Country Club Suspends Orthodox Jewish Family Over Viral Prayer Video, Sparking $50M Lawsuit
BOCA RATON, Fla. — The Dhillon Law Group (@DhillonLaw) filed a $50 million federal lawsuit against a prestigious South Florida country club for suspending an Orthodox Jewish family from its facilities, citing a viral social media video that included the wrapping of tefillin, a traditional Jewish prayer ritual, as “offensive religious conduct.”
The lawsuit, Scharf v. Boca Grove Property Owner’s Association, Inc., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The video, which has garnered over 962,000 views and was posted by @countryclubadjacent, which has more than 947,000 followers, shows Jewish influencer and comedian Jake Adams being assisted in donning tefillin by Isaac Scharf during a golf outing at Boca Grove Country Club in December 2024.
Shortly after the video’s release, Boca Grove suspended Scharf from all amenities for 90 days, stating the footage “contained references to religious practices that have been deemed offensive to a reasonable person.” The suspension was later extended to Scharf’s wife and five children, including their one-year-old daughter, effectively banning the family from the clubhouse, gym, pool, and all community events.
“This may be the most egregious religious discrimination case I’ve ever handled,” said Dhillon Law Group partner Matthew Sarelson, who represents the family. “Boca Grove didn’t just target one man — they punished an entire family for participating in an innocuous act of Jewish faith.”
The lawsuit alleges violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and accuses Boca Grove of discriminatorily targeting Orthodox Jews with its grievance process. The complaint also details broader patterns of exclusion, including the cancellation of kosher dining options and the dismantling of walking paths used on the Sabbath.
“This wasn’t about enforcing a policy. It was about sending a message to Orthodox Jews that they’re not welcome,” said Dhillon Law Group associate Jacob Roth.
The plaintiffs are seeking $50 million in damages for civil rights violations, emotional distress, and economic harm.
