Neighbor Sues Over Home's Use As Synaogue

KDFW News reported last week on a lawsuit in Dallas, Texas against a rabbi who is using a home in a residential neighborhood as a meeting place for his 25-person Orthodox Jewish congregation.  David Schneider, who lives in the home across the street and was recently elected head of the homeowners association, says that the rabbi is violating homeowners association rules. Schneider is seeking $50,000 in damages contending that the synagogue has lowered his property values.  Religious services are held in the synagogue twice a day, and Rabbi Yaakov Rich has filed a certificate with the City of Dallas notifying it of his use of the building as a synagogue, known as Congregation Toras Chaim. Liberty Institute is defending the synagogue, contending that the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act protects the right to use the home for religious meetings and worship. (Press release.)