Mansion Gift to Worcester Chabad

By Aaron Nicodemus Telegram.com

Local businessman Barry Krock and his wife, Janet, have donated their $1.5 million mansion at 300 Salisbury St. to an organization run by Central Mass. Chabad, a local synagogue and Hebrew school. The grand home will be converted into a Jewish community center and offices, to be called the “The Krock Family Chabad Center for Jewish Life.”

Rabbi Mendel Fogelman, director of the Central Mass. Chabad, said the donation will help the local Jewish community “to further develop and flourish. A gift of this magnitude can open unexplored frontiers of Jewish creativity. It is a tangible show of support from the Krock family, and a compliment to the many years of outreach performed by Chabad.”

The home, built in 1979 on eight acres at the end of a long, gated driveway, has four bedrooms, five bathrooms and two half-bathrooms in 6,872 square feet of living space, according to assessor records at City Hall. The property has a porch, patio, indoor heated pool and four-bay garage. The Krocks officially deeded over the property to Chabad on Campus Worcester Inc., for consideration of less than $100 on Dec. 23, according to the Worcester Registry of Deeds. The assessed value is close to $1.5 million.

In a news release announcing the donation, Mr. Krock wrote, “I am a believer in genuine Jewish continuity, and greatly respected the late Rabbi Hershel Fogelman, his work, and accomplishments for much of my life. In recent years, I have grown to admire the success of his son, Rabbi Mendel Fogelman, who continues to lead with great commitment and dedication. We make this gift to Chabad with full confidence that it will generate renewed positive energy in the Jewish community of Worcester and beyond.” Mr. and Mrs. Krock, whom Rabbi Fogelman said are in Florida, were unavailable for further comment.

Rabbi Fogelman said the home will house the offices for Chabad on Campus, which serves local Jewish college students, and is currently operated by the rabbi and his wife, Chana, out of their home on Midland Street. The center, he said, will also host events showcasing internationally-famous Jewish authors, scholars, artists, and musicians; and will be eventually be fitted with a gourmet kosher kitchen, so the facility can be used to host private and corporate events.

Plans are for the facility to host Weekends for Families, “a program designed for unaffiliated Jewish families to experience a hands-on Shabbat weekend, (which) will teach the art of baking challah, properly preparing a Shabbat kosher dinner, the art of a tasty ‘cholent,’ and, of course, Jewish songs and dancing,” the news release stated. “The Friendship Circle, a unique organization that addresses the families of children with special needs in an innovative way, will be opening an office there in June 2016. The Center will also host weekend retreats for young professionals. The first event planned for the center will be a Young Jewish Professionals Purim masquerade party, in March.”

Barry Krock is the son of the late Aaron Krock, founder of Commerce Bank & Trust Co.

The Krock family owns a lot of property in Worcester, in addition to the home they donated. They own the Central Building at 322-332 Main St. in downtown Worcester, an office building owned under a corporation controlled by the Krocks’ daughter, Kathryn E. Krock. The family unsuccessfully attempted to have the building demolished in 2014, but the city’s historical commission stepped in to delay the request. The family also owns a four-story office building at 240 Main St., and three Main Street parking lots. The Krocks own parcels of land all over the city, many of them vacant and blighted. The city has taken Mrs. Krock to housing court in an attempt to have the corporations in her name clean up some of the vacant properties. Kathryn Krock owns another house on Salisbury Street. She also operates a liquor store on West Boylston St., KJ Baaron’s Fine Wine & Spirits.

Central Mass. Chabad, operating as Yeshivoth Achei Tmimin, currently owns a building at at 22 Newton Ave., on Newton Square, that houses the Tifereth Israel synagogue and the Central Mass. Hebrew School. The IRS has placed a lien against the property, as the Chabad owes nearly $500,000 in unpaid federal payroll taxes. The IRS seized the property in 2013 and attempted to sell it; however, there were no buyers, and Chabad continues to own and operate the building.

Rabbi Fogelman said he recently held a fundraising event that raised enough money to pay off the IRS and remove the lien. The IRS and Central Mass. Chabad agreed upon a reduced amount to settle the unpaid payroll taxes. In a letter from the IRS, the federal agency acknowledged receipt of a down payment, and listed an amount that needed to be paid for the debt to be settled.

Rabbi Fogelman then showed the reporter a receipt for a certified check, that he mailed to the IRS, for the full amount due.

“I’m assuming after the check clears, the lien will be lifted,” he said.