Boston Area Chabad Congregation Gets Controversial Zoning Approval

Today's Boston Globe reports that the Board of Aldermen in Newton Highlands (MA) have given in to a Chabad Orthodox Jewish congregation and voted to permit them to build a new synagogue building on property the congregation owns, even though the facility will have 60 fewer parking spaces than zoning rules require. Beth Menachem Chabad argued that since their members generally walk to services on Saturday, the added parking spaces are not needed. Opponents say that inevitably the building will be used for other events that require parking. The battle over municipal approval of the building has included charges by Beth Menachem members that officials who opposed the building plans were anti-Semitic.