JACKSON — He moved from Chicago to be closer to his daughter and her family. But he said he cannot practice his religion in the township home he purchased in a 55+ adult community.
Philip Lefkowitz, a retired Orthodox Jewish rabbi who relocated to Jackson in July 2016, moved to his Crooked Stick Road home in the Westlake Golf and Country Club with his two sons, Levi and Moshe. All three suffer from diabetes and have lost parts of their legs from the progression of the disease. All three use wheelchairs to get around.
A classic strategy right from the playbook by the Rabbi.
He should have looked into this before he bought the house, now he wants there rules changed to accommodate him. SMH
This is bullshit.
Wtff. Get real rabbi
move out
He doesnt want to pay taxes i guess
Exactly… Place of worship.. Such bs
they can’t do that in a retirement village , oh wait if your jewish you probably can , they get away with everything
***First off, I’m not defending him or his stupid lawsuit*** It has nothing to do with taxes, it has to do with him building an oversized Sukkah to celebrate Sukkot. BUT!!!! This is a very strict community with very firm by laws that have been in place since it was built. He should have researched more before buying a home there.
Fuck him he can move back to where he came from.
F them
Too bad!!! Move somewhere else. Like Lakewood!!!!! But they’ll bow down to these people. They always do
Woah
we cant have mangers out side police departments any more isn’t it one in the same
55+ communities have HOA rules,if you chose to live there you abide by the rules or move…what makes this jackass think he’s special.
I work in 55+ community and this is exactly right. You move in and sign to abide by certain rules and regulations. You are fully aware of what you are moving into of what you can and cannot do. No basis for this lawsuit.
You are given regulations when you purchase why did he buy there in the first place..fit in or move out!
Judy Heinrichs he’ll pull the race / religion card, Sue, win, change by-laws, people will get fed up, sell, then his community will move in. Classic playbook.
Wouldn’t he had found that BEFORE he bought ?
Marianne Calandriello Levy yes but this is the game they play!!!
They have to start buckling down with these people. It has to stop
Scared to and if residents complain- HARASSED
Clearly we should have a special police force round them all up and force them to live like normal people!
They’re such horrible fucking people
Why didn’t he move to Lakewood? F him
Shouldn’t he have checked this stuff out before he bought a home there? It’s common sense. He knew he was going to need the sukkah when he moved.
Yet when I lived at 60 Acres they had rules I got fined if my kids hockey net was left outside … RULES ARE RULES THE HOA N BOARD DESIGN THEM SO THE PLACE FOES NIT LOOK LIKE A ?hole
When will all this hatred and bigotry end?…who cares what they do?…everyone else lives their life on a daily basis …no one tells you how to honor your god!..I’m so sick of this crap already !….the only thing that bothers me?..is they should follow all the same rules as far as government and social services…so maybe I am on both sides of the coin?..idk but I’m so sick and tired of everyone being in everyone else’s BUSINESS!..mind your own and then?…maybe then?..you can judge others !..other than that I suggest you get your ass in the polling booths this election!…this is bull crap already …people wouldn’t have time to fuck with others lives had they taken care of their own life first!!!!!…just sayjn
I am with you to a certain degree but I’m tired of the race card being used to get what one wants! Cut the ?already and the law has to stop cow towning ALL MUST PAY TAXES ALL MUST ABIDE BY TOWN HOUSE RULES OR DON T LIVE THERE!!
Ester Rozdowski it’s not a race. It’s a religion
When they use their religion to avoid following the rules like everyone else, people are going to be mad
It’s a race and religion but religions don’t show up in DNA test.
Well – tell him to sell and buy a home closer to his place of worship. He should be able to make money on it after 2 years.
Gotta love people who don’t do their homework before making a major investment.
It’s the race card being played
Ester Rozdowski it’s not race it religion
Ester Rozdowski What race card? Lol – ok enlighten me. I haven’t seen a black Jew yet but maybe. Race and religion are two different subjects I thought. If you want to get technical – aren’t all the Jewish people really Asian? Right?
He did this on purpose
Jewish is both a race and a religion. Just an FYI
A sukkah is a -temporary- place of worship for a specific holiday, not a temple.
Jen Wicoff who said anything about a sukkah?
He should have asked questions before he bought into the community. Just for once I would like to see everyone play by the same rules.
I bet he will win
Not saying anything bad
But they get away with alot of stuff just saying
He so full of crap. It’s too funny.
Go back to Chicago!!! We have to stop giving in, they already destroyed Tom’s River!!!
Google his history back in Chicago, he was sued by his house of worship, he has filled similar law suites before…
Send that to the hoa
Maybe the rabbi should have checked into the association guidelines that I’m sure he had to sign papers for that said he will follow all rules instead of trying to change the community for his benefit
Exactly!!!
Let the fall of jackson begin
He’s a ringer. If they give in here they have to let everyone from his faith that moves in there the same rights. Neighbors don’t like it move out and there are more houses available. It worked beautifully in Lakewood.
F him and the rest of the bs cult
People have to read the association guidelines before the sign.
All the community bylaws are fully disclosed in the contract before buying. Nobody FORCED him to move there.
As long as the community has ample wheelchair ramps and parking, they aren’t mandated to do ANYTHING else just because he’s having a hissy fit.
its a hissy fit any time they open their mouths.
Its ridiculous always drama, just obey the laws
Should have looked into that before moving in from chicago
I’m so sick of it already ?
Use his home as a religious temple and don’t pay taxes, he we go again! What about the ones who committed fraud and they walk away from jail time. Disgusting!
Cathie Accomando
Why doesnt he move back to Chicago and take all his people back with him??
What does religion have to do with a disability… You can pray all you want in your home as many TAX payers do but in America it is a choice.Pay taxes like every other disabled person.
They have acess link buses to pick you up and take you anywhere including LAKEWOOD.
WE TAX PAYERS NEED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ONLY THE HASIDIC RELIGION BEING A WAY TO GET EVERYTHING..Men aren’t studying everyday 8 hours a day so get a job..People are sick of allowing them to control our courts with bias shit
He does not want to pay property taxes. So he can use as a religious building … no taxes for him. Looking for a loop hole
I understand that…I HATE THE BIAS CRAP GOING ON …only they can cry foul for everything
plus they not allowed in vehicles on friday sundown to saturday sundown.
Get the fuck outttaaa here , his family took over enough.
Maybe I’ll put an alter in my house and don’t pay taxes
I’m with ya! I’m going to start having my family and friends over every sunday to practice my faith–can I then call my house a “place of worship” and sue the town for back taxes? craziness…seriously. The reason they are in such poor condition is their own fault– they obviously didn’t control there blood sugar…This doesn’t happen over night it takes YEARS of non compliance!
He should’ve moved to Lakewood if he was concerned. Tell him there’s a new invention called an Automobile.
How do you retire as a Rabbi?
It was a matter of time. They are going to challenge all of those communities. They get in 1, they get in all of them
I would question as to why this person moved from another state without checking into whether the 55+ community allows the type of construction this man wants to build. That would be a common sense type of thing to do before moving a few states considering his level of disability.
Cult members are not know to have common sense.
i pray in my house but i still have to pay my taxes
He’s still paying taxes, he just isn’t allowed to build the sukkah for sukkot.
So the story allows you to draw your own conclusions then? Ok – well – 3 men in wheel chairs, all of whom have diabetes, looking for Shabbat and an innumerable amount of Jewish holidays to come to them? That’s funny!
My conclusion is that the new disabled homeowners failed to read the regulations regarding their new home BEFORE moving to a 55+ community. Most do not allow fences or permanent construction such as a shed. All do have bylaws and regulations that stipulate what a homeowner can or cannot do with the home and the property it sits on.
Renee Lachapelle – absolutely. The same is true of those who do not take the time to go to townhall and read the township ordinances prior to enticing an entire community to live amongst secular residents. Thank have never seen a community so absolutely willing to take people to federal court because the plaintiffs don’t know the ordinances.
Cindi Tonkovich my curiosity is, how old are his 2 sons. Every 55+ community only allows 1 adult child over the age of 19 to live with you in a 55+ community. So, if they are both under the age, why hasn’t the community pushed the bi-laws and have them removed?
Leigh Anne Sullivan – We don’t know how old the rabbi is. If he’s 80 it’s more than possible that both of his sons are also over 55. They could all three be on the deed.
Cindi Tonkovich I would want to know all the facts.
Oh fucking well too bad
Dawn Gagen Malone
TIME TO BUILD A WALL
If the town makes exceptions for every person there will be utter chaos. You know what you’re moving into. If you don’t like it, move somewhere else. People move in and think they can change the whole system just to suit their needs without regards to others.
Booo whooo to bad dude.
Oh bullshit!!! The rules were in place when he purchased the home. Should have moved into his daughters house, or in Lakewood where the allow that crap
Here we go again w this bs ??♀️ if they concede, he sets a precedence. NO !!
What the lawsuit will do is drive up the cost for the other residents who will have to pay the legal fees for a lawsuit against their homeowner’s association.
How about we fight to change the tax law? Separation of church and state, so all religious houses should pay taxes!!
It has nothing to do with his taxes.
Ok, sure. First step is getting his Sukkah. Next step is claiming his house as a permanent house of worship, therefore no taxes. We’re not stupid here.
Holy fucking anti-Semitism. Look I have issues with the behavior of a lot of the folks in Lakewood but at least do a little critical thinking before you start spouting so much venom. He’s not asking to make a house of worship. A Sukkot is a temporary tent put up after the new year as a fall celebration. People make it out of all sorts of things I think. Buts just a temporary structure that they decorate and have meals in when the weather is good. All he’s asking is to have one big enough for the wheelchairs. If it was anyone asking to have a canopy to enjoy the outdoors without mosquitos and they needed a wheelchair (which seems pretty dang likely in a 55+ place), that’s a reasonable disability accommodation. The fact also is this structure is part of his religious observance. It’s a reasonable request. HOAs are strict but so is the 1st Amendment and the ADA. And for the path? I don’t know the area so I can’t speak officially on it, but since he’s forbidden from driving on Sabbath, it’d be nice to see the community work with him to find a reasonable accommodation.
When this man was originally threatening the lawsuit the problem the association had was he was asking to make the sukkah permanent because he and his sons could not physically take it down every season due to their disability. The association doesn’t allow porches (which is what the sukkah would be since it would be permanent) in whatever style home he bought. I don’t know when it changed to a size issue from a permanent structure issue.
Jenn Allen I’m sure his daughter or someone in the community would be a good mensch to help him put it up and take it down. I agree he shouldn’t be allowed to just make it permanent
Here’s the link where it said he wanted to build a screened in porch to serve as a sukkah. http://nj1015.com/disabled-rabbi-fights-gated-community-for-sidewalks-and-screened-in-porch/
The rules are very clear. If u don’t like the rules don’t buy in a restricted community. He wants the rules bent for him. Doesn’t work that way
Bs you abide by the bylaws. End of story. You dont like you do not buy into.
Mark Zambella Honestly still doesn’t excuse the anti-Semitic remarks people are making.
Jenn Allen Let them hire someone to put it up or take it down. No family to do it? No fellow Jewish men to help? Nonsense!
The sob wants his way and pulling out the jew card. Thats how they play the game and usually win. These parasites blow my mind for what they get away with. I will not respond to comments as this is just my my opinion like it or not
Barbara Ann I’m not defending the Rabbi, I was simply stating what his original issue was, and saying I don’t understand how it now changed to an issue over the size. Maybe the Association gave in and said he could have the screened porch after he threatened a lawsuit, and not that they agreed to allow it he changed the size? I don’t know, I only know that per the link I attached above the original issue was that the Association wouldn’t allow him to build anything because it would be permanent.
IMO pre-meditated lawsuit
So why did he buy there…. oh yeah so he can do exactly what he is doing …?.
As they say “ here come the Jews” Take a car!!!
Oy vay
Vey lol
They need to stay in Lakewood … 2 families just moved into my neighborhood … I live in Toms River .. before we know it all of ocean county will be taken over
No discrimination!!!!!!!!Follow the rules like everyone else or relocate.
this is another bs lawsuit trying to force their beliefs on their neighbors. they got a copy of the rules before they bought. now they try and change the rules to suit themselves. enough already. i hope the community fights this. nobody has the right to try to force everyone else into something they don’t want. the bylaws say no “hut” then no hut. the gate is locked for everyone’s safety and security…why should it get opened for one person? answer: it shouldn’t.
Their plan is to takeover Ocean County. They even advertised Lakewood in an airport in Israel. They more here, live off your taxes and will take your home from you. Horrible people.
Did he not inquire as to the bylaws of the community PRIOR to the purchase of his home which would be the sensible thing to do?
If he doesn’t like it he can move. Bye.
So sick of people expecting to make their own laws.
The hell with build a wall down south it should be around Lakewood
To bad !
Reasonable disability accommodations do not encompass every structure and a blanket exclusion from code regulations. Hypocritical individuals that play the discrmination/lawsuit card and own rental properties discriminate against disabled people of other religious denominations. IE A population that pays a cost share of $70 per month for subsidized rent, is targeted as tenants. If the renter fails to pay or an owner doesn’t worry about collecting it because the larger portion is paid by the government. These are able bodied renters that have cash income, and a turnover of “guests”. These renters are not going to complain about code safety/code violations. These are not disabled because SSD is generally around $1200/month of reported income. 30% of their income is the renter’s cost share that equates to close to $300/month. And disabled on SSI at $500/month would be $150/month. Clearly, the disabled of other religions are discriminated against by the some “religious” folks that cry wolf. Someone talkative looking to buy a home told me, and this was what that individual was advised back in 2015.
There are rules for a reason, don’t like them, move
He knew the rules BEFORE he moved in !
This country has been on a guilt trip see WW11 concerning the Jewish populace. They came here to escape religious persecution but really they don’t assimilate into the area but rather act rather tribal staying amongst themselves reaping tax exceptions yet utilizing public services . Their marriages are not recorded with the state and thus families are eligible to public assistance.
So true
People need to read contracts before buying a home. He can practice his religion, he just can’t hold service there. I think most people practice their religion at home. He doesn’t want to pay taxes. This is one of the reasons that religious organizations should not be exempt from taxation
An Eruv is also a form of accommodation as is stated at https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/eruv/ : On Shabbat…The prohibition against carrying includes house keys, prayer books, canes or walkers, and even children who cannot walk on their own…The sages of the Talmud devised a way to allow for carrying in public without breaking the rule. Through this means, called an eruv , communities are able to turn a large area into one that is considered, for Jewish law purposes, a large private domain, in which items may be carried. Notably stated: The talmudic Rabbis, however, were concerned with maintaining the integrity of the halakhic (Jewish legal) system while ensuring that the law is livable. Though the eruv makes use of a legal technicality, the fact that it is used — rather than allowing people to just carry anything, anywhere — is itself considered a form of respect for and submission to a legal system that is central and indispensable to traditionalist Jewish life. So an eruv is a “form of respect”?
Interestingly, an eruv is a form of accommodation. On Shabbat all activities associated with work are prohibited, and according to traditional Jewish law include… traveling, spending money, and carrying items outside the home, in the public domain.
The prohibition against carrying includes… canes or walkers, and even children who cannot walk on their own…the sages of the Talmud devised a way to allow for carrying in public without breaking the rule. Through this means, called an eruv , communities are able to turn a large area into one that is considered, for Jewish law purposes, a large private domain, in which items may be carried. The talmudic Rabbis, however, were concerned with maintaining the integrity of the halakhic (Jewish legal) system while ensuring that the law is livable. Though the eruv makes use of a legal technicality, the fact that it is used — rather than allowing people to just carry anything, anywhere — is itself considered a form of respect for and submission to a legal system that is central and indispensable to traditionalist Jewish life.
The eruv helps enhance an aspect of Shabbat that the Rabbis considered vital — “oneg Shabbat,” the injunction to enjoy the Sabbath. With an eruv, Shabbat events are available to all families — young and old, mobile and less mobile — and individuals are able to carry house keys, reading glasses, or books outside their homes.
On Shabbat all activities associated with work are prohibited, and according to traditional Jewish law include formal employment as well as traveling, spending money, and carrying items outside the home, in the public domain.
The prohibition against carrying includes… canes or walkers, and even children who cannot walk on their own…the sages of the Talmud devised a way to allow for carrying in public without breaking the rule. Through this means, called an eruv , communities are able to turn a large area into one that is considered, for Jewish law purposes, a large private domain, in which items may be carried.Though the eruv makes use of a legal technicality, the fact that it is used — rather than allowing people to just carry anything, anywhere — is itself considered a form of respect for and submission to a legal system that is central and indispensable to traditionalist Jewish life.
They read the rules..they understood them..they just never follow rules anywhere..ever
Interestingly an eruv is a form of accommodation. On Shabbat all activities associated with work are prohibited, and according to traditional Jewish law include formal employment as well as traveling, spending money, and carrying items outside the home, in the public domain.
The prohibition against carrying includes… canes or walkers, and even children who cannot walk on their own…the sages of the Talmud devised a way to allow for carrying in public without breaking the rule. Through this means, called an eruv , communities are able to turn a large area into one that is considered, for Jewish law purposes, a large private domain, in which items may be carried. Though the eruv makes use of a legal technicality…rather than allowing people to just carry anything, anywhere — is itself considered a form of respect for and submission to a legal system that is central and indispensable to traditionalist Jewish life. There is additional information where this was found at https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/eruv/
Who do jew think you are? Jew think you can just change the laws because of your BELIEFS. Go to the court with something jew follow that isnt a pain in the ass for the rest of us
That’s what they do. Slowly take over until the good people move out and then it’s another shithole, driving home values down.
They just moved in on our street 2 weeks ago and since then we have three neighbors selling. There goes the neighborhood.
Pat Zennario , and that sucks… if people would stop selling once a few move in this whole “Taking over the neighborhood ” would stop!! I tell people that all the time, they dont take over, people let them do it… Dont sell and they’ll have no place to buy!!
They are either selling to get away or bcuz they were offered an insane amount of money for their homes.
1 house bought, then another. The remaining few that don’t want to sell, they push out. An acquaintance of mine refused to sell. Then the houses next to her were rented out to several men who were loud, partied and didn’t upkeep anything.
Everything they do is planned out. If only our own stuck together and jerked one another out.
So!! He gonna win??
So take ur dumb ass daughter and move back to Chicago!!! Take all these other scummers with u!
Don’t you think they would find out first about Religion,they know exactly what they are doing ?
What are they’re jobs exactly? They defraud the government continuously. Not all dont what to come off as anti semitic. But seriously why do they’re beliefs dictate rules and bylaws of communities?
Brett Solano
The homeowners rules were in place before they moved in. Stop The shenanigans.
Just sit back and watch how our if control this will be. If he wanted a structure for Sukkot then he needed a single family home not a condo.
Fuck Him
Lester Leviness it’s getting rampant down here
So I’m not 55+ and I don’t like their rules… Can I sue??? Ijs….
I am sooo sick of this… “poor me” “you don’t like me cause I’m a jew”…. “stop picking on me”… CUT ME A DAMN BREAK…. I don’t like you cause you act like you so much better then everyone else… and Nooo I’m not antisemedic, (which I was called, because I don’t think they should be able to put crime scean tape up allmover Toms River, so they can walk from place to place)… should have seen his face when I told him, “my Grandmother was born In Israel, her family fled Germany right as Hitler was coming into power, my Grandmother was a Jew”…. shut him up and he walked away….
I’m Pagan… you don’t see me getting a tax break.. and my kind practice our religion at our homes…or we get togther with others of our kind at each other’s home… we don’t have a big are building in the middle of Lakewood to go to….. but…. we can’t get a tax break…. why??? Why can’t I hang my religious symbols from Utility poles…. I can’t put my “protection” crime sceen tape up, so evil spirits can’t get me… like that would stop an Evil spirit… “ohhh look out plastic tape is up, damn Casper they got one over on us”…. Christ on a Cracker…
It’s our fault these 3 didn’t take care of their medical condition and have missing limbs…… ???? Noooo it’s their fault…. eat correctly and take ya meds, wash ya ass more then 2x a week, and maybe ya asses would still have your legs and feet….damn….
Pffff with them already… freakin move… stop thinking you have more rights then the rest of the damn world……
Uggggggg so sick of you people…….
SO RELOCATE !!!!! STOP CHANGING EVERYTHING AROUND YOU !!!
Tony Graham
I moved into a 55+ community knowing the rules. I hate it. I’m moving this weekend. If you don’t like the rules! MOVE!
Anyone really surprised? They’ll scream antisemitism because it’s all they have, Jackson will fold. They know exactly what they’re doing. Not just a Lakewood problem anymore…
???
You mean has to pay taxes
This is their MO. They are taking over NJ and our government is allowing it! They barely pay taxes, they have learned to work our system to a T and now we will have huts and strings all over the place. Everyone should be threatening to sue like they do and MAYBE the governing bodies will wake up.
Move out
Reading these comments has been horrifying.