Monroe, NY – The Zoning Board of Appeals will hear Rabbi Herman Wagschal explain tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center on Mine Road, why it should grant him a variance to keep an illegally constructed expansion of his synagogue.
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Wagschal built the expansion to house a matzo bakery without a building permit.
He was charged with 11 other code violations, including failure to get approvals and fire safety procedures in relation to the first-floor conversion of his single-family residence at 16 Lanzut Court into a synagogue.
Wagschal's attorney has threatened to invoke religious discrimination laws if the town does not grant him his variance.
U/D: 08/22/08
The lawyer for Wagschal, argued that his client’s breaking of the law had nothing to do with his present request for a variance to keep the kitchen.
“If I could wave a wand and make the past go away, I would,” said Dennis Lynch, the Nyack-based lawyer.
Wagschal’s neighbor, Eli Neuhauser, implored the Zoning Board not to allow the variance, as it would reward his neighbor for breaking the law.
Numerous synagogues in the area do not have or need a matzo kitchen, Neuhauser said. “He (Wagschal) established his matzo bakery to cover up his acts (of building without a permit)” he said, adding, “Whoever heard (of) a man starting to build before getting approval?” [Record]
If this fool doesn’t want the government watching to see that he doesn’t make something that causes a fire hazard to himself and others, then maybe the fire department should not answer if he needs them.
rhis has noting to do with zoning
this is pure politics.
this is gulas by yiden which is the worst gulas.
he shuld chalange them to the fullest
ANON 5:17
Are you stupid? It’s not if bathrooms match. It’s if the structure is built to code to protect the inhabitants and neighbors. Spend less time on VIN and get an education!!
anonymous at 5:17 AM- Building code are for the safety of all people-especily a mazto bakery. Everytime someone doesnt get what they want its discrimination? I do belive in yeshivas to be built but a bakery is a safety issue in ones home.
it is a serious case of uch in vey, when people come right out and take the governments sides with comments like you cant build without permission. This is a democratic, welfare type way of thinking. Let the government rule ur life. I am not saying this story is right,,, I agree with the above posters that its a chillul Hashem, and begs for future anti semitic attitudes,, but really now,, how much more does the government need to decide for us? If bathrooms coordinates match or not?
This is exactly the type of thing that angers all rational Jews as well as all the goyim. FOLLOW THE LAWS! You can’t just build without permission.
I am an attorney. I am frum. For years I have observed other frum people behave as if the building codes don’t apply to them by virtue of their religious convictions.
The attorney threatens “religious” discrimination!!!
What law says that the “religious” are exempt of building to Code?
Nonsense!