Outremont: Residents opposed to synagogue
Before Outremont passed a ban on new “places of worship” on Bernard in 2016, it had given the green light to a building renovation that included a small synagogue, and recently confirmed the project could proceed. News items said the borough mostly wanted to avoid a costly court case. Now some residents want to fight this decision anyway.
This morning on CBC radio they had a spokesman for the religious community explaining that, in their interpretation of religious law, they have to walk to synagogue on the Sabbath, so they need to live fairly close by to allow the less mobile to attend. This was followed by one of the folks resisting the project, who invoked the holiest of sacred cows: parking. That his point had been previously invalidated was clever work by some news editor, but it made me wonder why there’s no complaint about people parking to go to the grocery stores, the bank, the veterinarian or any of the other establishments along there – just the synagogue. Which people walk to.
Chris 08:48 on 2019-02-28 Permalink
I presume you’re implying bigotry, which may well be the case!, but it could also be as simple as the fact that they make themselves so visually distinct. If everyone doing their groceries wore neon green, people might easily focus in to how much parking they use.
Ian 08:48 on 2019-02-28 Permalink
While I see your point, I live just down the street from a fairly large synagogue (Congregation Belz) on Jeanne-Mance and there are always lots of people there all through the week for various reasons. Jews don’t just go to the synagogue on Sabbath, especially ultraconservative ones like the Hassidim. Many times of the year people come gather in my neighbourhood from as far away as NY and Ontario, sometimes further, and while they may be walking to synagogue on the Sabbath all their vehicles are still parked in the street, or in the alley behind the synagogue. It’s crowded enough that at least one local merchant put up a sign behind their Parc-facing business “not synagogue parking” . I quite often can’t find parking on my block because there are so many out-of-town plates taking up spots and given their preponderance for black SUVs I’m pretty sure I know who is behind it. The vehicles get ticketed almost every day but they don’t seem to really care – I guess it’s cheaper & more convenient to pay a parking fine than paying for garage parking and having to walk from who knows where.
I mean yeah it sounds petty, but it’s frustrating to pay for a parking permit and still not be able to park on your block. While the synagogue will be on Bernard all the parking will be on nearby residential streets.
Kate 09:08 on 2019-02-28 Permalink
Then it strikes me Outremont has its response: yes, you can have your synagogue, but it must also include sufficient parking.
Ephraim 09:40 on 2019-02-28 Permalink
Most of the parking that @Ian is talking about is likely the cars of visitors who are staying with nearby family, not specifically driving to synagogue.
And even if they were driving to synagogue, it’s twice a day for maybe 30 to 45 minutes, once in the morning (morning prayers) and once before dusk (afternoon and evening prayers… one before dusk, the other, after.) But talking to the rabbi would likely help if this was a parking and synagogue problem, Of course, no cars on Friday/Saturday… so where they are parked, they stay.
They are correct, there is a limitation on walking on the sabbath, though, within the eruv it isn’t as limited. The definition of “work” on the sabbath is much more restrictive than the western definition…. it really is intended to make you rest and recuperate.
Ian 10:37 on 2019-02-28 Permalink
I’ve been shabbos goy for my neighbours lots of times. People that won’t even ring a doorbell or flip a light switch certainly won’t be driving their car.
While you’re right that most people are visiting family for specific holidays and whatnot there is still lots of parking around the synagogues going on. Trust me, I live in the neighbourhood, and I see it with my own eyes on a daily basis.
Joey 11:31 on 2019-02-28 Permalink
The presence of a synagogue on Bernard will have no impact on the absolute number of cars in the neighbourhood, since the worshippers and their out-of-town family members are already in the neighbourhood. It might mean a small shift of some cars from farther away (e.g., Jeanne-Mance) occasionally, but that’s basically negligible. The synagogue won’t be attracting new people, it will simply serve the community that is already parking up and down Ian’s block.
Ian 12:10 on 2019-02-28 Permalink
You might think that but the Hassidic community is split up by synagogue, the folks on my street mostly go to the synagogue on my block. Outremont Hassidim go to their own places. There are a number of larger Hassidic communities throughout Montreal, they’re not homogeneous by any stretch. Even how much money they make is a factor, my neighbourhood is of course much less well-off than some of the Outremont community.
Joey 12:39 on 2019-02-28 Permalink
@Ian but that doesn’t contradict the notion that the synagogue will not induce demand for parking… that demand is already there, no?
Ian 19:49 on 2019-03-01 Permalink
A new synagogue also means more people can move near it. It’s one of the necessaries of neighbourhood expansion for people that can only walk to synagogue on the Sabbath.
I’m not anti-Hassidic or anything, I get along great with my neighbours and am happy to live in my neighbourhood. I totally get the parking thing though, and it’s not just a made-up excuse.
Kate 22:48 on 2019-03-01 Permalink
OK, fair enough.