Rockland County, NY – Efforts by a nonprofit organization to build a religious-education college in Ramapo have raised questions about private, tax-exempt schools in Rockland.
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Dozens can be found around the county, from colleges on sprawling campuses to schools operating out of single-family homes.
But debate has been sparked by the Congregation Rabbinical College of Tartikov’s efforts to obtain tax-exempt status on land it owns in Pomona.
Tartikov eventually wants to build a residential yeshiva for rabbinical students and their families near routes 306 and 202.
The issue of tax exemption often heats up when private schools are involved, said Rabbi Nachum Muschel, senior adviser to Adolph Schreiber Hebrew Academy of Rockland, a private school in Ramapo. Some people don’t understand why such schools are needed, he said.
But some prefer to send their children to private schools.
In the religious Jewish community, for example, parents make the decision because they want to ensure their children receive an education in accordance with the tenets of Judaism, Muschel said.
He said trouble arose when religious organizations opened schools in homes rather than stand-alone buildings.
“I believe it’s fair they should be tax exempt,” he said. “However, there should be a caveat to it. Education to children of the community, it is a service to the community. It is also a private benefit.
“But if the school is located in a home, it may be questioned if the whole home is not used for the school,” Muschel said.
Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence said the town Assessor’s Office closely reviewed organizations applying for exemptions. Every year, some are turned down as a result, he said.
“We are giving great scrutiny,” St. Lawrence said.
He said one reason people were concerned about tax-exempt properties was because of their overall tax bill. That problem can only be solved holistically, he said.
“It’s important for all layers of government and the schools to really revisit their budgets and cut,” he said, “so all taxes can be reduced.”
We have a bunch of old shuls in the Bronx that could be had for nothing. Why not open a yeshiva here? It would strengthen the communities that are barely hanging on. And the non-Jewish majority likes Jews and treats us well. Why go where we aren’t wanted?
It’s time to weed out the phony tax exempt properties in Ramapo. They cost us all thousands each year by not paying taxes. Enough is enough, expose the exemptions and see if they are valid or baloney.
2:15, lets start with you, we’ll start with your property, then we’ll go to your income tax returns.. buckle up!
This yeshiva/residence when built will be a great service to the community. It will be training hundreds/thousands of dayannim. Heaven knows we need all we can get, with all the ‘machloksim’ , Hashem Yirachaim. The potential for generation of thousands of new chumras will be a wonder to experience. Wow! We can all have our private dayan, at a moments notice…How could we have existed without it????
Anon: 2:15— Not every Jew cheats on their taxes and lies to the government. Yes, come on over!
moisha mulva:
I hope you are joking.
To the tipshim who are commenting. Please note that this blog is read by many people who are not our freinds. So think before you type.
Good Shabbos !!!
anon 5:12
this may be an isolated incident. That is no reason to besmirch whole communities. I am sure that the Rabbonim of such communities would speak out against such behaviour if they know about it.
I will end with a story of R’ Yoel Teitelbaum ZY”A the Satmar Rebbe, He was asked why certain of his chassidim were doing illegal acts. He answered that they were not his chassidim just because they called themselves his chassidim. Please think about this and don’t throw mud on whole communities and their leaders.