Posted on 09/12/2010 1:30:21 PM PDT by jessduntno
The scenic village green of Litchfield has long symbolized the charms of Connecticut small-town life. Settled in 1721, it hosts tourists drawn by its Revolutionary War history: Litchfield served as a "safe town" for Continental forces seeking refuge while the British occupied New York City.
But this fall, the celebrated tourist town of about 8,500 will receive publicity for quite a different reason: charges of religious discrimination.
This summer, a federal judge ruled that sufficient evidence of "discrimination against Jewish people" may exist, warranting a trial over the Borough of Litchfield's denial of a Hasidic group's application to build a synagogue on the west end of Litchfield Green. The ruling virtually guarantees a trial this fall on a controversy that has deeply divided the town.
In December 2007, the borough's historic district commission, after contentious hearings, denied an application by Chabad Lubavitch of Litchfield County to extensively renovate a historic house just below the green. The group's plans included a synagogue, living space for Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach and his large family and a swimming pool for the Chabad group's popular summer camp.
Among other objections, the commission cited plans to replace a single front door with double doors and the addition would dwarf the existing historic home and others in the neighborhood.
Chairwoman Wendy Kuhne objected to Chabad's proposed use of a Star of David on the synagogue by stating that it "may not comply with the [historic] district." In the uproar that followed, Kuhne was depicted on a local website wearing a Nazi uniform, and she recused herself from the vote on the synagogue.
-snip-
"Several statements were made in what appear to be meetings of the [historic district commission] that may contain evidence of discrimination directed against Jewish people in general and the Chabad in particular."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Incidents such as this one are the reason why I never could understand liberalism. If they were truly secular, why favor Muslims over the other religions? It doesn’t convert Muslims, and it tells them the wrong message that they are priviliged or can get away with what Jews and Christians wouldn’t. They aren’t discouraging radical islam one bit. They fail to realize that radical islam doesn’t care how nice they play, they’re still the infidels in the eyes of radical islam.
Liberals and Muslims serve the same master.
But the liberals shoot themselves in the foot while serving that master.
Big objections;
1. The group’s plans included a synagogue
2. living space for Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach
3. and large swimming pool
Gee. It sounds like the Muslim Victory Center in NYC to me.
What’s the problem, isn’t it overlooking a Palestinian death camp or something?
Of course you know the answer is that liberals aren’t agnostic after all, they are primarily anti-American. The Left is not secular in any true sense. They are boosters for any religion that demonizes American Christians and patriots. When we were kids, the liberals favored the mud/earth/pagan/Eastern religions over Christianity. Since 9/11 they’ve discovered something even better, a religion that truly wants to destroy Western Civilization, and which calls America the Great Satan.
Islam is a pot smoking malcontent cult’s dream. Until Sharia Law actually beheads them first. Oooops!
Do liberals know what muslims do to women and homosexuals?
Look at the big picture here.....this is a pesky man who wants to make chages which are against the guideslines as outlined in qualifying as an “Historic District”. I am sure if any muslim went to Litchfield and tried to hang the star and crescent he would be met with the same opposition. If ANYONE wanted to go there renovate an historic-district home they would be met with opposition to anything that was not ‘kosher’ according to these quidelines. Believe me, I have friends with homes in National Historic Districts and you need to comply before making any little change. This is much ado about nothing.
We have more serious things to think about.
“I am sure if any muslim went to Litchfield and tried to hang the star and crescent he would be met with the same opposition.”
No, he wouldn’t. Moral relativism at its stinky best. You mean as opposed to putting up a victory mosque on the killing grounds?
Here are four Federal Appeals Court Cases where they upheld a city’s right to deny building permits for church construction. These were all argued by liberal big city types against jewish and christian structures. I guess it’s only muslims who have the constitutional right to build a mosque. It appears to me the constitutional law professor pretending to be the president hasn’t read his case law.
Lakewood, Ohio Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses v. City of Lakewood, 699 F.2d 303 (6th Cir. 1983)
Christian Gospel Church, Inc. v. San Francisco, 896 F.2d 1221 (9th Cir. 1990)
Grosz v. City of Miami Beach, 721 F.2d 729 (11th Cir. 1983).
Messiah Baptist Church v. County of Jefferson, 859 F.2d 820 (10th Cir. 1988).
People who don't object to mosques in lower Manhattan, may also not object to a Chabad center. Not even the worst bigots are going to try to keep Jews out of New York City nowadays. Similarly, those who object to a Lubavitch settlement in Litchfield county would probably object to a madrassa or Islamic center there.
Nobody in exurbia wants to be accused of letting the lower classes in whatever their color or religion. Once people of another race or ethnicity or religion have already moved in, there's less objection to letting them have their houses of worship.
The few ones who know don’t care, so pure is their hatred of NASCAR church-going America. I’d wager that 90% of liberal gays and liberal Jews are rooting for the Taliban in their own twisted way... and they will be first in line for beheading. Talk about a blind hate!
Litchfield County Jewish Community Center
Chabad Lubavitch
Village Green, Litchfield, CT 06759
P. 860.567.3609 P.860.567.2796
E-mail: info@jewishlitchfield.com
http://www.jewishlitchfield.com
Friday 6:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 am
Sunday, Lox, Torah, Bagels, 9:00 am
Sunday, Hebrew School 10:00 am
Wednesday, Talmud 8-9:00 PM
I'm Jewish, okay, and I have no problem with Chabad, but the "Greens" in the New England colonial towns have always been dominated by the official church of that colony. I find it a nice reminder that puts the lie to all the separation of church and state nonsense that the liberals preach these days. Let Chabad find someplace a block away from the Green.
ML/NJ
“I don’t know what this has to do with Muslims...Let Chabad find someplace a block away from the Green.”
Yep. That was pretty much the point.
Interesting. I wonder if they’ve granted similar variances to their historic district regulations that would indicate this particular refusal is based on religious discrimination.
Historic preservation committees can be absolutely deranged. However, to be fair, if the town depends on looking like 1777, a big modern Chabad center with a large swimming pool could be a real problem. It depends on what else has already been allowed.
and so history repeats itself in so many ways.
“Historic preservation committees can be absolutely deranged.”
I know how they feel. The Victory Mosque will be built over our dead bodies over our dead bodies ... this is a tale of two cities with identical dilemmas; one with the outrage, the other with a silent nod. Disgusting.
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