Hollywood, FL - Synagogue Agrees To Settle Dispute With City

Hollywood, FL - A five-year battle between the city of Hollywood and an Orthodox Jewish synagogue appears to be over.

The two sides agreed to end the feud today, signing a settlement deal that will allow the Hollywood Community Synagogue to stay in two homes in a residential neighborhood permanently and expand to three other homes in the future. The city would also pay the congregation $2 million.

The deal was hand-delivered by city attorneys to the federal courthouse in Miami, ahead of a deadline set by Judge Joan Lenard on Monday. Lenard has to approve the settlement, but city officials said the fight is over. 

In return for the right to stay and expand, the synagogue and the U.S. Justice Department agreed to drop their religious discrimination lawsuits against the city and Commissioner Sal Oliveri.

If the settlement deal was not signed by 3 p.m., the federal trial would have started Thursday morning.