Rabbi Jacob “Yaakov” Hasis is allegedly using is 26th Avenue home a synagogue, despite the fact that it is only zoned as a single-family residence. The property also has numerous fines and is an eyesore.
Queens Rabbi Allegedly Uses House For Illegal Synagogue
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
A rabbi in Bayside, Queens is under fire for using his home as a synagogue, the Queens Courier reported.
Rabbi Jacob “Yaakov” Hasis is allegedly using is 26th Avenue home a synagogue, despite the fact that it is only zoned as a single-family residence and doing so violates the building’s certificate of occupancy, Department of Buildings spokesman reportedly said.
“This property has many past issues so we take the complaints [against Hasis’ use of the property] very seriously,” the DOB spokesman added.
Hasis reportedly admits neighbors complained about loud noise coming from his home.
But he claims people mistake his 12-person family and few friends who join them to pray for a synagogue.
“My family is 12 people and maybe another three or four of my friends come over to pray. I don’t know why they were complaining,” he reportedly said.
However, Hasis distributed a flier that invites “the whole community” to “Rabbi Yaakov’s shul for the high holidays service.” (The flier does warn that there is “limited space available.”)
Hasis reportedly has a history of making additions to his house without obtaining proper permits and has paid $1,200 in fines. His house reportedly has three open violations for construction without permits, including adding new doors for the basement. The DOB says two of those new doors are “immediately hazardous” and the house’s front yard is filled with construction rubble.