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Maryland Tells Condo To Stop Removal of Shabbat Elevator Pending Probe

By Howard M. Friedman

Last year, after a finding of probable cause by the Maryland Commission on Human Relations, the Strathmore Tower Condominiums in Baltimore (MD) modified one of its elevators to accommodate Orthodox Jewish residents. The owner of one of the condos covered the cost of retrofitting it for "Shabbat mode"-- each Saturday it stops automatically on each floor so Sabbath observant Jews do not need to press elevator buttons. (See prior posting.) However, now JTA reports that on January 17, the condominium board voted to remove the Shabbat mode software and hardware. In response, last week the Maryland Commission on Human Relations ordered the condo board to rescind its action pending an investigation by the Commission. The elevator has been an issue between Orthodox Jewish and African American residents of the condo for the last three years. [Thanks to Joel Katz (Relig. & State in Israel) for the lead.]

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 02, 2010 (boomark / email).