Chabad Israeli Center Hits New Roadblock in Using Rockville House for Services

The Chabad Israeli Center has hit a new roadblock in its quest to use its Rockville home.

After the city government approved building renovations that would allow the center to hold worship services and other programs out of a house on 216 Rollins Ave., a new finding in the building plans has forced the project to a halt, said Steven VanGrack, the Rockville attorney representing Rabbi Shlomo Beitsh, who owns the house.

The renovations to the house will enable the chabad to hold the congregation without violating city occupancy and fire codes.

“They said the plans are OK and now they come with a new problem,” Beitsh said. “They want another hearing before they can give us the permit to start work. It’s already more than two months now.”

The original approval states that the second floor of the Chabad Israeli Center not be used, but after building plans showed the chabad intended to construct bathrooms on that level, a new approval will be needed before a permit can be issued for construction to begin, said Susan Swift, director of Community Planning and Development Services for Rockville.

“Their original approval specifically said the second floor could not be used,” Swift said. “We’re not saying no, we’re trying to find a way to make it approvable and legal.”

Chabad officials need to request that the issue be reviewed by the city Planning Commission, Swift said. When a request is submitted, a hearing will be scheduled.

The chabad was not aware that a request was needed, VanGrack said. He has yet to receive formal notification from the city on its position on the matter and how to proceed with correcting it, he said.

“It would be most unfortunate [to send the chabad back to the Planning Commission],” he said. “It’s not the way any resident philanthropic institution should be treated.”

Chabad Israeli Center has been under scrutiny by residents who protest the house of worship’s location in a residential neighborhood. Complaints made by neighbors to the City of Rockville in late 2008 ranged from “loud singing and drumming” coming from the center to heavy traffic along Rollins Avenue before and after services. Neighbors also complained to the city that the chabad violated occupancy rules and caused parking and traffic congestion.

In January 2010, District Court Judge Brian Kim ordered the chabad to close after early fire and safety plans failed to satisfy the court. After improved drafts were submitted in May, the chabad reopened on a part-time basis for Sabbath services, but closed indefinitely in August after it violated Kim’s order when Beitsh allowed a few girls to stay at the house for a few nights after the rabbi with whom they were staying in Bethesda could no longer care for them.

Since last August, the Chabad Israeli Center has held services at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington in Rockville, VanGrack said.

Beitsh debated giving up on the house and moving the chabad elsewhere, but decided to stay committed to the location, VanGrack said.

“It’s so difficult for this small group of Jews to comply with these requirements,” he said. “They don’t have the resources to begin anew.”