Zev Chafets profiles Chabad oligarch Lev Leviev in today's NY Times Magazine. He does so without mentioning Leviev's failed partnership with New York developer Shaya Boymelgreen. He also does it without mentioning the the data Yossi Melman uncovered and printed in Ha'aretz a couple of years back.
Leviev's connection to Chabad – and what Chabad does for Leviev – is far more complex that Chafets reports. So, too, is the relationship between Leviev, Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, and Chabad.
Still, the piece is well worth reading. Leviev almost singlehandedly pays for Chabad activities in the Former Soviet Union. Chafets notes Leviev is said to give away $50 million per year. Leviev has a personal net worth of $4 to $8 billion dollars. He started with nothing. Chaifetz explains how Leviev built his fortune, itself and inspiring and amazing story.