Court rules in favor of the original board of Congregation Beth Jacob Ohev Shalom
On May 21, 2025 Judge Richard J. Montelione ruled that the original board of Congregation Beth Jacob Ohev Shalom (CBJOS) has authority over CBJOS. Among other things, this authorizes Keith Kohn as president of CBJOS to hire an asbestos remediation firm to address all health and safety issues at the synagogue.
“With God’s help we received an exceedingly positive ruling from Justice Montelione. Our opposition continues to act in defiance of the court by calling meetings and proposing to remove the very people who were entrusted by the court as the proper board of the congregation,” said Keith Kohn, president of CBJOS.
CBJOS is oldest Orthodox Jewish congregation on Long Island (including Brooklyn and Queens), and could be the last remaining non-Hasidic shul/synagogue in Williamsburg.
This past May, GREENLINE covered the struggle between the original congregation of CBJOS, some of which have been worshiping at the synagogue for several decades, and a new group of Hasidic Jews who started worshiping there more recently. Although there are over twenty Hasidic options in a few blocks radius, this new group chose to worship at the only Modern Orthodox synagogue in the entire area. The new group began a power struggle, tried to vote out the original congregation and take over the synagogue. As part of these efforts they leased out the synagogue to a yeshiva and started to renovate to accommodate the school. The renovations destroyed the place of worship and unleashed asbestos. The synagogue had to be closed until remediation could be completed.
Then in late May justice prevailed when the judge presiding over the case in effect gave the keys to the synagogue to the original board of CBJOS.
“Not unexpected! Good decision from a good judge,” said Martin Needelman
“Our success is the result of every prayer repeated daily, especially our Sabbath gatherings in front of the shul. God has heard us and continues protecting us,” said America Ruiz
The new group, aka the Leichter Faction and therefore the side Judge Montelione ruled against, filed an appeal on June 23. They have also been calling “special membership” meetings. The next of these meetings is to be held on June 30 at 6 p.m. in front of CBJOS, called “building” in their notice omitting any spiritual connotation in their language. Some of the items on this meeting’s agenda are: amending bylaws and hearings and votes to revoke the memberships of the original board and congregation members: Keith Kohn, Martin Needelmen, America Ruiz, and Leopold and Malka Gross.
With the victory, the original board knows there is a lot of work to do. For starters, there is the asbestos remediation in addition to repairing the damage the Leichter Faction’s renovations for the yeshiva caused.
“Looking forward, we are acting quickly to restore the property and restart prayer services. Our community is eager to return after being forced out of the synagogue for nearly half a year. Those who want to destroy and cause harm to a house of worship have plenty of their own places to go in the neighborhood. The court’s decision is a victory for those who seek an independent, inclusive, Orthodox Jewish congregation in Williamsburg, and it is imperative that we open our doors again to those who share our outlook of tolerance and acceptance.”
Despite the Leichter Faction’s continued threats, the court ruling has reinvigorated hope for the future of CBJOS.
“When the asbestos abatement is complete and the interior is sufficiently repaired, CBJOS will host a reopening party and hold regular community events,” said Kate Yourke.
The Greenline 