Village Approves Permit for Saddle Rock Minyan Synagogue Rebuild

The Village of Saddle Rock, NY has approved a special use permit for the Saddle Rock Minyan to rebuild its synagogue after a 2024 fire.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Village of Saddle Rock has approved a special use permit for the Saddle Rock Minyan to rebuild its synagogue at 115 Greenleaf Hill. The synagogue was destroyed in a fire on Yom Kippur in 2024, and the congregation has faced pushback from some community members in its efforts to rebuild. The approval of the special use permit marks a significant step forward for the synagogue, though it still needs building permits to actually construct the new facility.

Why it matters

The Saddle Rock Minyan synagogue has been an important part of the local community for years, and its destruction in a 2024 fire left many congregants, including elderly and disabled members, without a place to worship. The approval of the special use permit allows the synagogue to move forward with rebuilding, which is seen as a victory for religious freedom and community values in Saddle Rock.

The details

The Village of Saddle Rock approved the special use permit for the Saddle Rock Minyan during its Board of Trustees meeting on February 4, 2026. The synagogue had been operating out of a private home since 2018 without the required special use permit, but the village chose not to enforce that requirement. After the 2024 fire, the synagogue faced legal challenges from some community members who opposed the rebuilding efforts. However, the synagogue argued that the delays violated federal and state laws protecting religious land use, and it was represented pro bono by a team of lawyers. With the special use permit now approved, the synagogue can move forward with obtaining the necessary building permits to construct its new facility.

  • The Saddle Rock Minyan synagogue burned down on the night of Yom Kippur in 2024.
  • The Village of Saddle Rock approved the special use permit for the synagogue on February 4, 2026.

The players

Saddle Rock Minyan

A synagogue in the Village of Saddle Rock, New York that was destroyed in a fire in 2024 and is now seeking to rebuild.

Rabbi Ben Kaniel

The rabbi of the Saddle Rock Minyan synagogue.

Steven Schlesinger

An attorney representing the Saddle Rock Minyan synagogue.

Ronen Ben-Josef

A Saddle Rock resident who sued the Saddle Rock Minyan to prevent the rebuilding of the synagogue.

Village of Saddle Rock

The local government that approved the special use permit for the Saddle Rock Minyan synagogue to rebuild.

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What they’re saying

“I was happy that the village approved our special use permit. And at the same time, I'm still hopeful that members of the group that oppose it will hopefully change their mind about it.”

— Rabbi Ben Kaniel, Rabbi, Saddle Rock Minyan

“They never got the permits. But the village always knew it was there and chose not to make them go through the mechanism of getting the actual permit.”

— Steven Schlesinger, Attorney, Saddle Rock Minyan

“This approval is a turning point for the Saddle Rock community. For more than a year after the fire, congregants—including many elderly and disabled members—have been forced to pray in private basements and improvised spaces, or to forego attending Sabbath and holiday services altogether. We look forward to rebuilding a safe and dignified house of worship.”

— Joseph Yaakovzadeh, Member, Saddle Rock Minyan

What’s next

The Saddle Rock Minyan still needs to obtain building permits from the Village of Saddle Rock in order to actually construct the new synagogue facility.

The takeaway

The approval of the special use permit for the Saddle Rock Minyan synagogue represents a victory for religious freedom and community values in the Village of Saddle Rock, allowing the congregation to rebuild after a devastating fire and provide a place of worship for its members, including many elderly and disabled individuals who have been without a synagogue for over a year.