Newton, MA – A fast-growing Orthodox Jewish community that has battled the city for nearly five years scored a major victory, to building a 12,000-square-foot synagogue in a residential neighborhood in Newton Highlands.
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By a vote of 19 to 3, the Board of Aldermen approved Beth Menachem Chabad's plan to provide just nine parking spaces alongside its new center at 349 Dedham St., at least 60 fewer spaces than zoning rules would generally require.
Beth Menachem argued that it deserved the parking exemption since most of its members are forbidden by Jewish law to drive cars on the Sabbath and walk to synagogue for weekly services.
The board was tired of fighting with Beth Menachem Chabad over its expansion, and felt it could not legally stop the project, according to Ward 8 Alderman at Large Rick Lipof, one of the three members to vote against the parking variance.
"You don't build a building like that only for Saturdays," said Lipof. "With a building that large, how can you say you won't want to have events like a bat mitzvah or a bris?"
But Beth Menachem leader Rabbi Chaim Prus said his synagogue will avoid parking problems at the new headquarters by shuttling guests from rented parking spots at Countryside on special occasions.
Relations between the religious group and the city grew tense, with Beth Menachem members suggesting that officials who opposed its interests were anti-Semitic.
The implication of anti-Semitism was one that Lipof, who is Jewish and the son of Rabbi Emily Lipof of Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, said he found deeply offensive.
"It never has been about religion," Rick Lipof said. "It's about a use of land that is inappropriate for a residential neighborhood." [BostonGlobe]
Why does every shul that cannot afford to buy enough space for parking cry antisemitism? We all know Chabad will use that shul during the week when everyone drives. I live between a large orthodox shul and reform place and they both use up way too much “on street” parking making our nice suburbs difficult to park in. Like I would like my parents and children from BMG to park in front of my house and not down the street with my two aneklachs. I pay higher taxes and moved here to get away from commercialization but with every shul or other house of worship shtuping in catering to make a buck as well as shiruim and davening you are depriving us of what we paid for. Stop whining so much, grow up and be kinder to your neighbors. The problem is that many shul go’ers just do not care about neighborhoods. I find this to be very self centered. Chabad and other cry wolf too much. It dilutes the seriousness of other situations where real problems exist. I do not see anything great to gloat about with these guys. Just buy a bigger lot and make under ground parking.
May Hashem bless Beis Menachem in their continued efforts to spread Chassidus.
For the son of a woman rabbi (who thinks everything is ok including same sex marriage) to oppose a shul is unthinkable.
mazel tov
As far as I know the building in question is next door a huge public school with lots of parking potential. The school is smack in the middle of a residential neigborhood and I am sure that it creates a lot more traffic, disturbance and noise pollution than the proposed Shul.
Chabad accomplishes much through their legal helpers.
Typical frummers. They don’t believe that laws apply to them
Quote:
“WHAT MEMBERS ARE NOT FORBIDDEN TO DRIVE ON SHABBOS?”
Answer:
People whose mothers are female “rabbis”. They have no boundaries and know no better.
mazel tov to chabad
may all the contys in the US learn from this and stop giving chabad hard times from doing their good work
Pleasseee…
This anti-semite Rick Lipof is Jewish, because he is the son of RABBI EMILY ??? Lipof !!!
A Shanda… Him and his mother are both chayev meesa.
Quote:
“WHAT MEMBERS ARE NOT FORBIDDEN TO DRIVE ON SHABBOS?”
Answer:
Hatzolah Members.
“Beth Menachem argued that it deserved the parking exemption since most of its members are forbidden by Jewish law to drive cars on the Sabbath and walk to synagogue for weekly services”
WHAT MEMBERS ARE NOT FORBIDDEN TO DRIVE ON SHABBOS?