Dollard, Canada – A Jewish organization in Montreal’s West Island has been forced to cancel a Rosh Hashana event after the City of Dollard-des-Ormeaux refused to provide the necessary permit.

More than 200 people were expected to attend the West Island Jewish Experience event Friday night.

The event celebrating the Jewish New Year was scheduled to be held under a tent, and feature a religious service, question-and-answer period, and an explanation of the scriptures read.

Organizers said the parking lot of the Or Shalom synagogue used for the event last year is under construction, so they appealed to the city for permission to use the Civic Centre parking lot.

That is when Dollard Mayor Ed Janiszewski got involved, according to Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman.

“He said there were enough Jewish services that happened in Dollard already,” said Hoffman. “There’s no real need for another one at all.”

Hoffman said organizers then appealed to Federation CJA, which agreed to allow the group to use the parking lot at its Dollard offices.

But Hoffman said the municipality then asked for a blueprint of the site, a certification from Quebec’s building inspection board, and a city permit.

Finally, he said, organizers received a phone call from the mayor, who said the group’s application was too late.

Hoffman said he can’t understand what the problem is, because there was no problem with the event last year. He said least 10 different companies have said they have never heard of a permit being required for a tent.

“I think this needs an explanation,” said Hoffman.

The event caters mainly to people who don’t usually attend synagogue, Hoffman said.

“It is a very strange, a very sad thing that we are putting these people under this very unusual circumstance,” he said.

Janiszewski declined to comment on the situation.

But city councillor Howard Zingboim said organizers should have had a permit for the event last year. He said it went unnoticed by officials because no complaints were made.

This year, Zingboim said, the West Island Jewish Experience should have filed its request two or three months before the event.

Organizers said they are still working to make alternate arrangements.

(Source: CBC News)