Op-Ed: Chabad is Fighting for Religious Freedom

A man was biking through the countryside. As he approached a fork in the road, he saw that the road sign had been blown down. He could no longer tell which road would lead to his destination. Undaunted, he picked up the sign and looked for the part indicating his original destination. He was now able to discern the direction in which he needed to go.

Often, as we look towards the future, we need to reflect on our past, as history’s lessons always need to inform our future.

In 1989, the first Jewish synagogue in Norfolk, Conn., was taking shape. The town, led by attorney Jim Stedronsky, fought the Jewish community, eventually losing the case in the state supreme court. Along with wasting thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money, this case was also a dark time in the history of religious tolerance in our constitution state.

Now, 20 years later, Mr. Sted­ronsky is setting religious tolerance in our state back. He is once again challenging the legitimacy of a Jewish house of worship, one that has met all of the Litchfield’s planning and zoning laws. The living document that is our constitution is once again being challenged by Mr. Stedronsky.

Fifteen years ago, I had the honor of being one of the founders of Chabad of Northwest Con­necticut. In 2005, I was on the planning team of our new temple; we were sure that with the effort that we made to honor the architecture and reverence for our local history, we would be welcomed in Litchfield center.

I have sat through every hearing [before the Historic District Commission]. The hatred and bigotry displayed at these meetings, has been disheartening.

As a child growing up in Hartford, I was often bullied and beaten for being Jewish. When I turned 18, I joined the military and proceeded to dedicate 42 years of my life in service of my country, retiring as a sergeant major in the United States Army. Where and how I worship­ped was never an issue throughout my years in the service; it is saddening that it has become an issue now.

After serving to defend the constitution and this great country, I look forward seeing the values I defended all these many years in the Army bear fruit with the building of the Jewish center in Litchfield in the very near future, and I look forward to inviting all of my neighbors from all walks of life to our synagogue very soon.

Nathan H. Zimmerman lives in Litchfield.

SGM, US Army Retired