South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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Hollywood, FL — The city and an Orthodox Jewish synagogue reached a deal Monday in a dispute that will allow the group to continue holding services in two buildings located in a residential area.

The Hollywood Community Synagogue Chabad Lubavitch sued the city after it ordered the group to shut down in October 2003. The Justice Department sided with the synagogue, noting the city was violating the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act enacted in 2000.

The city claimed the group was violating its zoning laws by operating without a permit in a residential neighborhood.

Hollywood to pay synagogue $2 million

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Click Here for a Newscast of this event!

Hollywood, FL — The city and an Orthodox Jewish synagogue reached a deal Monday in a dispute that will allow the group to continue holding services in two buildings located in a residential area.

The Hollywood Community Synagogue Chabad Lubavitch sued the city after it ordered the group to shut down in October 2003. The Justice Department sided with the synagogue, noting the city was violating the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act enacted in 2000.

The city claimed the group was violating its zoning laws by operating without a permit in a residential neighborhood.

In the deal reached Monday, city commissioners agreed to pay the synagogue $2 million and will allow the group to remain at their current location, City Commissioner Cathy Anderson said. The city also agreed to require its employees and commissioners to attend religious sensitivity training.

In return, the synagogue agreed to drop its lawsuit, The Miami Herald reported. Commissioners must officially approve the agreement by July 5 or a trial will begin a day later, U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard said.

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