The mystery of the Hebrew banner has been solved.
Marine Park residents took note when a small banner featuring large Hebrew letters was draped over the sign for a deli at the corner of East 36th Street and Avenue S.
At last week’s meeting of the Marine Park Civic Association, neighborhood resident Tom Labarbera asked why the sign was posted in Hebrew and inquired about the English translation.
“It’s a shul or a synagogue,” responded Civic President Greg Borruso. “I had made a suggestion to them to change the sign to make it more friendly to the community. They agreed and are working to put up a sign” in English.
It’s perfectly legal for a business to post signs or banners in a language other than English.
“There is no law requiring the sign to be in English,” explained Ken Lazar, a representative for the city Department of Buildings.
However, Lazar noted, “It would help the Fire Department for the sign to be in English.”
The sign translates to the Congregation of the Children of Torah of Marine Park.
At the civic meeting, local residents said they’d welcome a new synagogue in Marine Park, which has rapidly become home to many Orthodox Jews.
“It’s not a problem,” Labarbera said. “We have quite a number of Orthodox residents.”
