T
he board of Two Waterline Square in Manhattan has filed a lawsuit against Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, also known as Jacob Botach, alleging that he failed to pay the $710 fee for using the building’s 18th‑floor common room. The complaint, filed Thursday in the Manhattan Supreme Court, seeks a permanent injunction and accuses Boteach of private nuisance, defamation and breach of contract.

    Boteach bought a $4.47 million condo in the luxury development in 2022, according to city records cited in the complaint. His wife, Deborah Botach, is named as a co‑owner and is also charged with breach of contract. The dispute began after Boteach held two gatherings in the common room without reserving it or paying the required fees. One event, in May, honored Shani Louk, a 22‑year‑old German‑Israeli woman who was killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The other, in September, was also for a memorial.

    The building’s rules require a $500 rental fee and a $210 cleaning fee for each use of the room. Boteach was billed $710 for the May event and another $710 for the September event, bringing the total to $1,420. Late fees of $400 were added, but Boteach has not paid any of the charges. Instead, he has publicly accused the board of antisemitism. In a September email circulated throughout Waterline, he wrote, “I WILL NOT BE PUNISHED FOR HAVING A FEW FRIENDS OVER TO COMFORT A JEWISH FATHER WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS MURDERED BY HAMAS.” He also posted on Facebook that the board’s actions were a “shameful saga” and compared the situation to medieval Europe and Nazi Germany, claiming that Jews were denied the right to mourn.

    The board’s complaint calls Boteach’s comparison “an objectively false comparison.” In a subsequent October email, Boteach described the May charge as a “disgusting, abusive antisemitic, Israel‑hating bill.” He also alleged that other residents use the room without paying, that the building management and board members are spying on him, and that they have prevented him from joining the board. Boteach threatened a “catastrophic, massive counterclaim” that would expose alleged malfeasance in the building, claiming that the board would spend millions to recover $710 while elevators were out of service.

    Board managers, represented by attorney Adam Leitman Bailey, argue that the rental and cleaning fees are applied uniformly to all residents who use the common room. They say the lawsuit is not only about the breach of contract but also about stopping Boteach’s alleged harassment of residents and violation of building rules. Bailey stated that the board wants Boteach to cease “bullying” other residents and to comply with the building’s policies.

    The complaint also alleges that Boteach has harassed board members and staff through publications and personal encounters. Bailey notes that a majority of the board members are Jewish and describes the board’s governance as a “corrupt coup” led by Nancy Chen, Randi Wax, June Hu and absentee Dan Senor. Boteach specifically targeted Senor, a prominent columnist and board member, and Wax, the board’s president, calling them “supposed champions of Israel.” He also accused Shmuel Kliger, an Israeli citizen and former IDF veteran on the board, of being fraudulently elected.

    On Friday, Boteach posted on Facebook, tagging Waterline and quoting a message of support from Nissim Louk, Shani Louk’s father. The post read, “Instead of compassion, Rabbi Shmuley was confronted by a building manager, ignored by the manager’s superiors, and threatened with legal action by the company’s attorney.” Boteach concluded, “How can a memorial for a young woman murdered by terrorists be turned into a legal issue?”

    Boteach has denied using the room a second time and claims he pays $3,000 in monthly fees that include access to the room. He says others use the room without paying and that the building’s management is spying on him. He also claims that the board members have prevented him from joining and that higher‑up staff mistreated a concierge.

    The lawsuit is part of a broader dispute in which Boteach has publicly compared the building’s actions to the Nazi regime and has accused the board of antisemitism. The complaint seeks a permanent injunction against Boteach and alleges that his public statements constitute defamation. The board’s attorneys argue that the fees are standard and that Boteach’s refusal to pay and his public accusations are baseless. The case will determine whether Boteach’s use of the common room and his subsequent statements violate the building’s rules and whether the board can enforce its policies against him.