A federal judge on Thursday ordered Montgomery County not to enforce its ban on guns in public spaces against Rabbi Menashe Shapiro or the Silver Spring Jewish Center at their houses of worship while their challenge to the law is underway. 

Shapiro and the Orthodox synagogue sued the county on July 30, three days after County Executive Marc Elrich (D) signed the current version of the county’s prohibition on possessing, selling, transferring or transporting firearms within 100 yards of a “place of public assembly,” including a house of worship. 

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The court’s decision to grant the preliminary injunction comes at an “opportune time,” Shapiro told Bethesda Today in a Friday phone interview. Friday night marks the start of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year celebration that draws many people to local synagogues. 

Read more at BethesdaMagazine.com.

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