The Jackson Planning Board on Monday evening approved the construction of Bais Medrash of Jackson on S. New Prospect, concluding a contentious legal battle that has stretched for more than seven years.
Bais Medrash of Jackson was the first shul in the township to seek approval for construction. However, the application was met with significant opposition, often fueled by antisemitic sentiment. Throughout the process, the shul faced hostility at numerous Township Council meetings, where it was the target of public harassment. Elected officials were also accused of sending township employees to monitor the shul, which was legally operating out of a home at the time, in an effort to shut it down.
The shul became a focal point in a federal discrimination lawsuit filed against Jackson Township, as well as a separate lawsuit from Agudath Israel of America, both of which accused the township of discriminatory practices against the Jewish community. The legal disputes resulted in a landmark settlement that mandated substantial changes in the township’s policies.
