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Commission clashes over moving Jewish Solidarity Day to religious holiday; agrees to reopen workshops to public comment with new procedures
Summary
A contentious exchange over changing the city's Jewish Solidarity Day to coincide with Lag B'Omer prompted debate over whether the event would become religious; commissioners ultimately left the previously adopted schedule in place but agreed to administrative follow-ups. Separately, the commission agreed to allow structured public comment during next month's workshop and to pursue stricter memo rules for discussion items.
A heated debate at the Sunny Isles Beach commission on April 20 centered on a proposed amendment to the city's resolution recognizing Jewish Solidarity Day.
Commissioner Joseph asked the commission to amend the previously approved language so that the annual solidarity event would occur on Lag B'Omer each year, rather than on the first Sunday in May, saying the change would allow more observant residents to attend. He told commissioners he had consulted rabbis who provided a 10-year calendar of the holiday's dates and that moving the city event to Lag B'Omer would permit wider participation.
Opponents, including Vice Mayor Viscaro, said tying the city's event to a religious holiday risked making a…
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