and that
Krinsky had asked that an Embassy representative
participate during his questioning. Krinsky had not
informed us of this request during our meetings with him on
either August 17 or August 26. A consular representative
will attend Krinsky's hearing, although we have made it
clear to all parties that this consular official cannot act
as a legal representative or advocate. The charge of
criminal disturbance of the peace carries a penalty of up
to two years imprisonment.

Other Consular Assistance
--------------

6. (SBU) Krinsky, his wife, and an associate ran afoul of
private security guards who forcibly removed them from the
synagogue at the conclusion of a concert on August 25.
The following day, Krinsky informed us of his removal. We
provided him with lawyers and physicians lists. We also
encouraged Krinsky to file a police report if he felt his
removal from the synagogue had been unlawful, and to
contact us immediately if the police were unwilling to
accept such a complaint. Krinsky said that he would likely
file a complaint but that he really considered this a
political matter and was not at this time seeking consular
assistance.

Comment
--------------

7. (SBU) The dispute within Lithuania's Jewish community
does not appear headed for a rapid conclusion. Attempts at
international mediation have failed, and Alperavicius and
Krinsky seem ready for a prolonged fight. Krinsky's public
activism -- repeatedly confronting his opposition in public
fora -- provides fodder for continuing press coverage that
often features the Jewish community, and the issue of
property restitution, in a negative light. Krinsky's
allegations about corruption in the restitution process
distort the truth on the ground and hurt the prospects for
concluding government work on the matter. While we don't
discount the animosity between Alperavicius and Krinsky,
the regional diversity of the board and participation of
international institutions encourage us to trust that the
restitution process will be transparent and fair.
Restitution negotiations have essentially stalled until
after the October elections. A new Government may be
reluctant to tackle this issue if the controversy extends
not only to the public, concerned about the cost of
restitution and perceived special treatment of one ethnic
community, but also to the interested parties.


8. (SBU) Krinsky's American citizenship complicates the
issue and the Embassy's role. We will continue to offer
consular assistance to Krinsky. Without entering into the
middle of a community dispute, we will also continue to
encourage transparency and fairness in the restitution
process.

MULL