Judge Closes Chabad Center Due To Fire And Safety Violations

Judge Brian Kim ruled late last month that the rabbi violated a May 21 order that limited the Chabad Israeli Center to no more than 25 worshippers, and only on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, because the building did not meet fire safety rules.

Judge shutters Rockville Jewish center
Liz Essley • Washington Examiner

A Montgomery County judge has forced a Jewish center in a Rockville residential neighborhood to shut down, saying its rabbi transgressed the judge's rule on what days he could hold services.

Judge Brian Kim ruled late last month that the rabbi violated a May 21 order that limited the Chabad Israeli Center to no more than 25 worshippers, and only on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, because the building did not meet fire safety rules.

The center must stand empty until it is in complete compliance with regulations, Kim said.

The center, a former single-family home on Rollins Avenue, and its Orthodox rabbi, Shlomo Beitsh, have been entangled in regulatory struggles with the city since 2008, when the Israeli Center came to city officials' attention for operating without occupancy and use permits since 2003.

Steven VanGrack, Beitsh's lawyer, told The Washington Examiner that the rabbi violated the judge's order twice since May -- once when he was giving members a tour of updates to the building and once when he was housing girls in need of shelter after their former hostess died of cancer.

VanGrack said the heart of the matter was "a good rabbi who meant to do the right thing but he ended up doing something that the court decided -- and rightfully so -- was violating the court order."

Beitsh and his family live next door to the Israeli Center. Neighbors have formed an informal committee to closely monitor the center and report code violations to the authorities.

"We just want a nice, quiet neighborhood. We had no problem until the rabbi continually refused to follow the rules and work with the city," neighbor Katherine Schwering said.

VanGrack said their watchful eyes have frightened the rabbi's wife and children, but that the attention doesn't seem to stem from anti-Semitism.

"There's certainly nothing blatant. ... It's just the feel of the people at the Chabad Israeli Center that they're under very, very tight scrutiny by a few of these neighbors," VanGrack said.

The center is now working with the city of Rockville to meet building standards, said Susan Swift, director of community planning and development services for the city.

Beitsh is in Israel and could not be reached for comment.

Comments

[nachos]

Is this judge like Haman also?

[David]

We had no problem until the rabbi continually refused to follow the rules

Why doesn't this surprise me?

[effie]

Seven years and they have yet to get it up to code...

[chaim1]

because it did not meet fire safety rules

a cult also doesnt meet Jewish religious rules

[abc]

Close em down. Liars and leeches

[Eliezer]

Heinous crime, that - giving shelter to girls whose hostess died. Even worse to give a tour of the premises to potential donors who might be able to finance the necessary improvements.

Get a life, people. Not EVERYTHING chabad does is evil.

[chaim1]

Get a life, people. Not EVERYTHING chabad does is evil.

No its not evil but a cult is not jewish either

[Menachem Mendel lll]

WHY isn't Nathen Lewis screaming, yelling and quoting the torah and talumd in an attempt to show this honorable Judge "lied and is an ememy of the jews,"

After all, isn't Nathan Lewis a believer in Ahavas Yisroel Uber Alles and cares for every yid regardless of his off shore bank accounts, gold Krugerrands, Swiss Francs, stocks and bonds.

Noone said it better than Jerry Maguire:
"SHOW ME THE GELT"
"SHOW ME THE GELT"
"SHOW ME THE F'in GELT".

Show me.......the Moshiach!

[harold]

I hope that they continue to grow and get the variances needed to expand right under the "watchful" eyes of their "not anti-Semitic" neighbors.

[David]

I hope that they continue to grow and get the variances needed to expand right under the "watchful" eyes of their "not anti-Semitic" neighbors.

Posted by: harold | August 09, 2010 at 11:07 AM

I hope they do too, Harold. All they need to do is to follow the same rules as everyone else is expected to, Jew and Gentile alike.

[harold]

I hope they do too, Harold. All they need to do is to follow the same rules as everyone else is expected to, Jew and Gentile alike.

Exactly. Here in the 5 towns the chabad's building is up to standards. They are in great standings with the local officials and B"H they are busting at the seams and will in all probability have to look for a new place to call home.

[Anon please]

Gee, for a minute I thought it was the Turen's dormitory building in chicago.