Overflow, Angry Crowd at Hearing on NJ Chabad House
Over 1,200 local residents attended a packed hearing Thursday night in Toms River, NJ, to voice their opinions over a controversial Chabad Jewish Center that is being run by its rabbi out of his private home.
APP.com reports that Rabbi Moshe Gourarie argued that his Jewish Center—-which he says draws only 15 to 20 people weekly to Shabbos services—-is legal in its current residential zone, but opponents of the center believe Gourarie is in violation of a 2009 township zoning ordinance revision which banned churches in the residential zone in which his property is located.
After a four-hour, sometimes contentious hearing, zoning board members rejected Gourarie’s case and said that he must file an application requesting a variance from the Board of Adjustment in order to continue running his center.
Over 5,000 local residents have already signed a petition opposing Gourarie’s application.
Opponents openly questioned Gourarie’s claim that he had no intention of expanding the size of his congregation at his 7-acre lot, with most citing the property’s proximity to nearby Lakewood and its large Orthodox Jewish population as reasons for concern.
Mike
Where’s Donald Trump when we need him?
Lakewooder
Bad timing, they are fighting not to make Toms River another Lakewood.
Milhouse
And that is exactly why they will fail, because they have no legal right to prevent Toms River from turning into Lakewood.
Hasi
Money is short, G-d is long ( try eternal). Guess who’s eventually going to win…….duhhhh!
Doesn't make sense
It seems there are always churches in “residential” areas. What’s wrong with a group of people getting together to pray????
Cloverlawn
M gurary is smart and fine he will prevail! From all the guys out there he’s not bad. Sah
Yakov Kirschenbaum
BH
Reb Moishe,
The Rebbe is with you and IY”H you will prevail.
Hatzlachah rabbah and besuoros tovos.