Sephardic Jewish Center

* Shame on you, Los Angeles Times, for running such an un-newsworthy and blatant piece of propaganda on the front page of the June 28 paper. “Homeless” in the Valley Newswatch column was no doubt written to engender sympathy for the plight of the displaced Sephardic Jewish Center that was ordered last year by L.A. City Council to cease operations illegally established in a single-family house in a residential area of Encino.

During the five-year period the temple illegally operated in the neighborhood, there was an abundance of available commercial real estate within a few blocks. Yet the temple chose to stay where they were, filing appeal after appeal to the city at great taxpayer expense. They chose to retain high-powered legal assistance to fight for a zoning waiver rather than move to a location appropriate for their operations.

The temple activities brought noise and traffic congestion to an otherwise quiet residential area. The property was an eyesore and the temple members were unresponsive to neighborhood complaints and concerns. The City Council’s action was appropriate and correct, and we in the neighborhood are grateful.

To grant “victim” status to the temple now because it finds itself homeless would be similar to saying that if a person decided to stroll in the middle lane of the San Diego freeway and, as a result, was hit by a car, the car would be at fault.

This issue has never been religious freedom. It is about appropriate land use. To suggest otherwise is an insult.

JUDITH WESSLER

Encino