Chani Lifshitz, who, together with her husband, Rabbi Chezky, runs the Chabad House in Kathmandu, where they’ve hosted tens of thousands of Israeli backpackers over the years, published a Facebook post stating that their landlord ordered them to evacuate the premises of the home they’ve been renting for 20 years after months of harassment.
“The past few days have not been easy for Chezky and me,” she wrote. “You know what? Forget the polished wording—really difficult days. We’re in the midst of a crisis—but we’re not leaving the shlichus. After many years in which this specific house was our life’s work—a place of Shabbatos, Chagim, tears, hugs, and conversations until the wee hours of the morning—we find ourselves packing everything into boxes and looking for a new place. How much we invested in this house… yours and ours.”
“In recent months, we really felt how the noose was tightening around us. Another request from the landlord, another demand, another restriction, another decree… nightmarish months. At first, we were asked to remove all Hebrew signs—so no one would realize that there’s a Jewish presence here… so he wouldn’t be suspected by Iran of being a spy.”
“At the same time, the financial demands kept rising, again and again, to the point where it was no longer possible to meet them. Slowly, it became clear to us that we were being led to one conclusion: that Jews were not wanted here. That our presence here is a disturbance. And that hurt. Because behind all of this was a clear feeling of antisemitism—one that could no longer be ignored.”
“Then came the moment when we were told explicitly: To leave. Now.”
“Just like that, almost without time to breathe, we packed everything into a large storage space we managed to find in a flash in a neighborhood called Balaju, and we keep checking nonstop for options for a new place. We’re standing now in front of empty walls, and I quietly say to myself: how do you leave a home that is really, entirely a neshama?” Ugh. Chezky says that e-v-e-r-y-thing is for the best (surprised, anyone?), and I just have tears in my eyes.”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
What a patient antisemite. He spent 20 years hatching his evil plot. Or maybe it’s just another landlord tenant rent dispute.
How sad. I’m not sure about people in Nepal worrying about Iran thinking you’re a spy, but it seems to me it’s time for this family to come home (if that’s even possible — who knows), seeing how they are literally risking their lives to be there…
can we do gofundme to buy you a home?
Is it necessarily antisemitism on the landlord’s part? Lipschitz very clearly says that the owner was concerned about being flagged by Iran. Shame that it needed to happen this way, yet considering that he rented to Chabad for 20 years, why so quick to jump to antisemitism? It’s certainly an issue but I’m not convinced the landlord is antisemitic; probably sincerely concerned.
Is this antisemitism or simply survival? Have they forgotten Bombay and Bondi already? Iranian Sleeper cells are literally everywhere and, as the regime collapses, they will be triggered. The owner rightly fears public outrage that he facilitated a catastrophe, that he’ll have to live with.
Antisemitism is a very painful and hard way of life. I experience it all the time living in Goyyim territory. But H”M always reminds me; have Chessed, Ha Rachaman, and Racheim at all times despite what we personally feel. To treat all with Kindness, Compassion, and Mercy is the only way to approach Antisemitism at all times. To respond with hate is to receive hate back at you. H”M is in charge of all, we must look to H-M at all times for guidance in even the most extreme circumstances, so as not to hurt H-S Neshamah and H-S Torah. Signed, Rebbetzin Chana Devorah Mark