In Ohio, poker night is fine, but praying with friends is forbidden

American Thinker ^ | 30 Jul, 2026 | Lathan Watts

[MtnClimber]

The biblical account of Daniel in the lions’ den is so well known that even those with differing religious beliefs or none are likely familiar with it.

[SNIP]

Daniel Grand is a devout Orthodox Jew who has lived in University Heights, Ohio, a small suburb east of Cleveland, since 2019. He bought his home to raise his family and live out his faith. For Daniel, those things are inseparable.

Orthodox Jewish practice calls for prayer in a group of at least ten men three times every weekday and four times on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays.

[SNIP]

A neighbor saw the email and informed the city’s mayor. The next day — before the prayer meeting could happen — the city sent Daniel a cease-and-desist order. It accused him of operating an illegal “place of religious assembly.” It threatened legal penalties. And it ordered him to stop, citing zoning regulations.

What happened to Daniel had nothing to do with traffic, noise, or any legitimate zoning concern. It had to do with the fact that University Heights decided to classify Daniel’s prayer group the same way it classifies actual synagogues and other houses of worship — as “places of religious assembly” requiring a special use permit.

Daniel tried to work with the city and began the process of filing for the permit.

[SNIP]

Then came the ultimate Catch-22. Daniel discovered that obtaining the permit the city had told him to apply for would have barred “sleeping or residential use” on any property governed by the permit. So the only way to legally host a prayer group in his home was to stop living there. Faced with the untenable choice between praying at home with friends or living at home, and wanting to avoid another hostile public spectacle, Daniel withdrew his permit application.

[SaveFerris]

[The Biblical account of Daniel in the Lions’ Den is so well known that even those with differing religious beliefs or none are likely familiar with it.]

The Secular Governments of the World especially DO NOT
like Tanakh-based Orthodox Jews nor Biblical Christianity



They LOSE POLITICAL POWER when people
Hear and Read the Word of God. Just like the Pharisees.

That's why the Democrats are so scared 😨😨😨
about the Bible being properly preached.

They only want the watered-down Laodicean
Godless Reprobate LGBTQ+ James Talarico version.



Now in Jolly Olde England, Islam is just fine, mind you. They only.
persecute those Pesky Bible-Thumping and Praying Christians

Behold ye the spirit of antichrist

The United Kingdom is now '1984' in real time

[Brian Griffin]

There were links to an article whose title I love:

“‘The science’ speaks for itself — until it’s subpoenaed”

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/the-science-speaks-for-itself-until-it-s-subpoenaed/

[mmichaels1970]

University Heights is claiming that this involves way more than 10 people to the point of causing parking issues. I’ll be interested in how it shakes out.

[big truck]

In classic FReeper style you obviously didn’t read the article. To wit:

“Orthodox Jewish practice calls for prayer in a group of at least ten men three times every weekday and four times on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. On those holy days, driving is prohibited, which means Daniel must either live within walking distance of a synagogue or gather with at least ten Jewish men close to home.”

There would be no additional vehicles present at his house.

[big truck]

Please see post #44.

[Ronald77]

Sounds like a lawsuit in the making. Hope the city has deep pockets.

[SaveFerris]

(way back when)

But, I’ve got the Berkowitzs.

So, I’m driving along
with two Jewish people
on my fender.

(Which is illegal)

There’s a law in New York state...

Tuesdays, Thursdays, and especially Saturday.

[nitzy]

Exactly.

That would be called a card parlor or poker room and would ALSO be forbidden in a residential neighborhood.

[healy61]

Time to install a plate reader in his neighborhood. Also, daily, with the assistance of friends, garden and trim the front yard all day and all night, writing down everything along with documentation. The city has a pretty expensive dick they are step on. This was a plan hatched by Jew haters.

[healy61]

One thing I will admire about Muslims: they never turn their neighbors into the police. Others would gladly build the gallows, blindfold their neighbors, and execute the scofflaws. I wouldn’t turn my neighbors in. OMMV.

[Brian Griffin]

It seems a large, two-story, setback addition and a garage was added after October 2018.

“the modern concept of the setback is intrinsically linked to the rise of the American city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As cities grew chaotically, factories were built next to homes, blanketing residential areas with smoke and noise. There was a growing public outcry for order, safety, and sanitation. This movement gave birth to modern Land Use Law. The true turning point came in 1926 with a landmark Supreme Court case: Village Of Euclid V Ambler Realty Co. The Village of Euclid, a suburb of Cleveland, created a comprehensive zoning ordinance that divided the town into different districts for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It also established rules like height limits and setbacks. Ambler Realty owned a large tract of land that was now restricted, dramatically reducing its value. They sued, arguing the ordinance was an unconstitutional taking of their property. The Supreme Court disagreed, siding with the village. This monumental decision affirmed that local governments have the constitutional authority, under their inherent Police Power, to regulate land use to protect the “public health, safety, morals, or general welfare.” This case opened the floodgates, and cities across America began adopting the zoning codes—and the setback rules—that govern our communities today.”

https://uslawexplained.com/setback

[mmichaels1970]

Only stating the city’s position: his proposed use would create traffic, fire and parking issues

contrary to freeper tradition, I read a couple articles on it.

[No name given]

Exactly.

[big truck]

Kudos to you. I stand corrected.

[OKSooner]

They’re only following orders...

[for-q-clinton]

Next time say he’s muslim and he’ll get police protection for his prayer group.

[Brian Griffin]

“is proposed use would create traffic, fire and parking issues”

There would be about a dozen people coming and going by foot, four times a day, once or twice in a week. It would not negative impact what homebuyers would pay for a house on his street.

As soon as they reached the sidewalk, they would split up.

I simply don’t know the relevant cases. As long as they are friends, then he’s probably legally protected by the Constitution with respect to the city.

Then there probably is an HOA with deed restrictions.

As for the “fire” issue, building codes and fire codes would have to be consulted.

I once met a man who was a key architect for the tallest building in the PRC. He was studying to become a licensed builder in Florida as he’d make more money supervising house construction for a company than as a top-tier architect.

[mmichaels1970]

I would say he’s got a winning case, unless the city has photos or evidence that this isn’t walk up attendance

[ohioman]

Being an Ohioan myself, this does not surprise me because Cleveland is a communist 💩 hole!

[gnickgnack2]

He should have gotten the permit for the garage only...no sleeping in there.