Courtesy of the Jewish Standard: Etz Chaim Lawsuit Alleges Teaneck Violated Shul's Constitutional Rights
I commented on the latest Jewish Standard gem of hard hitting unbiased journalism.
The comment is currently "up".
Mr. Lipowsky, you have written and researched a few news articles on Etz Chaim for the Jewish Standard. This is a well spun and a well sanitized piece. Etz Chaim wasn't pressured into the BOA's stipulations. Robert Erlich and Rabbi Daniel Feldman told Daniel Santacruz as reported by the Jewish Sandard as early as 8/28/2008 that all they want is exactly what the BOA granted Etz Chaim.
This isn't a case of restricted Religious Freedoms. Its all about strong arming Teaneck under the guise of discrimination to bypass the appeals process and opposition from the neighbors.
Its just another instance of Etz Chaim of Teaneck attempting to circumvent the rules. Magically Shaarei Orah, Beth Aaron and Rinat Yisrael had no issues following Township rules and waiting to get approval through proper channels.
11 comments:
Wait for it. The pronouncement by Rabbi Daniel Feldman that they have been open and aboveboard with Teaneck.
After all they notified Teaneck in open court that they were filing the suit and then they notified the Etz Chaim Board. Who else needs to be notified to be considered open and above board? After all everyone accepted it the last time when they said they notified the town and that was "open and above board". It should fly again.
Notice how all statements come from the lawyer and Robert Erlich that way the Rabbi can maintain purity. After all he can't be held responsible for the statements of an individual congregant.
Of course he can anon 1:14 pm when THAT congregant is also the PRESIDENT and represents the congregation. And in what orthodox shul is the rabbi NOT involved in the decision making especially something as big as suing the town. Purity my ass. Daniel Feldman knows all about this and although he may not have made the decision to sue he sure as shit condones it.
Great point about Rinat, Beth Aaron and Shaarei Orah. Just look at the shul in Fort Lee, Young Israel i think, that waited for years to get their variances before they did anything. But these Etz Chaim dudes just want everything their way and right now. What's their hurry? What is so urgent that they do everything they can to go around the rules that the rest of us follow?
I think it is quite unfortunate that they sued the town as it contradicts their entire position from the beginning and throughout the hearings. However, what do you gain by continually attacking them from here. Feldman probably does condone it as he is locked in to the house and to the group. Tell him directly. It would be in the best interests of the town if they agreed to dismiss the suit, but they won't. However, what do you accomplish from continually trashing them from here, I hope that you are going to at least watch the Jets game tomorrow night rather than worry about the big bad EC
Anon Friday 2:45 pm - Is there really a need for nivul peh? I am totally confident that Rabbi Feldman's consultation with the Roshei Yeshiva ensured that the decision to take legal action was carefully thought out after Rabbi Feldman presented the entirety of the situation. This decision could not have been taken lightly and Rabbi Feldman, I assure you, thought of the ramifications to his shul, his congregants, his reputation, and his community in Teaneck.
Rules are for the chumps. These guys are masters of the universe. Laws are there to be gamed. Look at it this way.
Daniel Feldman was in front of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County in a dispute over setting up a new shul that was too close to Arzei Darom (Jewish Standard 6/28/07). Then he is then able to say with a straight face that 554 Queen Anne was only a private prayer group ( Construction Permit 10/29/07). What happened he gave up the idea of building a congregation? How likely was that? Ah but if I can think to myself for the two minutes it takes to fill out an application "I only want a prayer group,I only want a prayer group" then technically I am telling the truth. "Who knows what will happen in the next ten minutes, I can't predict the future." See I'm not lying.
It's great when technicalities are all that matter. Anyway we will never know.
Rabbiesq welcome back. What happened to all three rosh yeshivah said it was a bad thing to do?
And what is Nivel Peh?
Self deception may be the worst form of lying. Its a sign of a true narcissistic personality. Its even worse when it hides behind a false display of humility.
Nivul peh is the use of bad or foul language. It does not add any value to the comment. For me and many of the chevrah that the comment attempts to influence the comment is minimized.
Anything new happening on the war front, there was a war management meeting but i did not go. Since I never show up to any of their meetings, they would have wondered why i was there. I would just love to know the reasoning of how they feel this a positive course of action. It is bad for them, their neighbors and the town.
Please half the shuls around here dont need to exist anyone ever ask themselves why it is that in the same general area Arzei Darom, Netviot Shalom The Jewish Center and Etz Chaim all exist but none of them can support but all of them only have minyans mainly on Shabbos
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