Dec 24 2002

Hasidic Jews fight for kosher bus charter

By CBC News Online staff

MONTREAL (CBS News) - Montreal's Hasidic Jews are going to court to fight for a bus service that caters to their specific needs.

This fall, Tov Travel, which for 30 years has chartered buses for Hasidic Jews headed for New York, was shut down.

The Quebec automobile insurance board seized two of the small company's buses in October, without saying exactly why.

The company, backed by hundreds of members of Montreal's Hasidic community, went to court this week to get the shuttles back on the road.

A lawyer for Tov Travel says the company provides a service no other company can. Jordan Charness said the Hasidic Jews have a list of requirements from separate seating for men and women, to a dress code. No video, radio or non-kosher food can be allowed on the bus.

But lawyers for two other bus companies, Greyhound and Adirondack Trailways, say Tov Travel competes unfairly by bending the rules and operating without a permit.

"We're quite prepared to meet any specific requirements of this community and other communities," said David Blair, a lawyer representing Greyhound. "We are in place as one of the regulated carriers providing the service."