Earlier today, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino filed a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court alleging that the Township of Mahwah had discriminated against Orthodox Jews in enacting two ordinances: one, prohibiting the construction of any eruv in the Township; and the second, banning non-New Jersey residents from using Mahwah’s public parks.
Mahwah borders certain parts of heavily Orthodox Rockland County, and the Township Council was seeking ways to discourage Orthodox Jews from moving to Mahwah or even from enjoying its public facilities.
“But what is truly stunning is that the haters who sought to employ every means possible to prevent Orthodox Jews from moving into Mahwah or even visiting its public parks were quite open in expressing their hatred. Attorney General Porrino deserves all the credit in the world for challenging this blatant discrimination in a court of law.”
In a a letter this past July to Mahwah’s Mayor, William C. Laforet, Agudath Israel’s executive vice president Rabbi David Zwiebel implored the Mayor to allow the maintenance of an eruv in Mahwah.