It seems this is so even when there is no money to inherit.
We all know how simply Rav Chaim Kanievsky lived. He lived in the tiniest of apartments, he never held a job or paid position and lived on meager means. Not really much there for his kids to inherit and fight over. At least not in the form of money. It seems though that his kids are pretty good at turning his things into money to fight over.
We already saw a few weeks ago that someone in the family sold his shtender to an anonymous buyer from abroad for tens of millions of dollars. We dont know the details of that - we dont know who the buyer was, we dont know the exact price paid, we dont know who had the authority to take the shtender and decide to sell it, and we dont know who got the money or how it was divided up.
While we dont really know much, we do know that the family has figured out how to turn Rav Chaim's meager possessions into big earnings. And to fight over them.
According to Globes, Louie Eliezer Sheiner, a wealthy frum businessman in the USA, approached Rav Shaul Kanievsky, one of the son's of Rav Chaim, and proposed purchasing the original manuscript of Rav Chaim's commentary on the Talmud Yerushalmi. He offered 7 million dollars! According to the report, negotiations were had, the other brothers were not informed. Of course they found out all on their own and that led to a fight.
They fought like any other family fighting over who should get what.
The 3 brothers are Rabbis Shaul, Avraham Yeshaya, and Shlomo. There were also daughters, but they get nothing, as per the Torah laws of inheritance, which Rav Chaim seems to have wanted them follow. Also, the oldest was a daughter, so no son could claim the double portion of a bechor. Maybe that turned out to be a blessing.
Shaul claimed his father wanted him to be the sole inheritor, so he should get everything. Questionable claim with nothing to support it, but that's what he claims. Shlomo and Avraham Yeshaya were shocked to hear such a claim made and both said their father wanted inheritance to pass in accordance with the Torah laws. Truly it is difficult to imagine Rav Chaim wanting it any other way and he clearly did not leave any such instructions in writing or with witnesses.
Mediation is under way, some grandsons also got involved claiming they deserved a piece of the pie for managing the house for so long, and it turns out that while Rav Chaim was exceptional and on a completely different level than most other people, it seems the rest of his family is really just like everyone else.
And you know what - good for them. not for fighting, of course, but for figuring out how to monetize their father even after death, if that's what they want. If not them, someone else would have. So good for them.
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We already saw a few weeks ago that someone in the family sold his shtender to an anonymous buyer from abroad for tens of millions of dollars. . . .
ReplyDeleteAccording to Globes, Louie Eliezer Sheiner, a wealthy frum businessman in the USA, approached Rav Shaul Kanievsky, one of the son's of Rav Chaim, and proposed purchasing the original manuscript of Rav Chaim's commentary on the Talmud Yerushalmi. He offered 7 million dollars!
Do any of these people think they are doing a kavod to R. Chaim? They would be better served by purchasing a shtender or a published copy of this commentary on the Yerushalmi, and then donating the balance to tsedaka.
probably not about kavod to rav chaim but about collecting valuable rare judaica
DeleteHard to believe somebody would pay "tens of millions of dollars" for his shtender. Wonder where Mas Hachnasa comes in.
DeleteI'll never understand all these Rabbonim & Rebbes. They all know how the gemora and shulchan aruch always discuss making a shtar and for the sake of shalom even amongst people you trust it must be in "black on white" to avoid any misconstruing.
ReplyDeleteAnd they've all seen how even amongst the best there are often fights that destroy the best of families. Yet even in old age they don't write a halachicly approved will?
Even if they're "minhag" is not to write a will, still does minhag trump the potential of the anger & sinah that may very likely happen?
The bottom line is always money, but it really seems low when it affects the religious world, no differently than the rest of the world. It would have some merit if the monies received would go for real good tzadakot; feeding the hungry, supporting the Yeshivot, etc.
ReplyDeleteI could in someway excuse those wishing to purchase but cannot understand when family is willing to part with the items that were so important to the family. Also, shameful that with such a chashuva family, there would be infighting because of money (always seems to be the bottom line with everything).
How do we even know this "infighting" is true? From a Globes article? Really?
ReplyDelete