ORLANDO -- A local rabbi who discovered his weekly prayer gatherings violate an Orange County zoning ordinance is fighting to change the law.

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Man Fights For Right To Pray In Home

For the last nine months, Rabbi Yosef Konikov has led ten to 20 Central Florida families in prayer and song inside his home.

"Those of us who are not able to reach a synagogue, we pray in our home and we gather people with us," Konikov said.

However, Konikov's prayer meetings were deemed illegal by the Orange County Code Enforcement Board, according to WKMG News reporter Mike Holfeld.

Konikov was served with a code violation in March because of his prayer gatherings.

Under the current zoning law, operating a synagogue or any function related to synagogue or church services is not a permitted use in residential zoned area, Holfeld reported.

In an exclusive interview with WKMG News, Konikov's attorney John Stemberger said that the county code is flawed and flies in the face of the constitution.

"What's ironic, the same people could meet and watch Monday Night Football and that's ok," Stemberger said.

Stemberger wants the board to re-write the law to allow all groups to meet and pray in their homes.

"There are broader implications and if this Rabbi and his family can't meet at his house in the privacy of his own home to worship and speak freely then none of our rights are safe and this has much wider implications than this fellowship here," Stemberger said.

But County Code Enforcement Chief Mel Pittman says that there is no intent to question religious freedom.

According to Pittman, it's a question of the rights of the rest of the neighborhood.

"What we have to look at is whether or not the overall activity that is occurring on the property is having an adverse impact on the residential area," Pittman said.

The County Zoning Board was scheduled to review the case Wednesday. However, the case has been put on hold so court attorneys can review it, according to Holfeld.

The Board is expected to review the issue next month.

Konikov can continue to hold services until the case is reviewed, Holfeld reported.