Written by Don Byrd
Residents in a North Dallas neighborhood are unhappy that one home is being used for services of an Orthodox Jewish congregation. A lawsuit challenging the use as a violation of the homeowners’ covenant, however, has encountered arguments that disallowing the congregation’s meeting place would violate the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
The judge in the case declined yesterday to issue an injunction halting the services.
The Dallas Morning News has more:
District Judge Jill Willis said she was denying the temporary injunction based on the law and the brief evidence heard Thursday. The lawsuit in Collin County, which was first reported in March, will proceed.
“I’m overfilled with appreciation to the judge,” Rabbi Yaakov Rich said after the hearing, citing the congregation’s need to have a place to meet for Passover, which begins Monday.
You can read a brief in opposition to the lawsuit, explaining the religious freedom implications here (via Religion Clause).
