Toms River Jewish Community Council:To Focus on Outreach and Charitable acts, not on Politics.

APP- TOMS RIVER - Michael Waldner remembers the black-and-white signs.
Nearly two years ago, they dotted the North Dover neighborhood off North Maple Avenue where former Brooklyn resident Waldner had purchased a new home for his family. "Don't Sell! Toms River Strong," the signs proclaimed. The signs urged Toms River residents not to give in to real estate agents who residents said were pressuring them to sell their homes to Orthodox Jewish families eager to move to Toms River.  "There were a lot of Toms River Strong signs," Waldner said recently. "Now there are hardly any." To Waldner, an Orthodox Jew and member of the newly formed Toms River Jewish Community Council, the paucity of signs is an indication that relations between the Orthodox and long-time Toms River residents are not quite as tense as they were back in 2016.ht not be legal

The community council, a group of 11 Orthodox men that formed last fall, hopes to do its part to improve relations and promote understanding between the growing Orthodox community and its neighbors, Waldner said.
Toms River Jewish Community Council members want to show Toms River residents that they moved to the township for the same reasons most people come here: for nice homes, large yards and a relatively peaceful suburban life.

"The influx of Orthodox Jewish families moving into Toms River, the people who move here, move here because of the beautiful quality of life," said Waldner, 38. "We wanted to live in a nice, serene, pristine, friendly community."



Sam Ellenbogen, who is also a community council member, met Waldner after Ellenbogen moved to Toms River with his family. Now they've become fast friends.

Ellenbogen, 30, grew up in neighboring Lakewood and watched the township's population soar; Lakewood is now the fastest-growing town in the state, with more than 100,000 residents.

Nearly three years ago, he and his young family moved to a home on a quiet cul-de-sac in North Dover. He and his wife wanted their children to have a bigger yard, with more space to play.

"We love the neighborhood,"  said Ellenbogen,who lives near Vermont Avenue. "It's quiet."

Now most meetings of the Jewish Community Council are held in the Ellenbogens' dining room, the same spot where the family gathers each week for the Shabbos meal.

"We've had interfaith local leaders, political figures and community members," Ellenbogen said of the people who've come to meet with the community council. "Some of the organizations have reached out to us."

In addition to their outreach to the Toms River community, council members also try to leverage the power of the Orthodox community to perform acts of charity, Waldner said, like assisting families or children in need.

At Thanksgiving, council members brought gifts of food to Toms River's police department as well as to volunteer firefighters and first aid squad members, to show  appreciation for their dedication to the community, Waldner said.
He said the council also wants to the Jewish community work together with their neighbors in a combined effort to address county's opioid crisis.
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