Lauderdale condo bans religious symbol on doorposts

Last I checked this is America the land of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. That board ought to be ashamed of themselves, there are a lot worse things that could be displayed on a door.

That's why they call them "Jealousy" doors...

I think it is a disgrace that the condo is putting up such a stink about a religious object that you can not even see from anywhere else but right at the door. It is discrimination against our religion and infair. What a disgrace, what will it be next? It is true they allow wreaths at the holidays and if it were a symbol for some other religion they wouldn't think twice. I don't think she should be fined nor should let refuse to let her hang it on her door. Pllease ther are such bigger problems in this world address them and leave the little things that are not hiurting anyone alone and go away. Let Laurie hang her mezuzah because she is proud of her heritage and go pick on something that is important. Get a life and fight for the things worth fighting for, this is not one of them. She deserves to let the mezuzah hang on her door where it should be, what;'s next she can't have the numbers of the apt hanging on the door? Put your energy into something more important to the worlds well being and let Laurie be proud of her heritage. I agree with you Laurie you should definately be able to hang yyour mezuzah it isn;t hurting anyone by taking up a few inches on your door, and protecting you. Good luck in your fight for your right to be proud to be Jewish. Ronda, a proud jewish woman who stumbled on this story by accident

Seems like the Condo association needs to make an amendment.

The by-laws ussually have circumstances that allow for deviation, such as temporary,seasonal and religious allowances.

Ronda wrote:

It is true they allow wreaths at the holidays and if it were a symbol for some other religion they wouldn't think twice.

WOW You learn something new everyday, I never knew that Wreaths had a religous meaning I always thought they were a Holiday decoration. So I guess if someone puts a big cut out of EROS (The model for cupid) that would mean they practice Greek Mythology. There is a huge difference between the Wreaths and a religous symbol.
I wonder if this lady was a Rastafarian and wanted to put a big POT LEAF on her door if all the freedom of religion people would back that.

Here we go again.

Religion causes the wars and troubles, large and small of the world.

Imagine.

Ronda wrote:

I think it is a disgrace that the condo is putting up such a stink about a religious object that you can not even see from anywhere else but right at the door. It is discrimination against our religion and infair. What a disgrace, what will it be next? It is true they allow wreaths at the holidays and if it were a symbol for some other religion they wouldn't think twice. I don't think she should be fined nor should let refuse to let her hang it on her door. Pllease ther are such bigger problems in this world address them and leave the little things that are not hiurting anyone alone and go away. Let Laurie hang her mezuzah because she is proud of her heritage and go pick on something that is important. Get a life and fight for the things worth fighting for, this is not one of them. She deserves to let the mezuzah hang on her door where it should be, what;'s next she can't have the numbers of the apt hanging on the door? Put your energy into something more important to the worlds well being and let Laurie be proud of her heritage. I agree with you Laurie you should definately be able to hang yyour mezuzah it isn;t hurting anyone by taking up a few inches on your door, and protecting you. Good luck in your fight for your right to be proud to be Jewish. Ronda, a proud jewish woman who stumbled on this story by accident

I agree with you 100%. I have one on my door along with many others in a well known building. This is outrageous.

This is nothing more than the next condo victim it will be what is known as a DISPUTE and only the lawyers will win hey this is how they make a living they go from one victim to the next each side shakes as much money out of each side as they can then the day before it goes to court they all settle and the condo owners for and against are all out of large sums of money and then its on to the next DISPUTE it has nothing to do with the symbol the symbol stands for Gods Ten Commandments though shalt not steal is one stealing from condo residents is stealing any way these well meaning lawyers are just breaking Gods laws hey thats how they make a living.

"The association that runs the 16-story, 129-unit condo cites the bylaws that prohibit owners and occupants from attaching, hanging, affixing or displaying anything on the exterior walls, doors, balconies, railings and windows of the building."
Once again relgions want exceptions to all rules ..what part of that statement don't you understand ?

wreaths are seasonal thing , not a permanent thing ,, but I agree , wreaths should not be allowed either. If it we some kind of Islam thing, would you be defending it ?? I doubt it ..

"Last I checked this is America the land of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. "
yes it is still america, land of rules and laws too,,, Freedom of speech ? can't yell yell fire in a crowded theatre or bomb in an airport. Jus because its a religion, doesn't mean you are exempt from rules ...

Mr Sparkle wrote:

<quoted text>
WOW You learn something new everyday, I never knew that Wreaths had a religous meaning I always thought they were a Holiday decoration. So I guess if someone puts a big cut out of EROS (The model for cupid) that would mean they practice Greek Mythology. There is a huge difference between the Wreaths and a religous symbol.
I wonder if this lady was a Rastafarian and wanted to put a big POT LEAF on her door if all the freedom of religion people would back that.

Mr. Sparkle, let me help you with this. Wreaths ARE a holiday decoration, the holiday in question being Christmas and Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the most impotrtant person in the Christian religeon. In short, wreaths hung at Christmas time ARE a religous symbols.
In my condo association wreaths are displayed, as well as other religeos symbols like menorahs and mazuzahs and no one has ever made a fuss about it. It's called tolerance.

You can just see what people are made of by the comments.

The VP OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS comments is a perfect example of hate.

RELIGIONS DON'T MAKE WAR...PEOPLE DO.

This country was built on one idea: Tolerance. Condo associations like this are simply un-American. Selective enforcement of displaying religious symbols on ones door is simply appalling, and violates constitutional rights. I would move out of there immediately, and then wage a legal jihad on the board.
- A Christian who cares about his Jewish brothers and sisters.

whats next? labeling the Jewish comunity with the Star of David on their clothes in order to identify THEMSELVES IN THIS RACIST WORLD WE LIVE IN. Think about this one.. if another ethnic group did this it would be ok and/or cause havoc.These people from condo associations never change/ they think they're the best. They say the rules are there to insure a better quality
of life and preserve what they have worked for. Well, what will happen when a new "regime" becomes the condo assoc. board and they decide to impose rules (religious,racial) that inflicts "discomfort" on the 'retired' board and residents...some rules are just unreasonable and ridiculous. Why don't you remember WW2 and the horrendous human rights issues that are all over the world today? Do you not read? That's one of the reasons we left Florida and Winston Towers (in N. Miami Beach..) and we too are Jewish.

wake up PEOPLE. Let the Lord live wherever he wants, whether he is catholic , jewish christian or whatnot,GET OVER IT

I happen to be an attorney. This is a case of religious discrmination at its worst. There is no defending the condo association here. Most people walking past this resident's door would not even see the mezuzah.

Wreaths aren't a religious symbol, many people display wreaths on doors year round.
[p]Let's face it for Christmas... I hang my wreath... by the time the commandos get a meeting together in horror of my wreath being there, Christmas is over and I've complied by removing it.
[p]The rules for these condos are handed to everyone, if you don't like the rules, move somewhere else. Sorry but condo residents haven't earned the name "condo commandos" because of their overly friendly ways.

Ronda wrote:

I think it is a disgrace that the condo is putting up such a stink about a religious object that you can not even see from anywhere else but right at the door. It is discrimination against our religion and infair. What a disgrace, what will it be next? It is true they allow wreaths at the holidays and if it were a symbol for some other religion they wouldn't think twice. I don't think she should be fined nor should let refuse to let her hang it on her door. Pllease ther are such bigger problems in this world address them and leave the little things that are not hiurting anyone alone and go away. Let Laurie hang her mezuzah because she is proud of her heritage and go pick on something that is important. Get a life and fight for the things worth fighting for, this is not one of them. She deserves to let the mezuzah hang on her door where it should be, what;'s next she can't have the numbers of the apt hanging on the door? Put your energy into something more important to the worlds well being and let Laurie be proud of her heritage. I agree with you Laurie you should definately be able to hang yyour mezuzah it isn;t hurting anyone by taking up a few inches on your door, and protecting you. Good luck in your fight for your right to be proud to be Jewish. Ronda, a proud jewish woman who stumbled on this story by accident

Well, what if her apartment number happened to be 666? Hmmmm, what would you say then? Hmmmm?

Actually, you are all missing the point. The reality is that the association will have to bend on this. As someone about to be on the board of his condo, the issue here is the bylaws. The by-laws of a condo cannot supercede Chapter 718 of the Florida Statutes. By the same token, the Florida Statutes cannot supercede the United States Constitution. The United States Constitution guarantees religious practice. That is why so many condos bend on this issue. Most likely, if this were an owner and not a renter, this would not be happening. There is more to this story than just the mezzuzah. Someone pissed off someone. Perhaps the owner rented without letting the association know. Maybe the renter has caused problems by not following other rules. Believe me, there is something else going on here, because the condo cannot win this fight.

And everyone relax on the religious banter. It is hurtful and ignorant. Wreaths most certainly are a religious symbol, as they represent renewal and rebirth. I'm pretty sure that sounds like something associated with Jesus Christ. The mezuzah has been a mainstay of the Jewish religion since the time of Moses, when the Israelites were told to but lamb's blood on their doorposts to have the Angel of Death pass over their house in Egypt.

I assure you all, there is something else to this story.

Incrediably I am not surprised by any of this. Weak minded people trying to control weak minded people...a recipe for diaster. I'd hope, in our country, built on an idea that people should be free, this still goes on. Why does it go on? Some of it religious...seems people in general can't get the religious thing right. Some of it is business...condo prices! I think most of it is just pettiness. Yes, all cry out for freedom, tolerance, respect until it's something we don't like. Funny, last time I was in Miami a couple of folks I know were complaining about the statues of the Virgin Mary, St. Lazarus, sitting in peoples front yards. And I thought...heck it's their front yard isn't it? I guess I'll put out a small budda in the hallway outside my condo door to just to see how tolerant my neighbors really are.

Thi is so wrong. What is wrong with people?