Edited by: TJVNews.com

The picturesque Village of Atlantic Beach, often referred to as the “New Hamptons,” has found itself in the midst of a legal battle that has captured attention due to its religious discrimination allegations, as was reported by the New York Post. The village faces a federal lawsuit filed by Chabad of the Beaches, a Lubavitcher Jewish sect, over its attempt to acquire property in the area. The report added that the lawsuit has drawn surprise from locals, given the significant Jewish population within Atlantic Beach.

With around 1,800 year-round residents and a substantial number of Jewish summer homeowners, Atlantic Beach has a robust Jewish community, according to the Post report. The village’s only house of worship, the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach, caters to a growing modern orthodox congregation.

The conflict stems from Chabad of the Beaches’ purchase of vacant land on 2025 Park Street in November 2021. According to the report in the Post, the intention was to establish a space for religious services, education, and programming for the broader Jewish community. Village leaders reacted swiftly, announcing plans to seize the property through eminent domain to build a community center for lifeguard operation, the Post report added.

This move prompted Chabad-Lubavitch to file a federal lawsuit in June, alleging religious discrimination on the part of Atlantic Beach. The Post reported that the suit cited constitutional amendments and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, garnering support from legal experts such as the First Liberty Institute and Harvard Law School’s Religious Freedom Clinic.

Judge Joanna Seybert issued a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction in response to Chabad’s complaint, putting a halt to the village’s attempts to acquire the property through eminent domain, the report in the Post stated.

Despite the legal battle, a tentative settlement appears to be on the horizon. As was reported by the Post, both parties have expressed a willingness to reach an agreement that would allow Chabad of the Beaches to operate community programming and religious services on the disputed property. Jeremy Dys of First Liberty Institute, a co-counsel for Chabad, confirmed the potential settlement, noting that the details are being finalized.

“There’s a settlement in principle,” said Dys, a co-counsel for the Chabad of the Beach, as was reported by the Post.

“We’re just trying to wrap up the final little details,” he said, adding the agreement will allow Chabad on the Beaches to be members of the Atlantic Beach community, the Post report said.

Atlantic Beach Mayor George Pappas emphasized that while negotiations are underway, no final decisions have been made. The Post reported that he refuted claims that the village’s actions were rooted in religious discrimination, asserting that the legal dispute aimed to acquire the property rather than target the Jewish sect. He declared “nothing is final yet,” but asserted: “We’re working on a draft settlement.”

Rabbi Eli Goodman, director of Chabad of the Beaches, had cautioned village trustees during a public hearing in January 2022 that their actions could lead to religious discrimination allegations, the Post report said. The lawsuit highlights a clash between religious liberties, legal procedures, and the broader implications of discrimination.

As the legal proceedings continue, Atlantic Beach navigates the complexities of addressing the concerns of a religious minority within its community while upholding property rights and local governance. The potential settlement might offer a resolution, but the case serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting religious freedoms and the challenges in balancing them with other legal and social considerations.