Boca Residents Unhappy About Chabad Plans In Neighborhood

BOCA RATON, FL — Six homes could soon be demolished to make room for a new house of worship in Boca Raton.

Neighbors in the area aren’t happy about the plan to build the Chabad.

Firefighter Anthony Majhess spent his day off wearing a suit at the Boca Raton Library to ask people to sign a petition to stop the demolition.

The temple, a chabad, will be built on 22,000 square feet in Majhess’ neighborhood.

“Anything that’s built that’s a place of worship is going to bring a Dumpster, parking out on the streets,” Majhess said.

Majhess and his neighbors are trying to change a Boca Raton ordinance so that when a single-family home is demolished, only another single-family home can be built in its place.

Rabbi Ruvi New said he’s excited about his congregation’s new home. Right now 60 families worship in just 2,400 square feet of space.

“Everyone’s excited,” New said. “It’s been long in coming.”

He said the new building will fit in with the neighborhood, and his devout congregation won’t make parking problems as they walk to services.

Majhess said he’s not against a house of worship; he’s just against anything other than a house going into his neighborhood.