Council to Seek Curbs After Complaints on Congregation’s Banners

As Jews celebrate the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, many have complained about 24 banners flying in the San Fernando Valley proclaiming “Jesus Is the Messiah!” and “Yes There Are Jews Who Believe in Jesus.”

“I think it is an affront to the Jewish community, especially during the High Holy Days, to have these types of banners,” said Councilman Hal Bernson, who received complaints this week. “I thought it was poor judgment . . . to approve these things.”

City permits for the banners were issued to Adat Y’shua Ha Adon Messianic Jewish Congregation of Woodland Hills.

“If it’s offensive, we certainly regret that,” said the Rev. Michael Brown of Adat Y’shua. “We are not intending to be offensive. We are merely stating what kind of congregation we are. And we would hope that our fellow Jewish people would be tolerant even if they disagree.”

The City Council is scheduled to take up the issue of banners Tuesday, in response to an earlier controversy.

In August, the City Council imposed a 30-day moratorium on all future requests to fly banners from city poles after the ABC network promoted its fall TV lineup that way. The banners were already up when council members learned that municipal policy requires banners to be used for community, charitable, city or nonprofit purposes, not commercial use.

At that point, the council asked for a review of current laws and ways to eliminate commercial street banners. That report is scheduled for council review Tuesday.

But religious banners, said Ted Rogers, a legislative analyst, are allowed if they promote an event open to the entire community. He recalled only one such request that was denied: A Jewish temple wanted to promote a religious service that had an entrance fee.

“If a temple that believes in Jesus wishes to have a banner up that wants to announce a community or nonprofit or charitable event, they can do so,” said Chris Westhoff, the assistant city attorney who oversees street banner issues.

But the banners must advertise an event, not a religious message, he said.

“Trying to couch messages as events won’t be allowed,” he said.

That requirement, city officials admit, might get sticky in a case like the Adat Y’shua Ha Adon banners.

Brown said he wanted to make sure that Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jews understand that his congregation’s services include references to Jesus as the Messiah.

“We don’t want to deceive or mislead anyone,” he said. “So we want it clear that people know what kind of congregation we are.”

Westhoff, the arbiter of such tough calls, said “it’s a logical argument. But whether it’s allowed or not allowed, it would require a serious discussion.”

A deputy for Bernson said the councilman’s office now wants to see the design in advance for any banners that will be hung in his district.

But Brown said he is confident about his temple’s rights to display future banners.

“It’s a 1st Amendment right,” he said. “If another congregation is allowed to advertise the High Holy Days services, we should have the same right.”