Forestburgh, New York, population 808, is a small town on the Neversink River in Sullivan County. And just last week, their monthly Town Board meeting, included testimony from Rabbi Yeruchim Silber and Rabbi Avi Schnall of Agudah’s New York and New Jersey offices.
The story began in 2011, when the Town Board rezoned the 3.3 square miles of land owned by Double Diamond, a Texas developer, to authorize the building of 2,557 single-family homes, along with cottages and townhouse-style condominium units, for a total of 2,637 residential units, along with multiple recreational and community amenities. In 2013, the Town Board granted Double Diamond final subdivision and site plan approval for the first phase of the project, consisting of 400 single-family home lots and the first nine holes of the project’s golf course.
In 2020, Lost Lake Holdings, an Orthodox Jewish group, bought the project from Double Diamond. They immediately encountered expressions of anti-Semitic opposition in the community. Then the town denied their application to develop the area.
Lost Lake Holdings is now bringing a federal lawsuit against Forestburgh. The suit alleges that the town has engaged in numerous actions to block construction of homes in the project, all as part of an effort to prevent Hasidic Orthodox Jews from moving to the town.
Rabbi Silber, Agudah’s director of New York government relations, described at the meeting the role of Agudath Israel in protecting religious liberties and how numerous municipalities have put up obstacles to prevent Orthodox Jewish expansion. He made clear that Agudah supports Lost Lake Holding’s lawsuit and will be monitoring it. But, most importantly, he asked the board to reconsider their opposition and to allow the project to proceed.
Rabbi Schnall, director of Agudah’s New Jersey office, reviewed the history of some of the obstacles placed in the path of the group, among them an increase of 1000% in parkland fees. He also quoted a previous town supervisor who said, “These are not the visitors we want to attract.” Rabbi Schnall pointed to his experience in Jackson, New Jersey, where Agudath Israel filed a federal lawsuit after similar difficulties were encountered.
“Agudath Israel will continue to forcefully advocate on behalf of Orthodox Jews and push back against discrimination,” said Rabbi Silber. We stand with Orthodox Jews of Forestburgh, as we have stood with those of Jackson, Blooming Grove, Chester and other areas, who encountered discrimination and hate because of their religion.”
{Matzav.com}
