High Court relief for Jewish couple

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed the proceedings on the deportation notice served on an Israeli couple and directed the Ernakulam District Collector to consider their explanation for carrying out religious activitiesat the synagogue in Mattanchery.Justice S Siri Jagan passed the order on a petition filed by Israeli national Shneor Zalman Bernstein and his wife Yaffa Shendi Keing of Bloy Street, Jerusalem, challenging a notice issued by the Ernakulam District Collector to deport them for violating tourist visa norms. “The petitioners should appear before the District Collector and offer their explanation. “The Collector shall consider the explanation and take an appropriate decision before implementing the order for deportation,” the court said.The Collector had issued the notice on the basis of a report submitted by the police stating that the couple was staying in the state violating visa conditions. It was also alleged that the couple organised religious activities under the organisation ‘Chabad’ at the synagogue in Mattanchery.The petitioners submitted that Bernstein was a qualified Rabbie (Jewish priest) who has secured valid certifications as per Jewish law and rules and was invited to India by the Cochin Synagogue as there were no trained persons among the Jewish community in Kochi to take care of their religious affairs and preserve the heritage of the community here.According to them, Chabad is not an organisation but an ideological movement within Judaism, the members of which serve as volunteers and assist Jews across the world. Chabad means wisdom, understanding and knowledge, the petitioners submitted.The petitioners submitted that the ‘quit notice’ was not in terms with the statutory provisions, and was issued without ascertaining the facts. They submitted that they were not given an opportunity to be heard while issuing a notice. The couple first came to India on March 3, 2010. When their visas expired in March 2011, they left the country and returned on April 5 last, on a new visa.