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HAVERSTRAW – A federal judge has dismissed a legal action seeking to block a residential synagogue and overrule a federal law aiming to protect religious liberty. The case involved residents opposed to a synagogue at 62 Riverglen Drive. Haverstraw officials had approved K’hal Bnei Torah of Mount Ivy’s plan to convert the single-family house into a synagogue. Ruling: Federal judge dismisses legal action to block synagogue in Haverstraw and challenge federal law A property at 62 Riverglen Street in Thiells was the topic of a Nov. 10, 2021, Haverstraw Town Planning Board public hearing. The owners, Congregation K’hal Bnei Torah of Mount Ivy, are seeking variances to expand the building for a neighborhood synagogue. The Orthodox Jewish congregation’s attorneys argued for dismissal of the legal action. They cited the constitutional protection of religion, specifically the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. Attorneys for three neighbors behind the legal challenge countered that RLUIPA is not only not applicable but is flawed law that discriminates in favor of religion. The lawsuit challenged RLUIPA’s constitutionality and cited the federal government and the congregation. The residents also argued the synagogue posed a public nuisance due to traffic and parking. […]