Members of the Jewish community in a New York town that borders New Jersey claim they are the targets of new law adopted by the township that limits the use of a public park to New Jersey residents only.
Last month, a subpoena was issued by the state attorney general’s office that ordered Mahwah to turn over all documents related to the new banning law.
In July, after residents complained about the park facilities being too crowded from the use of New York Orthodox Jewish families, the town created the restrictions on park visitors, according to The Record.
According to VIN, “In the fight over the religious boundary, the Bergen Rockland Eruv Association and two New York residents filed a federal lawsuit last month, alleging that the town is violating their constitutional and civil rights. Some Orthodox Jews consider the boundary, called an eruv, as being needed to allow them to do things like carry keys and push strollers on the Sabbath. Mahwah officials said the markers violate local laws that prohibit signs on trees, rocks and utility poles, and they will start issuing summonses next week if it isn’t removed. They haven’t commented on the lawsuit.”