A federal judge has ordered Russia to preserve historic documents sought by members of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said Thursday he plans to order Russia to preserve the documents & return any that already may have been removed from state archives.
Chabad is suing Russia to recover thousands of books and documents. The documents belonged to the late Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn, the father-in-law of the last Chabad leader, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who died in 1994.
The judge went so far as to warn Russia that it could face a default ruling in the case if does not bring in new lawyers. It seems that Russia’s current law firm asked to withdraw from the case, stating that the government has failed to pay its legal bills.
How was Joseph the father-in-law of Menachem if they have the same last name?
Abba-Dad, if you click on the second link in the second paragraph, you’ll find the answer.