Chai Center Hearing Location Moved to MHS

To accommodate the crowd expected at Monday’s hearing for the proposed Chai Center, the meeting has been moved to the auditorium of Millburn High School.

, which was held in the cafeteria of Hartshorn Elementary School, drew a large and impassioned crowd on both sides of the issue.

The audience was split between supporters of the proposed synagogue known as the Chai Center for Living Judaism and some neighbors and other residents trying to keep the center from getting zoning variances to build a 16,350-foot on 1.8 acres of land instead of the required 3-acres for a house of worship.

The controversial plans for the building – proposed on a residential lot at Old Short Hills Road and Jefferson Avenue – include a synagogue, a library, a social room, classrooms and multipurpose room. The building would replace two single-family homes currently on the adjacent lots.

The proposal has been met with strong opposition from , also known as Save Millburn. The group is concerned about traffic, noise and a safety, as well as the size of the structure being too big and sitting too close to the streets, which is not in keeping with the character of the neighborhood, they argue.

Supporters of the center say they want to be treated like any other house of worship and are not asking for more than others have. They also say they feel they are being discriminated against because they are traditional Orthodox Jews.

Rabbi Mendel Bogomilsky already holds prayer services and says he does not expect his small congregation to grow. However, he said, while he does not charge for High Holy Day services, he will require those who attend to make reservations so they will know when they are at capacity and what arrangements they will need for overflow parking.

According to the Zoning Board, Monday’s meeting on the Chai Center will begin at 7:30 p.m., after the board conducts other business. (The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. but the Chai Center portion will start later.)

It will be the public’s first time to give opinions and make statements. People will be allowed up to three minutes to say what they have to say, according to board president Joseph Steinberg, who added after the meeting became heated last time, that he will not tolerate anything less than decorum. After the public has a chance to speak, lawyers for both sides will give closing arguments and board members are expected to vote on the issue, which has been unresolved for years.