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Article Courtesy of Channel
7 News Miami
By
Brandon Beyer, Kevin Boulandier
Published September 30, 2024
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WATCH VIDEO |
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COOPER CITY - A South Florida rabbi is in a religious dispute with his
homeowners association after, he said, they are restricting him from expressing
his religious views ahead of the Jewish holiday.
Rabbi Shmuel Hurwitz lives in the Embassy Lakes community in Cooper City, and he
likes to have his menorah out year-round and play his shofar.
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But this year, Hurwitz said, the
community’s association told him he couldn’t do it.
“The most recent threat from the lawyer is that they will
not allow us; they’re saying you’re not allowed to go and
gather,” said Hurwitz. “Again, this is residents of Embassy
Lakes that want to gather together in their own common
area.”
Hurwitz said the association has even threatened to go to
his house and take down the menorah.
“‘We’ll come onto your lawn, and if need be, cut the menorah
at its base.’ This outraged many people in this community,”
said Hurwitz.
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He
said he had played the shofar for the last four years on Rosh Hashanah to
celebrate the Jewish New Year with his neighbors.
“It’s basically to coordinate God as our king and announce that, ‘God, we are
committed to you, and please make this year filled with blessings and success,'”
said Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, who is supporting Hurwitz.
He believes the association is unfair to him, as other religious symbols such as
the Virgin Mary and a Buddha are allowed in the community.
“If you walk around this neighborhood, you’ll see that there are other religious
statues, and which rightfully so, let them have that up,” said Hurwitz.
The rabbi said everyone should feel welcome in the Cooper City community.
“I want to believe that Embassy Lakes should be a place free for religion and
not free from religion,” said Hurwitz.
The rabbi hopes to be able to keep his menorah and to continue celebrating the
Jewish holiday in his neighborhood.
“I want everyone to express their beliefs and religion without the fear of
people coming after them,” said Hurwitz.
7News reached out to the homeowners association multiple times, but did not get
a response.
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