Chabad of the Beaches, a small Jewish congregation, has returned to federal court to address what it describes as ongoing discrimination by officials in the Village of Atlantic Beach, New York. The congregation, represented by First Liberty Institute, filed an amended complaint alleging antisemitic motives behind the village’s actions to block Chabad’s use of its property for religious purposes.
The legal dispute began in 2021 when Chabad of the Beaches purchased a property intending to establish a center for worship, education, and community outreach. The property had been vacant for over three years and was on the market for more than a year, with no prior interest from the village.
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Illusration of of a Chabad house that is supposed to be established
(Photo: Screenshot)
However, days after Chabad’s purchase, village officials announced plans to seize the property, citing a need for a community center and lifeguard operations facility.
Chabad initially reached a settlement with the village in late 2023 after a federal district court ruled in its favor, halting the village’s eminent domain claim. Earlier this year, the congregation submitted a special permit application to use the property for religious purposes, but the village zoning board rejected the request in November.
The amended complaint accuses village officials of using the eminent domain claim and zoning regulations as a pretext for antisemitic discrimination. Private communications uncovered in the case reveal offensive remarks by village officials about Chabad and the Jewish community.
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In one text message, a village judge told the mayor, “Most people don’t want the Chabad and just don’t want to say it. Any secular Jew doesn’t want them.” The mayor responded, “Very true.”
Other communications included troubling language. A village trustee wrote to the mayor in an email: “There is a pending contract by Habbad [sic] of LB to buy the property. We cannot d*** around anymore. We need to move fast.”
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A hanukkiah in New York
(Photo: Alexi J. Rosenfeld / Getty Images North America / AFP)
Another trustee described Chabad’s presence as a “nightmare” and suggested, “Hassidic groups like Chabad of the Beaches must be stopped from ‘buying the world—a town by town, city by city…they have the numbers—they procreate.’”
First Liberty argues that these statements provide clear evidence of antisemitic bias. “Houses of worship should not be subjected to this type of discrimination and repulsive treatment,” the organization said in a statement.
Chabad of the Beaches is seeking relief to use its property for its religious mission and to halt what it claims is a pattern of targeted harassment by the village. Village officials have not yet responded publicly to the amended complaint.