Etz Chaim of Teaneck: Modern Day Robin Hoods?

One of the most romanticized figures on TV, Radio, Movies and in modern culture in general is Robin Hood.

Robin Hood is a hero in English folklore, a highly skilled archer, marksman, swordsman, and outlaw. In particular, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor," assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". - Wikipedia

And who could forget the Disney Motion Picture
featuring Robin Hood as a cartoon fox and it's catchy theme song:

Robin Hood and Little John
Walkin' through the forest
Laughin' back and forth
At what the other'ne has to say
Reminiscin', This-'n'-thattin'
Havin' such a good time
Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally
Golly, what a day
Never ever thinkin' there was danger in the water
They were drinkin', they just guzzled it down
Never dreamin' that a schemin' sherrif and his posse
Was a-watchin' them an' gatherin' around
Robin Hood and Little John
Runnin' through the forest
Jumpin' fences, dodgin' trees
An' tryin' to get away
Contemplatin' nothin'
But escape an' fin'lly makin' it
Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally
Golly, what a day
Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally
Golly, what a day
Lyrics and Music by Roger Miller

But Robin Hood is only a myth, right? Is it morally acceptable to be a thief no matter how lofty your goals?

King John and the Sherrif of Nottingham unjustly ruled the land in King Richard's absence and their laws were harsh and unfair. Robin Hood and his Merry Men took it upon themselves to help the poor people that were being taxed to poverty. Makes sense to me. The poor folk needed a hero. Stealing in this case is a necessity and the moral implications far outweigh the illegality.

Robin was lauded as a hero when King Richard, the rightful ruler of England, came back from the crusades. Why? His actions were against the laws of the country!

Robin Hood's motivation was greater than stealing from the rich. He revolted against the false monarchy in control of England. The rightful leader was back in charge and the laws were changed back to the original status quo. Robin ceased his unlawful ways.
The current minyan of Rabbi Daniel Feldman's is Etz Chaim of Teaneck. It consists of some people that left Arzei Darom to pray at the Teaneck Jewish Center, Beth Aaron and mostly of people that prayed at The Teaneck Shul. They needed a place for all of the groups to come together. So they bought the house at 554 Queen Anne Rd. as a parsonage for Rabbi Feldman and place for him to lead services. There was not enough room for Rabbi Feldman's children to play, so they expanded the den. They also pray in the den because it is part of the Rabbi's house and he can lead services on his own property. It is laudable that Etz Chaim is taking very good care of the Feldmans. A Rabbi of his stature in the community and Yeshiva University with his high level abilities deserves the best for himself and his family. Rabbi Feldman deserves Etz Chaim and the congregants who vigilantly protect him. Building a den and running a private prayer group is expensive. Mortgage, utilities, construction bills and Rabbi Feldman's salary need to be paid. It was only logical for Etz Chaim to charge dues and a building fund. In order to make this all possible, Etz Chaim filed papers with the Township that stated the den was built as a family room and not as a Sanctuary for prayer. This was against Teaneck's laws, statutes, zoning code and illegal. Etz Chaim contends that they have done nothing wrong.

The Jewish Standard reported that: On Nov. 9, 2007, Feldman met with the township’s Gluck to tell him that a private prayer group would meet at the residence.
On May 28, the Rabbi and Joel Glucksman, his lawyer, met with Gluck to inform him that the plans for the prayer group had not changed since the first meeting.
At the request of Stanley Turitz, the township’s lawyer, Glucksman forwarded Gluck a letter dated June 20 “memorializing the activities that take place at the above-referenced address.”
According to the letter, “[W]hen Rabbi Feldman first decided to have a private prayer group in his home, it was of the utmost importance to him that everything be done above-board and in accordance with local ordinances.”
The letter also explains that services are held on the “Jewish Sabbath and on Yamim Tovim/holidays.”
“We told the town from the beginning what we were doing, and they confirmed that it was acceptable,” Feldman said. “We were not trying to hide anything.”

OR WERE THEY?!?!?

In the Aug. 8 letter to Feldman, Gluck acknowledges that “a packet of information” dated July 22 was submitted to the Building Department by residents in the vicinity of 554 Queen Anne Road and says that after reviewing Glucksman’s letter of May 28, “it is my opinion that the facts demonstrate that the above premises are now being used for a second principal use as a house of worship/place of public assembly without first obtaining a zoning permit in violation” of the township’s code.
If the services continue and the decision is not appealed to the zoning board within 20 days of the date of the letter, “summonses will be issued for each day the violation continues.”

On Dec. 15 there was a Board of Adjustment meeting at which the BOA considered Etz Chaim's application to turn the two-story house at Queen Anne Road and Van Buren Avenue into an orthodox synagogue. The entirety of the Dec. 15 hearing was given over to testimony by Robert Erlich, President of Etz Chaim if Teaneck. The hearing is scheduled to continue on Jan. 20 at a location still undetermined.

The Teaneck Suburbanite further substantiated that Etz Chaim believes that they have done nothing wrong.
(Robert) Erlich testified that Etz Chaim of Teaneck is a not-for-profit Jewish organization providing services such as religious and pastoral counseling to its members. The organization purchased the property in November 2007 and subsequently added a 1,230-square foot family room and adjacent 230 square foot kitchen. Etz Chaim leases the house to Rabbi Daniel Feldman, an employee of the organization, who conducts services on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Jewish High Holidays in the family room.

In 2006, prior to Etz Chaim's acquisition of the property, residents on Queen Anne Road, Griggs Avenue and Van Buren Avenue received letters sent on behalf of the owner of 544 Queen Anne and the adjacent house at 576 Queen Anne Road announcing plans to join the two houses to create a new synagogue-center, possibly with a Mikvah on location. The house at 576 Queen Anne is owned by Mario Guralink, an Etz Chaim member. In 2006 Guralnik was fined in Teaneck Municipal Court for illegally conducting a business from the house.

Throughout his testimony, Erlich asserted that, although Etz Chaim owns the house, Rabbi Daniel Feldman conducts the services independently as, what Erlich described, a "private prayer group."

Modern day Robin Hoods. Doing what they feel is correct in the face of the law. But in this case there is no Sherrif of Nottingham and no King John. The Township felt that what they were doing was wrong and Etz Chaim needed to apply to turn 554 Queen Anne Rd. into a synagogue. So what altruistic reason could there be to have an Etz Chaim of Teaneck? Why did they start the Synagogue?

The members of Etz Chaim of Teaneck believe that what they are doing is morally correct. It came to be from an amalgam of different groups for a single purpose. They created a Synagogue (or is it a Prayer Group?) for the lofty goal of not praying with Arzei Darom (the Shul down the block).

As reported by The Jerusalem Post:
The board also noted that it recently had approved the construction of a synagogue about four blocks away. The question was, why can't Etz Chaim's members walk down the street to pray at the existing synagogue?

This is where the issue becomes most uncomfortable. The synagogue down the street is modern Orthodox, with young families that are indistinguishable from those at Etz Chaim. Many were friendly with each other until roiled by personal disputes and factions. "Each different denomination has different ways of practice," Erlich said at the board hearing. "Some people are "not necessarily comfortable" at the other synagogue".

Wow. Lofty goal. Not to daven at Arzei Darom. Totally worth giving a black eye to Orthodox Jews in Teaneck.

The Jerusalem Post article continued:
The zoning board, which reconvenes next month to continue its hearings on Etz Chaim, is not hostile to the Orthodox. New synagogue buildings have been approved, while existing ones have expanded to serve Teaneck's growing Orthodox community.

Two things make Etz Chaim special, however. First is the unorthodox manner in which it remodeled the rabbi's residence to create worship space that technically may or may not have been what is commonly considered a synagogue, generating ill will in the process. The second is the implied threat of a lawsuit against the town if permission is denied. Etz Chaim is represented by the Rutherford Institute, a prominent legal organization that takes cases to protect religious rights. Its 2008 annual report lists Etz Chaim as a "pre-litigation."

Etz Chaim doesn't follow Township rules and will claim that their "religious rights" were violated if their permission is denied. Well, lets see what happens on the 20th.

Just because a group of people feel they are justified in their actions doesn't make what they are doing morally just, does it?

What do you think? Modern day robin Hoods? Open discussion below. Please be respectful of each other. Thank you.