Val Morin, Canada – A dispute dating back 25 years between a chassidic group and the Laurentian village of Val Morin over whether a house used for prayer violates municipal zoning bylaws has reached the Quebec Court of Appeal.
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The Congregation of the Followers of the Rabbis of Belz to Strengthen Torah have appealed a Quebec Superior Court decision two years ago ordering it to cease using the house at 781 15th Ave. as a synagogue, as well as another at 6812-6814 du Rêve St. that has been a children's religious school for about 21 years.
The properties are located within an enclave of homes used by about 50 families from Montreal during the summer, in an area zoned as being exclusively residential.
Community's lawyer, Julius Grey, argued in the Court of Appeal that this is a case of religious freedom, while Val Morin's counsel Stéphane Sansfaçon countered that the regulations are applied equitably for the benefit of all citizens and no one is being prevented from practising religion.
Sansfaçon noted that Val Morin issued many warnings to the community over the years and had tried to settle the dispute out of court, suggesting that the Belzers relocate the synagogue and school to another property the community owns 700 metres away where they could operate legally.
Grey said the community does not have the money to build more structures and it would be an inconvenience for residents to have to walk over to the other site.
The case was heard by Judges Joseph Nuss, Allan Hilton and Jacques Dufresne. They did not indicate when they would render a decision. [cjnews]
One suggestion to resolve this dispute would be that the Belzer Shul hang out a sign (bilingually, of course). (nuch a mazel it’s not the US, where Spanish would be rquired, too.) declaring that any French-Canadian/Canadien residents who don’t want to attend services in the Shul, are not obligated to do so.