MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The Fontainebleau Hotel is taking legal action against a prominent rabbi.
It stems from an incident recorded by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach in which he was subjected to a verbal tirade in the lobby of the hotel. He announced plans to sue.
Now the hotel is accusing him of trying to shake them down.
“That’s exactly what Jews have been accused of, it’s almost like the lawsuit is from the Protocols of Elders of Zion,” said Boteach.
He is known as America’s most famous rabbi.
Following the incident in the lobby, Boteach launched a social media campaign.
In its lawsuit, The Fontainebleau says that Boteach tried to shake down the hotel.
The suit says, “Boteach insisted that he would only settle if the Fontainebleau paid $1 million to his ‘charitable’ organization without any transparent explanation as to the use of those funds.”
Boteach had a similar incident at the hotel in 2003.
The hotel claims, “Boteach omits that he also demanded personal lifetime access to the swimming pool and gym at the Hotel (the same place he says is unsafe). Ultimately, Defendant Boteach accepted a free dinner at the Hotel and moved on.”
After initially asking for millions, Boteach said he is now simply seeking an apology.
“I will say on the record right now that I am prepared to settle for nothing, not a penny, if they apologize for what happened and promise to retrain the security,” Boteach said.