SANTA ANA, Calif.,
June 23, 2017
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, June 23, a California state court rejected an activist
organization's challenge to an ancient religious ceremony practiced
by a small Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Irvine, California. The challenge to the
synagogue, represented by First Liberty Institute, could have
threatened the religious practices of every house of worship across
the state. The court's decision is the second court since May
to reject a lawsuit brought against the synagogue by activists who
sought to end a millennia-old Orthodox Jewish ceremony. Read the
court's order here.
"We are thrilled that, once again, another court has seen
the importance of protecting our ability to practice a cherished
tradition of our faith," Rabbi Alter
Tenenbaum, the rabbi of the Chabad of Irvine, says. "As we live in peace and
tolerance with one another, we hope these legal victories
strengthen and encourage the religious liberty of
everyone."
The synagogue was represented at trial by Leslie Keith Kaufman of Kaufman & Kaufman
and Stephanie Taub of the national
religious freedom law firm First Liberty Institute.
"Targeted attacks on a religious sect should be rejected
by every American," Stephanie Taub,
counsel to First Liberty says. "Protecting a millennia-old
religious tradition is a victory, not just for the Chabad of
Irvine, but for all
Californians."
Had the lawsuit been successful, the synagogue's religious
ceremony would have been declared a "business practice," putting at
risk the religious practices of every mosque, church, temple,
synagogue, or house of worship. The lawsuit attempted to transform
these non-profit religious ceremonies into government-regulated
business practices whenever a place of worship accepts voluntary
donations, tithes, or offerings. The lawsuit is the second in just
over a month to come to a conclusion in favor of Chabad of
Irvine. On May 12, 2017, a
federal district court judge dismissed a similar lawsuit, filed by
another activist organization. After one day of trial,
California state judge
Martha K. Gooding of the Superior
Court of California, Orange County, ruled in favor of the Chabad of
Irvine.
As the court concluded, "[M]any religious services or
ceremonies result in donations being solicited and made . . .
But that does not convert those religious activities, rituals and
observances into business practices. They remain
religious activities, rituals and observances."
Read more about both cases at
FirstLiberty.org/Chabad
About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is the largest legal
organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending
religious freedom for all Americans.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-state-court-rejects-attack-on-millennia-old-orthodox-jewish-ceremony-300479214.html
SOURCE First Liberty Institute