Edited by: TJVNews.com

A legal battle has erupted in the Rockland County, New York town of Ramapo as Hasidic Rabbi Leibish Iliovitz takes legal action against the town and its supervisor over the continued display of the Israeli flag atop Town Hall, according to a report published by the Westchester Journal News on Thursday. Described as an ultra-Orthodox Satmar rabbi in court documents, Iliovitz asserts that the presence of a foreign flag on a government building violates both the state constitution and his First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution.

At the heart of the matter lies a deeply rooted ideological conflict within the Jewish community, particularly among certain factions of Hasidic Jews who are staunchly anti-Zionist, as was noted in the Westchester Journal News report. For these individuals, the existence of a modern Jewish state, represented by the Israeli flag, contradicts Jewish law. Iliovitz, a member of the Satmar Hasidic community, aligns himself with this anti-Zionist stance, opposing not only the formation of the state of Israel but also the use of the Star of David on the flag.

In his lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in Rockland on March 18, Iliovitz argued that the display of the Israeli flag not only violates his religious beliefs but also poses a threat to the safety and well-being of Jews in the community, the Westchester Journal News reported. He contends that the flag’s presence exacerbates anti-Semitism and fosters intra-community strife in a county and town with a significant and diverse Jewish population.

The legal summons names Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht and the town of Ramapo as defendants. The report added that Iliovitz is seeking an injunction against flying the flag, as well as reimbursement of court costs and other unspecified relief.

Supervisor Specht, when reached for comment on Tuesday by the Westchester Journal News acknowledged the lawsuit and stated that town attorneys were reviewing it. However, he declined to provide further commentary to the publication on the matter at this time.

Rabbi Shmuel Gancz of the Chabad of Suffern expressed skepticism about the lawsuit’s stance, suggesting that the town enjoys broad support for its pro-Israel stance. “The Town of Ramapo has been so supportive to the Jewish community,” Rabbi Gancz stated, as was reported by the Westchester Journal News. “They’ve shown moral clarity and their support for Israel during this difficult time. The majority of the town’s constituents are appreciative of the town’s support.”

However, Stanley Cohen, representing Leibish Iliovitz alongside lawyer Jonathan Wallace, argued that the town has overstepped its bounds by taking a side in a contentious issue. “The town is taking sides in a very explosive issue and that’s not what the purpose of government is,” Cohen asserted, according to the report in the Westchester Journal News. “That’s not the purpose of the social compact, that’s not the purpose of the town of Ramapo.”

According to court documents, formal requests were made to the town on Feb. 15 and Feb. 26, urging the removal of the flag. Despite these requests, the flag remains prominently displayed outside Town Hall on Route 59, sparking the legal challenge.

As noted in the information provided in the Westchester Journal News report, the lawsuit contends that the presence of the Israeli flag violates the New York Constitution, specifically citing the Public Buildings law, which permits the flying of a foreign flag on a municipal building only to honor a foreign “public guest” and after a proclamation has been issued.

Ramapo officials raised the Israeli flag on October 12, 2023, in a gesture of solidarity with Israel following the invasion by the Hamas terrorist group on October 7, which resulted in the brutal massacre of 1200 Israeli citizens and others, the report said.

Attorney Stanley Cohen criticized the town’s decision to fly the Israeli flag without proper deliberation and accused officials of taking sides in a divisive issue. “You are cherrypicking who you are going to support and why,” Cohen stated, as was indicated in the Westchester Journal News report. “The purpose of the government is not to take sides when there are disputes within the community.”

Cohen’s argument is echoed in the lawsuit, which contends that the display of the Israeli flag violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, emphasizing the need for government neutrality in matters of religion and expression.

The controversy extends beyond Ramapo, as other towns in the region, including Clarkstown, Lewisboro, and New Castle, also faced scrutiny for flying the Israeli flag following the October 7 attacks. The Westchester Journal News reported that New Castle Town Supervisor Victoria Tipp acknowledged the complaints and indicated that the flag would be removed after 180 days, recognizing the need for greater deliberation and board approval in such matters.

The legal challenge against Ramapo’s Israeli flag display underscores the complexities of balancing support for international allies with the principles of religious freedom and government neutrality. As the case unfolds, it prompts reflection on the role of local government in navigating sensitive geopolitical issues and addressing the diverse perspectives within the community.