Anti-Defamation League Pleased Mahwah Withdrew Ordinances

MAHWAH, NJ — The Anti-Defamation League is pleased that the township repealed two controversial pieces of legislation that were the center of a civil rights lawsuit.

The state alleged the ordinances attempted to address a perceived "infiltration" of Orthodox Jews into the town. One piece of legislation prohibited out-of-state residents from using the town's parks. Another would have outlawed an eruv, which is a religious boundary for Orthodox Jews, from being built on utility poles.

Joshua Cohen, the league's New Jersey regional director, said in a statement Tuesday that the township "made the right decision to comply with the law" and rescind the "divisive and discrimination ordinances.

"These actions send the strong message that all faiths in New Jersey are protected against intolerance, exclusion and discrimination," Cohen said.

In place of the withdrawn parks ordinance, the council introduced an ordinance that would allow "residents and non-residents alike" to use parks.

County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal told township police not to enforce the parks ordinance on the grounds that such enforcement violates the U.S. Constitution. Grewal sent a letter to Chief James Batelli directing him not the enforce the ordinance.

The council also approved a separate resolution that would impugn a proposed law that would have stopped white PVC pipes from being posted on utility poles marking the eruv boundaries. That proposed law was introduced, but was not adopted.

Jackson township had legislation effectively banning and eruv, but that legislation was also rescinded. The eruv allows Jews to push and carry objects outside of their homes on the Sabbath and holy days.

Mahwah’s decision to permit the eruv comes after the New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino filed a lawsuit against the town, challenging the now-withdrawn ordinances. The ADL commended Porrino's leadership on the matter.

Related: Mahwah Reverses Course On Eruv, Parks Ban Ordinance
Related: Mahwah Township Excluded Orthodox Jews, State Claims In Lawsuit
Related: Prosecutor Tells Town Police Not To Enforce New Parks Ordinance

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Patch file photo of an eruv