Synagogue showdown

Hutchison’s goyim and Hassidim, and Plateau politicians, argue over Gate David’s expansion plans

by ELISABETH FAURE

February 17, 2011

VOTE GETTER? Gate David of Bobov
Photo by WILL LEW

Oy vey! Expansion plans at a Hassidic Plateau synagogue are driving some locals meshugga.

The saga revolving around Congregation Gate David of Bobov (5363 Hutchison) is a long one. The dilapidated synagogue has been trying to renovate its premises since 2004, but residential opposi tion and an ongoing legal battle continue to cause delays.

A Jan. 31 borough council meeting saw Plateau councillors (all from Projet Montréal, which controls the borough) approve a proposed 10-foot expansion to the rear of the building. The vote was close—three councillors in favour, three against. Plateau mayor Luc Ferrandez cast the deciding vote. “It’s a balanced decision that I hope will set the stage for more harmonious relations in the community,” says Mile End city councillor Alex Norris, who voted in favour of the project.

Good luck. Hutchison residents opposed to the expansion are planning to force a referendum on the issue, for the second time.

So, how did matters get so heated?

Gate David is one of four synagogues located on a small stretch of Hutchison between Fairmount and St-Viateur. Opponents say the synagogues are violating numerous zoning laws and bring heavy traffic to the street.

Complicating matters is the fact that Hutchison divides the Plateau borough from the city of Outremont. So residents living directly across from Gate David didn’t have the chance to vote in a 2008 referendum on the subject. A Superior Court ruling invalidated those referendum results, leaving the door open for a second one—including both sides of the street.

“There are problems with traffic and doing work without permits, all sorts of stuff,” says Pierre Lacerte, who lives on the Outremont side of Hutchison. He accuses Projet leader Richard Bergeron (who supports the expansion) of pandering to the Hassidic vote.

Lacerte is arguably the most vocal opponent of Gate David. He has taken his rage online, creating a blog primarily devoted to exposing the wrongdoings of local synagogues, with the occasional for ay into other matters of reasonable accommodation (he’s no fan of kirpans either).

The website has led to a lawsuit from Hassidic community leader Michael Rosenberg. Rosenberg is suing Lacerte for harassment. “He is stalking us,” Rosenberg argues, citing photos Lacerte has posted on his site.

Lacerte says Rosenberg is unfairly branding him as an anti-Semite. “That’s the easiest thing to say.”

“I don’t know why he (Lacerte) is so against our community,” says Moshe Englander, whose grandfather co-founded Gate David 60-plus years ago. Englander is spearheading the reno vation campaign. He argues most locals support the synagogue, and a few random cranks have created media controversy.

Jean-Marc Corbeil, Lacerte’s neighbour, disputes this. “It’s a case of special interest winning over public interest,” he says of the Gate David affair. Corbeil says it and other synagogues cause massive double-parking on Hutchison. “There are private parties taking place,” he says. “They have nothing to do with the Jewish calendar, which I respect.”

Corbeil thinks Plateau and Outremont officials are willfully turning a blind eye. “For them, it’s just a pack of votes,” he says.

Whether Gate David will succeed in their long-hoped-for renovation remains to be seen. “Hopefully people will understand what we are trying to do,” says Englander. “We just want to live in peace with our neighbours.”

Corbeil concurs. “God is a good guy—I’m sure God wants peace in the neighbourhood.” ■

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