Mezuza Flap in Florida
This story is interesting:
Well, the case seems pretty open-and-shut to me. Even if the condo's bylaws prohibit the hanging of a mezuza, it appears from the tenant's account that they are ignored when the building's tenants hang wreaths for the holidays. It would seem to follow that the condo association should turn a similar blind eye to the hanging of a mezuza.
To be honest, what really confuses me about this story is how Ms. Richter managed to find what is apparently the only condo in South Florida that has Christians outnumbering Jews.
FORT LAUDERDALE -- Laurie Richter says Jewish law requires her to attach a mezuza to her doorpost.
But the board that runs The Port condominium says displaying the 5-inch-long case with a religious message inside violates the condo documents and has ordered it removed.
Because wreaths were allowed on doors during Christmas, Richter accuses her board of discrimination.
"I don't want to be causing any rifts here so Christians can't hang wreaths, but it seems the rights of Jewish people are being violated because Christians don't have to hang wreaths but we have to hang mezuzas," she said.
The association that runs the 16-story, 129-unit condo cites the bylaws that prohibit owners and occupants from attaching, hanging, affixing or displaying anything on the exterior walls, doors, balconies, railings and windows of the building.
Neither the association's president, Ronni L. Rosenberg, nor its community association manager, Marcy L. Kravit, could be reached for comment despite several attempts by phone.
Richter, 28, an attorney, moved into the two-bedroom apartment as a renter Dec. 1. She put up the mezuza using double-sided tape to avoid permanent damage to the building, she said, but was immediately told to remove it.
Well, the case seems pretty open-and-shut to me. Even if the condo's bylaws prohibit the hanging of a mezuza, it appears from the tenant's account that they are ignored when the building's tenants hang wreaths for the holidays. It would seem to follow that the condo association should turn a similar blind eye to the hanging of a mezuza.
To be honest, what really confuses me about this story is how Ms. Richter managed to find what is apparently the only condo in South Florida that has Christians outnumbering Jews.
posted by orthomom at 8:23 PM
9 Comments:
Just another example of how non-observant Jews can be the worst enemy of frum Jews. We see that all the time in the 5T school board election season.
The same thing happened in Chicago...
http://www.juf.org/news_public_affairs/article.asp?key=7039
And, just so you know, we non-Orthodox Jews were equally upset and offended by that situation. And non-Orthodox Jews helped draft and pass legislation to ensure this would never happen again.
And, just so you know, we non-Orthodox Jews were equally upset and offended by that situation. And non-Orthodox Jews helped draft and pass legislation to ensure this would never happen again.
I'm sure you were. I don't at all see this as an Orthodox issue.
Orthomom - I am sorry, I meant no offense to you. My comment was directed at keithninety, who stated that this was "Just another example of how non-observant Jews can be the worst enemy of frum Jews." It just makes my blood boil when people assume that just because Jews aren't "observant," they don't care about egregious offenses such as these.
No offense taken whatsoever.
My parents live in a condo in Delray Beach, and they displayed an Israeli flag on their window, from the inside and seen outside. They were harassed by the neighbors and told that they will not be able to continue to rent there if the flag is displayed.
The condo rules are like "living in a jail", says my dad.
Meshugah Mommy:
I don't make the assumption you suggest. But the facts speak for themselves. There are many instances where non-observant Jews make things difficult for observant Jews simply because they don't want to see the religion observed in their faces. I don't assume that this is always so, but very often it is.
Keithninety - there are rotten people - both observant and non-observant. But to suggest that "very often" non-observant Jews make things difficult for frum Jews JUST BECAUSE they don't want to see their religious practiced is a pretty inflammatory statement. Believe me - I've gotten my share of nasty looks from religious Jews. I don't however, hold the believe that "very often" frum people will snub me or otherwise act rudely.
We're all Jews. Period.
Open and shut or not, the issue is STILL and issue. We should do something about it, like call the organization or write an e-mail.
Post a Comment
<< Home