Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Clinic’s Sabbath Closure Seen As Biased
In a case that could pit civil rights concerns against government-protected religious accommodation, the Rockland County chapter of the NAACP has filed a complaint against an Orthodox-owned medical clinic, calling on the facility to stay open on Saturdays, provide diversity training to its employees, and hire more staffers from the minority community.
The complaint, filed with the state Division of Human Rights by the NAACP of Spring Valley, accuses the Ben Gilman Medical and Dental Clinic in Spring Valley of “unlawful discriminatory practice.”
“The willful closing of the clinic on Saturdays serves no other business purpose than to impose the extremity of [the owner’s] religious beliefs in Hasidic Judaism on the community it serves which consists of predominantly African Americans and Hispanics,” the complaint states, adding that the clinic “engag[es] in disparate treatment of people who believe in a religion other than Hasidic Judaism, and … [fail]s to accommodate other religious beliefs.”
The defendant is Monsey businessman Mendel Hoffman, managing director of the Spring Valley clinic and of another in the area, about a mile away. The Spring Valley facility opened two years ago on Route 59, which is near large haredi and minority populations. The clinic has been closed on weekends since its began operations.
According to the complaint, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People took part in discussions last spring, conducted at the office of the Spring Valley mayor, with the clinic’s owner and management, to “reasonably accommodate” the needs of the clinic’s minority patients. Hoffman subsequently indicated that he could not open the clinic on Saturdays “as he did not get permission from his rabbinic authority,” the complaint states.
The complaint does not cite specific instances of discrimination. Willie Trotman, president of the NAACP chapter, who filed the complaint, said it is intended to make the clinic’s black and Hispanic patients feel more comfortable, and to make its services more accessible. “People get sick seven days a week,” he said. “We’re not alleging [discrimination]” against or specific harm to patients unable to receive treatment on Saturdays.
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=13045
In a case that could pit civil rights concerns against government-protected religious accommodation, the Rockland County chapter of the NAACP has filed a complaint against an Orthodox-owned medical clinic, calling on the facility to stay open on Saturdays, provide diversity training to its employees, and hire more staffers from the minority community.
The complaint, filed with the state Division of Human Rights by the NAACP of Spring Valley, accuses the Ben Gilman Medical and Dental Clinic in Spring Valley of “unlawful discriminatory practice.”
“The willful closing of the clinic on Saturdays serves no other business purpose than to impose the extremity of [the owner’s] religious beliefs in Hasidic Judaism on the community it serves which consists of predominantly African Americans and Hispanics,” the complaint states, adding that the clinic “engag[es] in disparate treatment of people who believe in a religion other than Hasidic Judaism, and … [fail]s to accommodate other religious beliefs.”
The defendant is Monsey businessman Mendel Hoffman, managing director of the Spring Valley clinic and of another in the area, about a mile away. The Spring Valley facility opened two years ago on Route 59, which is near large haredi and minority populations. The clinic has been closed on weekends since its began operations.
According to the complaint, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People took part in discussions last spring, conducted at the office of the Spring Valley mayor, with the clinic’s owner and management, to “reasonably accommodate” the needs of the clinic’s minority patients. Hoffman subsequently indicated that he could not open the clinic on Saturdays “as he did not get permission from his rabbinic authority,” the complaint states.
The complaint does not cite specific instances of discrimination. Willie Trotman, president of the NAACP chapter, who filed the complaint, said it is intended to make the clinic’s black and Hispanic patients feel more comfortable, and to make its services more accessible. “People get sick seven days a week,” he said. “We’re not alleging [discrimination]” against or specific harm to patients unable to receive treatment on Saturdays.
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=13045
Comments:
The guy should find a way to close his clinic to all except Heimishe Yieden to tech the rats a lesson not to complain. Surely he can make it private or unanswerable in some way and then choose his clients accordingly.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: September 28, 2006 6:13 AM
: September 28, 2006 6:13 AM
With comments such as those, you wonder why people hate Jews? Both of you are as racist as any gentile out there. You need to stop worrying about people driving mercedes and start worrying about your attitude and biased hatred of anyone who is not exactly like you.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : September 28, 2006 1:33 PM
: September 28, 2006 1:33 PM
maybe he could buy a few shvartzes to work for him
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : September 28, 2006 1:44 PM
: September 28, 2006 1:44 PM
As if there weren't 10 other doctors the feketeh could go to, to seek professional care when his tuches itches.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : September 28, 2006 7:54 PM
: September 28, 2006 7:54 PM
That place is a dump! Who in their right mind whould even go there. That place should be shut down.
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Comment Credit ---This article posted by : October 31, 2007 11:26 PM
: October 31, 2007 11:26 PM
