Englewood — The Board of Adjustment recently dismissed Rabbi Shmuley Boteach”s proposal to turn a carriage house on his property into a synagogue. Boteach attorney Scott B. Piekarsky had amended the original proposal of converting a caretaker”s home into a 37-seat synagogue and having the primary residence designated as a parsonage in favor of a 10 to 12 seat shul within the study of Boteach”s primary residence.

Chairwoman Rosemary Byrne said the application needed to go back to the zoning officer, as the situation was changed. The board would not deny or approve the application, since it is something the officer has not reviewed, said Byrne.

Boteach said in a statement that his application was “simply adjusted and could have been approved that day” and plans to appeal in federal court. “If even winged seraphs of heaven had descended into the board of adjustment hearing to proclaim the glories of our synagogue, we would have been denied,” said Boteach, “Any impartial observer of the proceedings of this kangaroo court would have to conclude that I and my congregants, as severe critics of this city over allowing the terrorist Qaddafi-house to exist tax free for decades, have been punished and denied our constitutional right to worship.”