Monsey Bikur Cholim Filed Federal Lawsuit Against The Village Of Suffern

Suffern - Monsey Bikur Cholim is suing the village so it can continue to operate at its current location and shelter Orthodox Jews during the shabbas and holidays.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court in White Plains, Bikur Cholim charged that the village, by citing the nonprofit organization for illegal use of a single-family home, was in violation of the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, or RLUIPA.

Because the organization, which offers a respite to Orthodox Jews visiting family at Good Samaritan Hospital on the sabbath when they are forbidden to drive, purchased the home early last year it has received numerous citations from the village, attorney who is representing Bikur Cholim, said.

The organization's has operated in the village for 17 years, for a while based inside the hospital.

Village Attorney Terry Rice said the organization was denied a use variance because it was based in a single-family zone, and operating such a facility there was illegal.