In a recent court filing, the Chai Center for Living Judaism, Inc. has initiated legal action against the Township of Millburn and its Planning Board in New Jersey. The case, filed on November 7, 2025, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, revolves around alleged violations of civil rights and religious freedoms under both federal and state laws. The plaintiff accuses the defendants of imposing discriminatory land use regulations that have hindered their ability to establish a house of worship at their property on Old Short Hills Road.
The Chai Center claims that their application for a conditional use approval to construct a synagogue was denied despite compliance with local zoning codes. They argue that this is part of a long-standing pattern of hostility towards Orthodox Jews in the area. The complaint cites various burdens placed on their religious practices due to spatial limitations at their current location and highlights previous attempts by the township to restrict religious activities through zoning ordinances.
The lawsuit seeks redress under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The case underscores ongoing tensions between religious organizations seeking to expand their facilities and local governments enforcing zoning laws.
Source: 225cv17318_Chai_Center_for_Living_Judaism_v_Township_of_Millburn_Complaint_District_New_Jersey.pdf
