A Nassau synagogue is fighting over a property in Atlantic Beach that it uses for its menorah lighting.

A menorah recently went up on Park Street right by the Atlantic Beach Bridge.

The land was purchased by Chabad of the Beaches in 2021, but the village of Atlantic Beach is now trying to take the land away by eminent domain.

According to the village, their plan is to put up a community center on the property with recreational facilities.

The temple also wants to use the property as a community center and to hold worship services.

Chabad of the Beaches says the land was vacant for years and that the village only started showing interest in the property after they held their first menorah lighting in 2021.

Rabbi Eli Goodman say he does not understand why Atlantic Beach would want to try to take the property away.

"It really hurts, we were shocked, this is nothing that I had anticipated whatsoever," Goodman said. "We've been serving the Atlantic Beach community for many years."

Jeremy Dys, an attorney representing the temple in a federal case, says this is a matter of religious freedom.

"The village of Atlantic Beach is denying the very promise of the Constitution of the United States of America to Rabbi Goodman and his group to be able to freely exercise their faith on the very property they own," he says.

News 12 attempted to reach out to the village, but no one responded as of 10 p.m. Wednesday.

On the village's website, the mayor wrote, "Chabad Lubavitch of the Beaches has alleged in its lawsuit that the village's efforts to acquire 2025 Park Avenue was motivated by discrimination. We strongly deny this accusation..."

The case is currently wrapped up in the courts meaning that the village cannot move forward in trying to take the land and the temple cannot start working on the building they purchased.

The temple says it has permits in place to have a public menorah lighting at the property, which will take place on Dec. 20.