Ocean Township, NJ – A yeshiva denied permission to build a structure has filed a federal lawsuit alleging religious discrimination by the Ocean Township Zoning Board.
Yeshiva Gedola Na’os Yaakov, which is led by its rosh yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, is challenging the township’s zoning regulations and the Zoning Board’s denial of the Yeshiva’s variance application, the Asbury Park Press reports.
The complaint alleges the township and Zoning Board violated the First and Fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act.
The group sought a use variance to renovate an existing school building at 1515 Logan Road and turn it into a yeshiva for 96 talmidim.
The board denied the use on Dec. 1. Board Attorney Mark Steinberg advised the board before the vote “to deny the application without prejudice … based upon the fact that the board does not have sufficient information in front of it.”
The December vote concluded over a year of boisterous hearings, including a July meeting where over 1,000 community members packed the Ocean Township High School auditorium, exceeding the capacity and forcing the board to adjourn, the Asbury Park Press reports.
“This is bigotry masked as a zoning hearing, pure and simple,” said Roman P. Storzer, attorney for the yeshiva. “The situation that the yeshiva has faced here is exactly why Congress decided that RLUIPA’s protections are necessary.”
The yeshiva is currently located on Somerset Avenue in Lakewood, NJ. Rav Schustal served as rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Temimah in Brooklyn before opening Naos Yaakov at the beginning of last year.
The yeshiva’s legal dealings and operation are being directed by Rav Shlomo Lesin, noted machzik Torah and head of a prestigious Lakewood kollel who for years served as the executive director of Mesivta of Long Beach.
{Andy Heller-Matzav.com Newscenter}
From a strictly legal perspective they may have a point.
But why is this not Hisgarus B’ Umos?
as a resident of the area there is no reson for the yeshiva in the deal area where it ruins our relations with our neighbors as it does not primeraly serv3e the local population there is no reson for this fight im sure a apropriate building in lakewood can be found if it was a kiruv yeshiva that would be quite a diffrent story please let me know if im mistaken i mean well not to antagonize
Hatzlacha
Why not move to an area that would be hospitable?
Whats to worry? Cory Booker is the Senator and can quote Nach. I’m sure he will help.
the issue here is at the heart of religios freedom , they are doing this everywhere just the other week they didnt allow a chabadsker to have 15ppl daven in his house on shabbos for no reason but unfortunately bloomingburg is the only way to beat back at them this is not about wedding halls, loud music etc…
They are Rodef Yeshivos, Yeshivos have always been a major source of Ruchniyus for the community. Including Rabbi Miller’s Yeshiva (until they forced them out due to zoning) Rabbi Mintz’s and more. They all had a major positive impact on the sorrounding community.