Lakewood Zmanim עש"ק פרשת כי תבוא תשפ"ו שישי דנחמתא

השקיפה ממעון קדשך מן השמים וברך את עמך את ישראל  ואת האדמה אשר נתתה לנו כאשר נשבעת לאבתינו ארץ זבת חלב ודבש

Friday, August 28, 2026 / ט״ו אלול תשפ״ו

ערב שבת פרשת כי תבוא

- Candle lighting 7:16 pm

- Shkia 7:34 pm

Weather Shabbos day Hi 80° Partly cloudy 

הקטן יהיה לאלף והצעיר לגוי עצום אני ה' בעתה אחישנה

(הפטרה פרשת כי תבוא)

The smallest shall become a thousand, and the least a mighty nation; I the lord will hasten it in its time.

סנהדרין צח: ריב"ל רמי כתיב בעתה וכתיב אחישנה. זכו- 

אחישנה, לא זכו- בעתה

Friday August 28 News Updates

Friday, August 28, 2026 / ט״ו אלול תשפ״ו

ערב שבת פרשת כי תבוא

Candle lighting 7:16 pm

Shkia 7:34 pm

Weather: 81° Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Chance of rain 60%

Shabbos day Hi  80° Partly cloudy

Mazel Tov there's over 70 Shabbos sheva Brachos taking place this week in the Lakewood area.

- Trump: BREAKING NEWS: The United States of America has just entered into an Agreement with the Country of Venezuela on, THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY! At my direction, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, working closely with Highly Respected Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, and, through a partnership with private business, have secured majority U.S. control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela, at no cost to the American Taxpayer. This Historic Transaction MORE THAN DOUBLES American Oil Reserves, greatly increases our Oil Supply, and will substantially lower Gas Prices for all Americans, long into the future, while helping to continue to set Venezuela on a course toward Tremendous Success and Great Prosperity. This Transaction will greatly strengthen the already growing relationship between Venezuela and the United States! Thank you for your attention to this groundbreaking matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP

- Update Levaya of Hayeled Yitzchok Rosenberg Z"L 8 month old son of R' Pinchos and Golda Chana shkita is today erev shabbos 5:45 pm at the Lakewood  Bais Olam.

Grandson of R' Sruly Rosenberg shlita of Lakewood. 

PSA: Remeber to pick up school uniforms from cleaners some stores not open Sunday 

- Report: Roshei Yeshiva and Chasidishe rebbes to meet with president Trump. The report says that a group of Admorim and Roshei Yeshiva will be received by President Trump at the White House. They will use the opportunity to advocate for various matters and to thank the president for all the benefits enjoyed by the frum Jewish community. In recent days, the logistical details of the historic visit, which is expected to take place next week, have been worked out.

Those reportedly invited include the Satmar Rebbes, the Skverer Rebbe, the Bobover Rebbe, the Bobov-45 Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, Rabbi Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha Lakewood, and others. 

- Jackson Update: : Belaaz news reports  that per initial investigation, a woman driver, appears to have pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake as the mother and children were entering the store, causing the vehicle to strike them. The mother and daughter are both said to be in serious condition, with fractured bones.

- Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation Allowing Sale and Delivery of “To Go” Alcoholic Beverages.

- President Trump announces American astronauts will return to the lunar surface before the end of his term and plant a flag at the site of what he calls the first permanent American settlement on the moon. “They’re building a settlement up in the moon, and we’re not going to stop there

- BDE: Petira of 8 month old baby Yitzchok Z"L after he was struck by a car in Jackson  shopping plaza Parking lot. His mother and sister are hospitalized in stable stable condition. More details TBA per Balaaz news. Names for Tehilim Golda Chana bas Leah Shaindel and her daughtet Rochel bas Golda Chana.

- LSTA: Article in Lakewood shopper this week quotes Sources that no new money was found and no solution was discovered. However, once it became obvious that parents could or would not pay the $985 fee, the LSTA and askanim concluded that they would have to charge a lower fee that would cover their expenses to start the year and then to operate on a deficit, with the hope that either state money will materialize or the lawsuit against FEMA will succeed and that money will be passed on for busing.(Lakewood Shopper)

- Tehillim please daven for  a mother Golda Chana bas Leah Shaindel and her children Yitzchok ben Golda Chana,  Rochel bas Golda Chana

 Three Pedestrians were hit by a car at a parking lot near NPGS in Jackson today noon tine. One in critical condition 2 others hospitalized in stable condition. 

Update 8 month old  baby Yitzchok Z"L Passed away R"L

- שבת של מיר:  Rav Yosef Elefant shlita will be spending shabbos in Lakewood on behalf of the Mir Yeshiva Yerushalayim. He will be in the areas of Albert friday night,  Arlington  for shachris, a shmuez in somerset walk and Mincha at the Woods. On Motzei shabbos there will be a community wide event with divrei chizuk at Neemas Hachaim hall a hachama for the Yom Hadin. 9:45pm

- Selichos for Ashkenazim begins Next Motzei Shabbo

- Yom tov sale going on now at Bingo/Mesamchei Lev thru Sept 5

- A מעמד הכתרה will take place this Sunday at Bais .edrash Chayei Yisrael in Lakewood  appointing Rav Yitzchok Halevi Horowitz shlita as the Rav ro lead the kerala. The seuda will take place Sunday evening at the shul 11 Gudz Rd in Lakewood.

- A federal judge once again blocks President Trump's executive order limiting mail voting.

- The self serve Kosher sourdough Pizza vending machine at Lakewood Exxon to be operational soon.

- The White House is preparing for a potentially massive midterm campaign swing, with Trump expected to spend serious time in the most competitive states and districts.

- Swastikas were found  painted in the children’s play area at Governors Park in the Coventry neighborhood of Lakewood yesterday,police are investigating.

- LSTA: A few days before school transportation begins there's still areas where routes have not yet. Een picked up by bus companies.

- LPD has ramped up traffic enforcement around Lakewood.

- Trump to give U.S. farmers & ranchers the right to process their own food, targeting what he calls a “nasty monopoly” among major processors.

 - NYT: Trump is expected to miss the national memorial ceremony for the September 11 attacks at Ground Zero in Manhattan for a second consecutive year. Instead, Trump is expected to participate in events at the Pentagon this time as well. One of the reasons is that Trump wants to give a speech, and the main ceremony at Ground Zero prohibits speeches by politicians

- Some progress was made placing girls into high schools while there's still an untold amount still not placed.

- BDE: Petirah of R' Pesach Krishevsky Z"L the famous Yerushalmi Drummer "Poiker" at the age of 90. He survived a terrorist  car ramming in Geuka on Malchei Yisroel street 11 years ago.

- Israel elections Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism and Moshe Feiglin’s Zehut are in advanced merger talks. Feiglin is reportedly demanding an alternating-candidate arrangement on the joint electoral list. Likud Criticizes Ben-Gvir for Rejecting  alliance with Smotritz risking right-wing votes by refusing to unite with Religious Zionism ahead of the election. The party urged him to overcome personal considerations and show maturity and responsibility.

- Death toll in Nepal rises to over 550 after mudslides.

- 50,000 at the kosel last night for Selichos

A cassette recording of the shiur delivered by Rav Shneur Kotler shlita this week at BMG for those who use a tape recorder  The Rish Yeahi a Rav Yeruchom Olshin shlita listenes tobshiiurim in a "walkman" device.(photo credit M Weisberg)

"לדוד ה' אורי וישעי" – הטעמים, הדינים והמנהגים

    (הרה"ג רבי יהודה לב בעמח"ס לב המועדים (דרשו

                                  אמירת מזמור "לדוד ה' אורי וישעי"

חודש אלול הוא חודש הרחמים והסליחות וימים אלו מיוחדים לעשיית תשובה (טור תקפא), והטעם: משום שבו ביום עלה משה רבינו למרום לקבל לוחות אחרונות, ונשתהה שם ארבעים יום וירד בעשירי בתשרי, שהיה אז גמר כפרה, ומן אז הוקדשו ימים אלו לימי רצון, ויום העשירי בתשרי – ליו"כ (טור שם לבוש שם א, קצוש"ע קכח א).

ימים שבהם חל ר"ח אלול

לעולם ראש חודש אלול הוא ב' ימים, ואינו חל כי אם באחד מימות השבוע וסימנך אבד"ו, וקביעת יום א' דר"ה ביום שאחריו וסימנך בגה"ז. והטעם דהוי ב' ימים: לפי שאנו צריכים לעשות החודשים אחד מלא ואחד חסר, הסכימו קדמונינו לעשות לעולם החודש שהוא חשוב יותר-מלא, וקראהו החדשים מלכים (מטה אפרים תקפא ס"ק ד, אלף המגן שם ח, עיין לבוש תכח).

הטעם שנקרא חודש 'אלול'

לפי ש'אלול' משמעותו חיפוש, וכמו שתרגם אונקלוס את הפסוק "ויתרו את הארץ" – "ויאללון ית ארעא" (אונקלוס במדבר י"ג, ב'). דהיינו שבחודש זה אנו מחפשים אחר עוונותינו על מנת לחזור בתשובה כמו שנאמר (איכה ג', מ'): "נחפשה דרכנו ונחקורה ונשובה עד ה'" (תולדות האדם פרשת כי תבוא בשם מהרח"ו ז"ל).

דורשי רשימות אמרו: 'אלול' ראשי תיבות: אני לדודי ודודי לי (שיר השירים ו', ג'). שהוא רמז לתפילה שהיא 'רינת דודים', וסופי תיבות ד' יודים שהם ארבעים כנגד ארבעים יום עד יום כיפור (ב"ח תקפא ס"ק ב). כמו"כ ראשי תיבות: "איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים" (אסתר ט', כ"ב), והוא רמז להרבות בימים אלו בצדקה ובמתנות לאביונים ובגמילות חסדים בין איש לרעהו (א"ר תקפא, א).

ועוד ראשי תיבות: "ומל ה' את לבבך ואת לבב זרעך" (דברים ל', ו'), שהחודש הזה הוא זמן המסוגל ל'מילת הלב' שזו תשובה (בעל הטורים דברים ל, ו). ומוסיף השל"ה: "ומסתבר, מאחר שהוא החודש האחרון בשנה עושים בו תשובה על מה שפגם כל השנה" (ריש מסכת ר"ה).

'אלול' ראשי תיבות: "אשר לא צדה והאלקים אנה לידו ושמתי לך" (שמות כ"א, י"ג), ביאור, שאף השוגג צריך תשובה וכפרה בימים אלו, והם לו כמפלט היחידי להינצל.

ופסוקים אלו רומזים לשלשה דברים שהם: תשובה, תפילה וצדקה, שצרכים להזדרז בהם בחודש זה, "ומל ה'" – רומז לתשובה, "אני לדודי" – רומז לתפילה שהיא רינת דודים, "איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים" – רומז לצדקה (קיצור שולחן עורך קכח, א).

אמירת "לדוד ה' אורי וישעי"

"לדוד ה'": נהגו בני אשכנז לומר בתפילת שחרית וערבית מזמור "לדוד ה' אורי וישעי" (תהילים כ"ז, א'), ונוסח ספרד נהגו לאמרו בתפילת מנחה אחרי "עלינו לשבח" (מטה אפרים תקפא ס"ק ו, קצוש"ע קכח ב). יש שנהגו שלא לאומרו (הנהגות מהרש"א, מעשה ר"ב נ"ג)

וכן מנהג הגר"א, ונראה שהטעם משום טירחא דציבורא, וכמו שמצאנו בברכות (י"ב, ב) משום ביטול מלאכה, וכן במגילה (כ"א, א) שאין מוסיפים קרואים ביום שמותרים במלאכה, משום ביטול מלאכה (תפלה לדוד לבעל האדר"ת). וכן מנהג בני ספרד.

יש שנהגו לאומרו רק בתפילת שחרית, ואין אומרים בתפילת ערבית.

תחילת אמירתו: יש שמתחילים מיום א' (ספר תניא), ומנהגינו להתחיל ביום ב' דר"ח (קצוש"ע קכח ב). עד מתי אומרים זאת: עד שמיני עצרת (מטה אפרים תקפא ס"ק ו, ומשנ"ב שם ס"ק ב). ומנהג ליטא שבשמיני עצרת עצמו לא אומרים זאת (וכן נהג החזו"א), ויש שנהגו לאומרו אף בשמיני עצרת (קהילות חסידים בא"י, ליקוטי מהרי"ח).

הטעם באמירת מזמור זה:

ע"פ המדרש 'שוחר טוב', (תהילים כז פיס' ד) "אורי" – זה ר"ה, "ישעי" ["ישעי" מלשון ישועה, יום של סליחה וכפרה, יום של כפרת עונות, יום שאין השטן משטין ומקטרג לזה קוראים 'ישועה גדולה'] – זה יו"כ, "כי יצפנני בסוכה" –  זה סוכות (אלף למטה תקפא סק"ו).

יש שדחו טעם זה, והטעם דאטו כל הפסוקים בתנ"ך שנדרשים על ראש השנה ויו"כ יקבעו בסידור, לומר את כל המזמורים פעמיים ביום (ר' אברהם דוד לאוואיט בספרו שער הכולל).

טעם אחר: לפי שבמזמור זה יש י"ג שמות הויה, שהם כנגד י"ג מידות של רחמים, שהם מאירים בימים אלו (בפנים יפות בפרשת אחרי מות ויקרא טז כא בתוד"ה וכתב).

טעם אחר: דאמרינן בתענית (ח', ב) דאין לבקש על שני דברים כאחד דאינו נענה אפילו על אחת מהם, וקשה שהרי בר"ה ויו"כ מבקשים כמה בקשות, אך ביאור הענין: לפי שכל הבקשות כוונתן לדבר אחד: לעבודת ה', שלא תהיה שום מניעה בעבודת ה', וזה שאמר דוד המלך: אע"פ שבקשתי הרבה בקשות, אחת היא, אחת שאלתי מאת ה' ולא יותר: "שבתי בבית ה' כל ימי חיי", ולפיכך אמרינן אותו בחודש אלול ותשרי, שאז אנו מבקשים מהשי"ת הרבה בקשות, ובכך שאומרים "לדוד ה' אורי" ובו הפסוק "אחת שאלתי מאת ה'", מגלים אנו דעתנו שבקשתינו אחת היא, וכדאי שתתמלא (ספר שארית מנחם מהרה"ק מוישווא עפ"י פירושו של הפנים יפות על הפסוק אחת שאלתי).

טעם אחר: במזמור זה נאמר בפסוק י"ג: "לולא האמנתי וכו'", 'לולא' אותיות אלול (אוצר כמ"י סימן ס).

במזמור זה נאמר: "אם תקום עלי מלחמה בזאת אני בוטח". "זאת" בגמטריה 408, כמנין צום, קול, ממון, שהם תשובה, תפילה וצדקה, אשר בכוחם להעביר את רוע הגזירה, כנאמר בתפילות הימים הנוראים (הליכות עולם סימן תקפא סעיף י).

מקום אמירתו: ישנם מנהגים רבים היכן לומר פרק זה בתפילה:

שחרית: יש שאומרים אחרי חזרת הש"ץ ותחנון קודם חצי קדיש, ויש אומרים: אחר חצי קדיש (קצה המטה תקפא ס"ק טז), והטעם: לפי שטעם אמירת מזמור זה לפי שיש בו כוונת י"ג מידות של רחמים ולכן יש בו י"ג שמות הוי"ה, לכן אומרים זאת אחר שמו"ע, כמו שאנו אומרים בכל השנה י"ג מידות אחר שמו"ע (משמרת שלום תקפא א ג), טעם אחר: כדי שלא להרבות בקדישים.

אחרי שיר של יום (משנ"ב תקפא ס"ק ב) ובר"ח ובשבת אומרים אחר תפילת שחרית, יחד עם שיר של יום של שבת ור"ח, והטעם שנאמר אחרי שיר של יום: לפי שתדיר ואינו תדיר תדיר קודם (מטה אפרים תקפא ס"ק ו).

בדיניו: יש לומר קדיש בין שיר של יום לדוד ה', והטעם: כדי שלא יראה שגם "לדוד ה'" הוא חלק משיר של יום (מטה אפרים תקפא ס"ק ו, משנ"ב שם ס"ק ב).

אחר עלינו לשבח אחר תקיעת שופר: בנוסח ספרד ש'עלינו' הוא סיום התפילה – אומרים אותו אחר 'עלינו', והטעם: כדי להסמיכו לתקיעת שופר (קצה המטה תקפא ס"ק טז), ומנהג אשכנז אחרי "קווה אל ה'" ונראה שהטעם כלעיל.

קדיש אחר "לדוד ה'": יש שנהגו שלא לומר קדיש אחר "לדוד", והטעם: כדי לא להרבות בקדישים (הערה שעל פסקי סידור הרב).

ביום שמתפללים מוסף: נוסח ספרד שאומרים שיר של יום אחר שחרית, אומרים "לדוד" אחר גמר תפילת שחרית, קודם "אין כמוך" או "אתה הראת", ומקדים שיר של יום מפני שתדיר ואינו תדיר תדיר קודם (מטה אפרים תקפא ס"ק ו).

מנחה: (מטה אפרים תקפא ס"ק ז, משנ"ב שם ס"ק ב) י"א לפני 'עלינו לשבח', והטעם: כדי לא להרבות בקדישים, וי"א אחר 'עלינו'. והטעם: נראה לומר משום תדיר ואינו תדיר תדיר קודם (חיי משה תקפא כ).

מעריב: אחרי עלינו לשבח (אלף המגן תקפא ו) ומנהג הגאון לא לומר בערבית כלל.

קדיש בתרא: יש אומרים שיאמרו אחר אמירת לדוד ה', והטעם: לפי שברכו נתקן למאחרים לבוא לכן כל מה שאפשר לאחר אמירתו מאחרים (הגרח"ק בשם החזו"א הובא באורחות רבנו ח"ב ר"ה עמ' קסה).

ומנהגינו: לומר ברכו אחר עלינו לשבח, והטעם: להראות שאמירת לדוד ה' היא הוספה מיוחדת (דברי יוסף עמ' קפא בשם הגר"ש דבליצקי).

בסגולותיו:

כל האומרו מר"ח אלול עד שמחת תורה מבטל אפי' גזרה קשה ביותר שיש על האדם (מובא בשם הארי ז"ל).

עוד בסגולותיו: ראוי לומר מזמור זה והוא סגולה לשמירה ולהצלחה ואפילו כל השנה יש חשיבות לאומרו (מורה באצבע לחיד"א לו, קצה המטה על מטה אפרים תקפא).

כאן כיון שהוי רק מנהג בעלמא אין בזה שום פסול לא בשופר ולא בתקיעות.

הקדמונים נתנו סימן "אריה שאג מי לא ירא" (עמוס ג, ח) אריה ר"ת אלול: ראש השנה, יום כיפור, הושענה רבה, שהם ימים של רחמים וימי רצון (קיצור של"ה מסכת ר"ה).

Oif Simchas Thurs 15 Elul

Chasunas:

Rogovsky - Kaufman Bais Faiga

Metzger - Ungar Fountain Ballroom 

Biron  - Feder Ateres Blima

Busel - Weiss Kesser Moshe Yehuda 

Gorelick - Marmorstein  Ateres Reva 

Adler - Klatzko Ateres Esther

Goldman  - Newhouse Neemas Hachaim 

Saalkind - Schonfeld Cedar Palace

- Chumash Shiur by Harav Yeruchom Olshin shlita 11:30 pm at B"M Ateres Bracha live 646-726-9977

Thursday August 27 News Updates Lakewood

 Weather: 82° chance of some strong thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Chance of rain 60%

Severe thunderstorms, high winds, flooding rains expected to slam state today. Flood watch issued for fhe area until 8pm

-  LPD Traffic Alert: Joe Parker Rd will be closed from Lanes Mill RD to Long Beach Rd for planned construction. Plan alternate route if possible.

- The Public Health Committee approved the proposed H+H–Maimonides merger despite strong opposition. However, the merger is not final, and the fight to stop it continues

- President Donald Trump signs order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America," effective immediately.

- More than 40 Orthodox synagogues, or shuls, are serving Toms River's growing Orthodox Jewish population, per APP

- Eagle Ridge application to be heard at the Lakewood planing board next week. The former golf course property of 60 acres  has been approved for 512 residential homes the Parke application is for a subdivision to create 129 lots

 SD 2667 The Parke at Lakewood, LLC 688, 752 Cross Street & 2 Augusta Blvd Block 524; 524.23, Lots 1, 2.03, 77.02; 1 Preliminary and Final Major Subdivision to create 129 lots.

- With school uniform season here and the long lines at stores, there are two new stores to check out! Fraylich Uniforms has opened another location off Locust Street, and Pretty Pleats is now open at the Junee’s location on Route 9 South.

- NJ Gov Sherrill: Today, I’m signing legislation requiring data centers to report their energy and water use to the Board of Public Utilities every six months. Here in New Jersey, we're not going to let these developers operate in the shadows

- USPS confirms their new requirements for mail-in voting is officially in effect and applies immediately to the November 2026 election, after an activist judge DISSOLVED her block on Trump's order

- After visiting Lakewood, Crown Heights, and New Square in recent days, youtuber  Tyler Oliveira is now in Boro Park, knocking on doors and attempting to speak with residents. Askanim are urging residents not to engage with him in any way and to simply ignore him BP24

Nichum Aveilim:

Shiva for RavAaron Gertz Z"L is at 62 Birch st Lakewood Shachris 8am,Mincha 6pm,Maariv 9pm getting up Tuesday 

Shiva for Rebbetzin Frieda Fried A"H is at 425 Monticello Ln Lakewood In Enclave Shachris 8am, Mincha 7pm, Maariv 9pm getting up Tuesday 

- Assemblyman Avi Schnall sponsors a bill that requires the State to bear a partial cost of the transportation of certain homeless students to school and for the State to pay the amount above the average student cost.

After LSTA raises price of courtesy busing to $700 per child the Lakewood BOE says they will no longer provide free courtesy transportation to non mandated public school kids due to funding cuts from Lakewood township.

-PR: A  Large Turnout at Lakewood Property Tax Relief Filing Event Over 130 additional Lakewood area residents are now on the path to receive property tax relief for 2026, following their successful filing at the special ANCHOR event held Sunday at the Westwood office complex, near the Lakewood-Toms River border. The ANCHOR and related Senior Freeze and Stay NJ programs offer benefits up to $700 for renters; up to $1,500 for homeowners age 64 and under; and can run as high as $6,500 for senior homeowners. This event was hosted by the C.A.R.E.S. organization; and co-sponsored by Lakewood Township, and other business and non-profit partners. 

- The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation orders journalists not to refer to the 9/11 attacks as “terrorist attacks

- An Ocean County man was killed Wednesday evening in a three-vehicle crash on I-195.State troopers responded to the crash around 9:01 p.m. on eastbound I-195 in Jackson Township, officials said Thursday. William Wright, 73, of Brick, was driving a Ford SUV eastbound when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a second Ford SUV and then collided with a Toyota SUV. Both Ford vehicles overturned near milepost 23.6 during the collision. Wright died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Video: Sefardi Selichos hosted at the Belz Bais Medrash in Yerushalayim with the Tzohar virus organization 

Iran Israel Updates Thurs August 27

- The Trump administration has told mediators it won't return to a June memorandum with Iran, which sought to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, start nuclear talks, and ease sanctions in exchange for steps to end regional conflicts. Iran demands full U.S. compliance first, including sanctions relief, access to frozen funds, $300 billion in reparations, and an end to wars in Lebanon and Gaza before proceeding. Mediators from Qatar, Oman, and Pakistan held high-level talks in Tehran this week, but both sides remain firm, with the U.S. opting for tighter sanctions and no new negotiations planned.

- The IDF eliminated a Hamas commander who took part in holding Edan Alexander, Matan Zangauker, and Avera Mengistu hostage in the Gaza Strip

- Trump posts about Iran : “ Mission accomplished 2026”

- President Trump posts that, according to a USAID report, more than 100 UNRWA employees participated in the October 7 massacre.

- British Times: President Trump threatened the British Prime Minister - "If you impose sanctions on Israeli settlements, including products from the settlements, this will open a trade war"

- During an assessment with the Israel Defense Forces, Defense Minister Katz stated: 'The deadline we set has expired. From now on, any launch of balloons or kites from Gaza towards southern Israeli communities will be met with a severe response.'"

- Bloomberg: US plans to revive a Civil War-era court to seize Iranian oil as war booty. The US Department of Justice is preparing to reactivate a dormant maritime legal mechanism that has been inactive for decades to streamline the military's seizure of Iranian oil tankers and their declaration as US war booty.

- The White House says the Iranian regime is already reeling, and President Trump is pulling "every economic lever" to increase the pressure. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says inflation in Iran is above 100% and the regime is struggling to pay its police and military, while also dealing with the damage inflicted during Operation Epic Fury. Trump's goal, she says, remains unchanged: making sure Iran "can never obtain a nuclear weapon, period."

- In response to the drone launch - the IDF began attacking in Lebanon

- IDF Spokesperson: During the night, the terrorist organization Hezbollah launched two explosive drones at IDF forces operating in the Ali Taar ridge area within the security zone in southern Lebanon. IDF soldiers shot down one of the drones, and contact was lost with the second drone. Our forces suffered no casualties. The IDF will not allow the terrorist organization Hezbollah to operate against IDF forces in the security zone. The IDF is currently acting and will continue to act with force against its repeated attempts to harm IDF forces.

- Israel is considering expelling British officials from the US-led coordination center for postwar Gaza, the Financial Times reported Thursday, amid a growing spat over the expansion of Israel’s controversial E1 settlements plan.

- IDF Says More Than 400 Hezbollah Sites Destroyed: The IDF said Golani Brigade troops under Division 36 destroyed more than 400 terrorist infrastructure sites and numerous weapons in southern Lebanon in recent weeks. The targets included anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, explosives, Kalashnikov rifles and mortar shells.

- Revolutionary Guards: Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz. The US must accept our conditions for it to be opened.

- Head of the Iranian Nuclear Department for the State Media: Iran is still in a state of war. The necessary security conditions have not been created to allow inspections at nuclear sites. The IAEA cannot demand inspections until a mutually agreed procedure for this is established.

-  Treasury Sec Bessent  announced sanctions on the following Islamist and far-left terror groups

 Palestine Action, a United Kingdom group

 Masar Badil, which operates as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Autistici Inventati, an Italy-based entity that supplies specialized digital architecture, tools, and services for Antifa cells and other violent far-left extremists, including a foreign terrorist organization.

Oif Simchas Wednesday 14 Elul

Chasunas:

Alpert - Weiss Cedar Palace

Cohen - Levin Ateres Esther 

Friedman - Mandelbaum Ateres Chaim Elazar 

Herskowitz -  Winer Lake Terrace 

Dunn  - Falk Bais Faiga

Halberstat  - Todras Neemas Hachaim 

Kamenetzky - Taub Kesser Moshe Yehuda 

Neustadt - Reich Fountain Ballroom 

Belitzky - Bernstein Ateres Blima 

Kiddush Levana Latest chance tonight 

Wednesday August 26 News Updates Lakewood

Weather:  83° A mix of clouds and sun. High 83F

13 Elul Yartzeit of the Ben Ish Chai.

- Lakewood BOE to stop providing free courtesy  busing to public school students after Lakewood township cuts the funding. Until now public school students who are not mandated for  free transportation from the school district received free courtesy busing sponsored by Lakewood municipal township. (While yeshiva non mandated parents pay out of pocket for busing provided by LSTA) Now the township notified the BOE that they will not longer pay for the free. Courtesy busing due to funding cuts.

- Satmar rebbe Rav Zalman Leib shlita  paid a visit today to the Lakewood kehila in Rockwell ahead of the yomim Noraim

- Delta Air Lines will resume daily nonstop service from New York JFK to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on September 6, using Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. “The safety and security of our customers and employees remain our top priority.”

- United plans to resume September 8. American remains suspended through March 27, 2027.

- Schools were urging parents to opt in to LSTA new busing fee by the 5pm deadline despite the steep increase since carpooling will mean more traffic and safety issues.

- BDE: Petirah of Mrs. Chanie Jacobs A"h (nee  Bresler) after a illness, wife of Rav Chaim Jacobs shlita from Forest Ave, rebbe in Kamenitz yeshiva. Levaya today at the Lakewood chapel off 7th st 6:30 pm with Kevura in Lakewood. She was in her 50's.

-BDE: Petira of Rebbetzin Frieda Fried A”H, wife of Harav Psachya Fried Shlita, she was suddenly Niftar at her home in Lakewood today.. The Levaya will take 5:00 PM at the Lakewood Chapel, followed by Kevurah in Eretz Yisroel.

- Bloomberg: Talks between Russia and Ukraine are at a dead end; Putin plans to escalate the war

- Admor M'Chernobyl shlita from Brooklyn will be in Lakewood this evening for kabolas Kahal ahead of the Yomim Noraim. At  Cedarview ave starting with 7:30 Mincha until 10:30pm.

- Biala rebbe shlita will be in Deal,NJ today for a short  visit.

- At the Jackson council meeting last night the Township passed an ordinance prohibiting data centers in all zoning districts of the town . Four council members voted in favor while one opposed it.

- Youtuber Tyler Oliveira is reportedly back in Lakewood today and has been approaching residents and schools, he was in other jewish neighborhoods in brooklyn yesterday trying to engage people for interviews with a film crew. 

- Over 40 girls still not placed yet in high school. In previous years the nashgiach Rav Mattisyahu Solomon would not allow schools to. Begin the year untill all girls were placed.

- Chavivim of Ocean county ads 9 new members to expand services for the community 

- Tomchei Shabbos of Lakewood dedicates the Fischl family warehouse in Lakewood  on Summer Ave, that will serve as a distribution place for the food packages.

- Moishes supermarket in Howell was set to open ahead of the yomim tovim shopping season, as of now there's no official opening date announced yet.

- LSTA deadline for opting in has passed there's no data yet about what percentage of parents decided, yet several parents of mesivta age boys have organized their own carpool as the morning  shacbris buses arrive too early with empty routes that are not utilized. 

- FAA news LSTA drama leaves more questions than answers. Lakewood residents are still seeking answers about the LSTA’s revised $675 busing charge. Where did the approximately $290 reduction come from, and was LDC, UEZ, or other funding pursued? What happened to tbe $1.6 million loan. Questions also remain about who approved the original $945 charge and the reduction, board member current role with LSTA and Igud, and whether any conflicts of interest exist. Most importantly, residents want a clear explanation of why courtesy transportation is funded differently for public and nonpublic students and who ultimately pays for each program. Here

- BDE: Petirah of Rabbi Aron Gertz zt”l, a longtime rebbi at Yeshiva Karlin-Stolin of Boro Park, who spent many years dedicated to the chinuch and growth of generations of talmidim Originally from Kensington area and relocated in the later years he suffereda beart attack a few weeks ago. Levaya in Lakewood today  11am at the chapel off 7th st.

- APP reports Families of non-mandated private and religious school students in the township are scrambling to adjust to a steep financial shock after the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority announced that courtesy busing fees will more than double for the upcoming 2026–27 school year.

- Hatzolas Nefashos Calls for Apology at Jackson Council Meeting. A representative of Hatzolas Nefashos called on a Jackson council member to publicly apologize for remarks made about the volunteer emergency medical organization two weeks earlier, including referring to it as a “copycat” ambulance service. The representative invited the council member to tour the organization’s operations, meet its volunteers and medical teams, and observe their training firsthand. He also disputed claims that Hatzolas Nefashos volunteers are improperly trained or primarily based outside Jackson, and said a video showing a vehicle running a red light did not involve the organization. The representative emphasized that Jackson residents volunteer around the clock to help save lives and provide emergency transportation, including free transports in some circumstances. “Judge us by our actions and not assumptions,” he said, adding that the organization is here to serve Jackson residents and deserves an apology for what he called inappropriate public remarks.

A Council member echoed the statement saying there's no need for competition among volunteers  everyone  should be welcomed to serve along with the EMS for the. Benefits of the community. The council member who made the earlier remarks took up the offer to get a personal tour of Hatzolas Nefashos.

- Toms River shul application  coming up at the zoning board in 2 weeks for a Shul building  on three lots totaling slightly more than two acres in size  at 2030 Whitesville Road. A 1.5-story home is located on one of the properties; total property taxes paid on the three parcels is $21,304 this year, according to Ocean County tax records. APP reports

- Yair Netanyahu was evacuated from Miami several months ago after an Iranian cell was uncovered that was spying on him and preparing to assassinate him

- Beginning October 1, 2026: Some non-citizen immigrants may no longer qualify for NJ FamilyCare

- Catastrophic flash floods and mudslides have struck Jilong Port in Tibet near the Nepal border. Three Americans are among the hundreds feared dead in the disaster.

- Jackson  Police are investigating a series of vulgar, threatening voicemails left for Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer Kuhn amid a heated mayoral race. No matter what side of the aisle you are, please don't do this at all Callers used extreme language, including death threats. Both Kuhn and her opponent Elliott Shem-Tov condemned the messages, saying real change happens at the ballot box. Authorities have stepped up presence around Town Hall because of this NJ12 reports 

- United Torah Judaism chairman Moshe Gafni drops a bombshell with his plan: “I know whom I will recommend for prime minister, and it won’t be Netanyahu.  Pundits say, With the left, it’s much easier to move forward. 

Hashkafa Q & A

Hashkafa With Rav Gershon Ribner Shlita

Program for increasingly common inspirational assemblies Chevron massacre Choosing which avreichim to invest in The parking problem near yeshiva Kollel wife expresses emotional cost of parental dependency

Oif Simchas Tuesday 13 Elul

Chasunas: 

Wasserman - Lemberger Bais Faiga

Zeldes - Donath Lake Terrace

Backenroth - Herzka Ateres Chaim Elazar            Sunnes - Reidel Ateres Reva

Traub - Grossman Fountain Ballroom

Mermelstein  - Daum Ne'emas Hachaim 

Klein -  Jaraslowics Cedar Palace

Savir - Borenstein Ateres Blima 

Sussman  -  Ringel Kesser Moshe Yehuda 

Talmid - Jadidi Ateres Esther 

Kiddush Levana

Tuesday August 25 News Updates Lakewood

Weather: 80° Generally cloudy. High around 80F. 

12 Elul the 7th Yartzeit of Rabbi Shlomo Gissinger ZTL

- BDE: Petirah of Rabbi Aron Gertz zt”l, a longtime rebbi at Yeshiva Karlin-Stolin of Boro Park, who spent many years dedicated to the chinuch and growth of generations of talmidim .Originally from Kensington area and relocated in the later years to Lakewood. Levaya in Lakewood tomorrow 11am at the chapel off 7th st.

- Trump administration pauses all immigrant visa applications worldwide.

- Over 40 girls not yet placed in high school a week before school starts

- Bingo/Menachem Lev Elul /Yom Tov sale going on now through September 5 side of salmon $8.99 see list below

- Tomchei Shabbos of Lakewood Chanukas Habayis and ribbon cutting ceremony at the new warehouse 503 Summer Ave. 5:30pm

- LSTA opt in deadline extended to tonight while parents decide their options.

- A massive fire broke out Tuesday morning at - Mordy’s Shtiebel, in Delaware Trail Rd at the Lakewood/Jackson border, heavily damaging the shul. Firefighters brought the blaze under control around 7:00 a.m. B’H all the Sifrei Torah were safely removed and found to be in good condition. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

-NYT reports on the ICE immigration raid on Clifton Ave in Lakewood 2 months ago. Federal immigration agents raided El Oaxaqueño, a Mexican supermarket in New Jersey, on June 24. Workers and day laborers tried hiding in bathrooms, upstairs areas and a walk-in refrigerator, but agents found and detained several people. One worker said she was traumatized after pleading with officers, explaining that she had a 2-year-old daughter.

- Trump: I would never interfere with Canadians speaking French! In fact, I have never even thought of doing such a stupid thing. This lie was made up by a weak and ineffective Prime Minister in an attempt to gain political support, which he has totally lost, from the people of Quebec. I love French Canadians! President DONALD J. TRUMP

- More U.S. employers are reportedly cutting coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs as healthcare costs soar.

- At last night’s Lakewood Zoning Board meeting, several applications were heard and approved. The Planning Board chairman sat in for several applications because of conflicts of interest involving other board members. The board approved a subdivision for BMG, which recently purchased a property on 5th Street and N. Lake Drive that includes a cemetery. The cemetery will be subdivided from the original lot and remain as is. Another application near Prospect Square, submitted jointly by nine property owners for a mix of duplexes and single-family homes, was approved with some future restrictions. The board also approved an application on Pine Drive, adjacent to the Hearthstone neighborhood, that includes a new 40-foot road connecting Route 9 to New Hampshire Avenue and will allow for 16 homes.

- Despite setting up parking spaces the Lakewood town square has homeless camping there.

APP reports Lakewood temporarily turned its town square into a 35-space parking lot because construction reduced downtown parking. Officials say they were not aware that the construction company painted it already it’s temporary and reversible, but residents, churches, and nonprofits oppose it because the square is a longtime public gathering space and fear the parking could become permanent.

- Trump: Canada has been “Ripping Off” the U.S.A. for decades. They have been charging our Farmers 400% Tariffs, and more. They have driven many wonderful U.S. companies out of business. For 10 years they wouldn’t certify Gulfstream Jets, until I got involved. They wanted 100% of the market for Gulfstream’s Canadian competitor. I deal with many countries, and Canada is easily the most difficult and unreasonable. They feel entitled, but they are not a State, and will be entitled no longer! President DJT

- LSTA report: From the NJ state report on the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority Funding. 

Funding for the LSTA comes from three major sources, The first is an agreement with Lakewood Public School District to provide transportation or aid in lieu for approximately 25,000 nonpublic school students at the maximum AIL rate per student. For FY 2022, this amount was $24,740,600. The next largest is fees paid by families for courtesy transportation designed to fill the buses. LSTA charged $260 per student for the approximately 10,000 students receiving this service. For FY 2022, the total revenue to the LSTA from families paying for in-district and out-of-district transportation was $2,513,364. The third and final revenue stream is a payment from the town to help ensure that nonpublic school students get seats on a bus. For FY 2022, this amount was $1,203,100. Total revenue for the LSTA (FY 2022) was $27,253,964. The LSTA’s expenses totaled $30,813,857 for FY 2022. Program expenses included $28,817,333 for contracted bus services and $869,994 for aid in lieu payments. The LSTA reported administrative expenses of $1,126,530, about 3.8% of program expenses, which is in line with what CTSAs charge (although the LSTA does not explicitly charge an administrative fee in the same way that CTSAs do). One concern is that the LSTA appears to be running at a loss each year and has a growing amount of receivables at the end. 

- President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is seriously considering renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America,” escalating his war of words with Canada as a bitter trade dispute intensifies and Ontario’s premier threatens to cut off electricity and critical minerals to the United States. “The United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America in that we don’t expect to [be] doing much business with Ontario any longer,” Trump declared on Truth Social Tuesday.

- Ivanka Trump/Kushner opens up about her conversion to Orthodox Judaism in a conversation with Miriam Adelson. “I actually converted before Jared and I became engaged.”She speaks about what a blessing Judaism has been in her life, how its values have strengthened her connection with her children, and how Shabbat and the Jewish holidays have added so much meaning to their family life

- Bingo Mesamchei Lev price list

Iran Israel Updates Tues August 25

- Trump: I have just been informed by the United States Navy that all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. Through Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait, as we are, also, with Pickaxe Mountain and the already destroyed three other Nuclear sites. There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

- Trump: The failing Islamic Republic of Iran is not paying large segments of their military, while at the same time killing protesters, even when they are not protesting, at levels not seen before. It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, and must be stopped, NOW. President DONALD J. TRUMP

- Netanyahu: Following my instructions and in continuation of the law we passed, the eviction of the UNRWA compound in Kfar Akab, near Jerusalem, began today. The State of Israel will not allow an organization whose employees were involved in terrorism and the massacre of October 7th to operate within its territory, and it will take action against it using all available means.

- The Trump administration issued a $10 million reward for information on the whereabouts of the Commander of the Revolutionary Guard, the Commander of the Iranian Armed Forces, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Intelligence Organization, the Commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard, and the Commander of the Cyber Unit of the Revolutionary Guard.

 Iran attacked an oil tanker in Hormuz. After six days without reports of attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, it was reported tonight that a missile or a drone hit the engine room of an oil tanker moving in the waters off Oman - an event that caused the tanker to be disabled

NYT: The Trump administration is preparing to return diplomats to the US embassies in the Middle East that were evacuated before and during the war with Iran, a move that may indicate that the US is not preparing to return to combat in the near future

IDF and Shin Bet: Yesterday we attacked and destroyed five weapons depots and a launch site of the Hamas terrorist organization in several strikes throughout the Gaza Strip. The attacked depots stored rockets, weapons, explosives, grenades, and other combat equipment that Hamas terrorists used to promote terrorist plots against our forces in the Gaza Strip. The attacked depots were set up inside mosques and next to humanitarian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. This is another example of Hamas' cynical use of civilian infrastructure, including mosques and humanitarian infrastructure, in violation of international law and cynical exploitation of the civilian population.

- WSJ: Days before ordering an attack on Iran, Trump received explicit warnings from intelligence officials who cautioned that eliminating Khamenei would not topple the regime - but would instead lead to the rise of a more extreme and hardline leadership that would work to accelerate the development of nuclear weapons.

- The United Nations on Tuesday slammed Israel’s threat to evacuate people from areas where kites, drones and balloons are launched in Gaza, lamenting “unacceptable rhetoric” coming from Israeli leaders. “On the threat of expulsion due to children’s kite flying, I hope we can all agree that this is outrageous,” UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.

Oif Simchas Monday 12 Elul

Kiddush Levana

Chasunas:

Ungarischer - Rivlin Bais Faiga

Frieman - Miller Ateres Reva

Friedman - Neuhaus Ateres Chaim Elazar

Lefkowitz - Sicherman  Lake Terrace 

Horowitz - Schwartz  Ne'emas Hachaim 

Shorr - Bender Fountain Ballroom 

Lopian - Godfrey Kesser Moshe Yehuda 

Kalatzky - Estreicher Cedar Palace 

Ehrman  - Yankelove Ateres Esther 

Rottenberg - Benyowitz Ateres  Bluma

From $150 to $700: Parents Demand Transparency on Where Tax Dollars Are Going

Opt out its not manageable, no Opt in it's cheap!

What is most insulting is not even the increase itself  it's the lack of explanation. People feel they were played.

The initial number families were already paying was $385. It was raised to $945. That price has now been reduced by $290, bringing the new total to $675 per child. But the statement never acknowledged that this $290 is on top of the $385 base parents were already paying it was presented as if the added cost was only $290, when in reality the total cost per child is now closer to $700. That omission is what many people find especially misleading.

The financials also make no sense. If the shortfall was $2.7 million, why was the increase set at a level well above that to begin with  and then what suddenly changed that allowed additional funding to be found? Regardless, this is still a steep increase for parents to absorb, and it raises real questions about transparency. There is no guarantee this new baseline won't rise again  especially considering that the cost was just $150 not long ago, and is now effectively $700.

People deserve answers. Was the original increase deliberately set high to create panic and make the final number seem more manageable? When was this actually known? Why were people told that those in charge had only recently learned about it? Was this planned in advance? How long before was this known?

This is not a game. These decisions affect families' emotions and finances. Those responsible owe the public more than an apology they owe a full public explanation of what happened and what is still happening.

There are also major unanswered questions about the justification for using municipal tax dollars to fully fund courtesy busing for public school students while not doing the same for non-public-school students. The public has repeatedly asked for a legal explanation and still has not received one.

And taxpayers are being told that budget cuts are responsible, with blame placed on Trump, FEMA, and the state. But Lakewood's municipal tax levy increased for 5 years in a row from about $72.2 million in 2021 to $97.2 million in 2025  an increase of roughly 35%. The Township is now proposing another $14 million increase for 2026, bringing the municipal levy to approximately $111.2 million.

So the question remains: Where is all the tax money going  and why is the public still not getting straight answers?

Non-Public Yeshiva Students Should Qualify for Hazardous Busing

Would you let your child walk to school down Cedarbridge Avenue, Cross Street, County Line Road, Route 88, or any other hazardous road with no sidewalks and heavy traffic?

For many parents, the answer is obvious: No.

Most of Lakewood is not safe to walk to school with no sidewalks safe shoulders and crossing busy intersections.

And that is precisely the problem. There are roads in Lakewood that are recognized as hazardous for children traveling to and from school. New Jersey itself recognizes hazardous walking routes and allows districts to provide transportation for students who would otherwise have to walk along those routes.

Yet under current New Jersey law, a student who lives within the mileage threshold is not automatically entitled to transportation simply because the route is dangerous. Districts may provide courtesy or subscription busing and may charge parents for that service.

In Lakewood, the Township pays the Board of Education for courtesy and hazardous transportation for public-school students. Private-school families, however, are required to pay out of pocket when they opt into courtesy transportation through the LSTA. With the annual fee increasing to $675, families are being asked to pay for transportation because the alternative is for children to travel along roads that have been designated hazardous.

This should not be a question of whether a family can afford the bus. A child's safety should not depend on whether his or her parents can afford the transportation fee.

A distance measured on a map does not tell us whether a child can safely walk that route. Two miles on a sidewalk is not the same thing as two miles along a road with no sidewalk, heavy traffic, high speeds, blind curves, dangerous crossings, or other hazards.

This is why the fight should not stop with the Lakewood Board of Education or the Township. This needs to be fought in Trenton.

New Jersey legislators need to hear directly from parents, school districts, municipalities, and communities dealing with these dangerous routes. The Legislature has already recognized that this is a problem. Legislation introduced in 2026, S4327, would establish statewide criteria for hazardous school routes for purposes of courtesy busing for students who are not remote.

The State should establish clear, objective criteria for hazardous school routes and provide funding so that children who are required to travel along those routes can be transported safely, regardless of whether they attend public or nonpublic school and regardless of their family's ability to pay a courtesy-busing fee.

This is not simply a Lakewood issue. It affects communities throughout New Jersey where children live within walking distance on paper but face roads that no responsible parent would consider a safe walking route.

We should be asking our state senators and assembly members: Will you support eliminating the financial burden on families whose children cannot safely walk to school? Will you meet with Lakewood parents and community leaders to hear firsthand about the roads our children are expected to navigate?

This fight belongs in Trenton.

Lakewood families should not have to choose between paying thousands of dollars a year and putting their children in a situation that the school district recognizes as unsafe.

We should not be asking parents, “Can you afford the bus?”

We should be asking the State of New Jersey, “If a route is hazardous for a child to walk, why isn't safe transportation guaranteed?”

Our children deserve better. 

At a meeting January 6, 2021 to add amendments to the student transportation rules, the issue of bus safety under 2 miles was brought up but the state responded "traffic safety is not within the scope of the readoption with amendments".

In New Jersey if you are a private school student and don't qualify for mandated busing because you live less than 2 miles away you but it is not safe to walk you still have to pay for busing. NJ Law Whenever a district board of education agrees to provide nonmandated transportation to and from school for reasons of hazard, the district board of education shall adopt a

hazardous busing policy in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:39-1.5. regarding the transportation of students who must walk to and from school along hazardous routes.  The policy shall include a list of hazardous routes in the district requiring the courtesy busing of students and the criteria used in designating the hazardous routes. On the NJ.gov website it states that "Boards of education are not required by law to provide busing for students who live less than remote from school "even for safety reasons".

"Q. Is it a district's responsibility to provide transportation for students who live less than remote from school when hazardous road conditions exist?

A. Boards of education are not required by law to provide busing for students who live less than remote from school even for safety reasons. However, boards are permitted, at their own discretion and expense, to provide transportation for students who reside less than remote from school and may charge the student's parents or legal guardians for this service. Municipalities may also contract with boards of education for this service and charge the parents. This transportation service is called Subscription Busing.

Bill S2975. Transportation for Hazardous Walking Routes Act; requires school districts to provide busing for students required to walk to school along hazardous routes

List of streets designated hazardous by Lakewood township and BOE

 1. Fourteenth Street (Across Madison)

2. Pine Street

3. Forest Avenue

4. Route 70

5. New Hampshire Avenue

6. Central Avenue

7. Cedarbridge Avenue

8. Kennedy Boulevard (East & West to Teaberry)

9. Route #9 (Madison Avenue & River Avenue)

10. Ridge Avenue (Brook Road over Lanes Mills)

11. County Line Road (West to East including Lanes Mills)

12. Park Avenue (From 2nd Street to County Line Road) – Elementary School Students Only

13. Ocean Avenue/Route #88 (From Lane Mills Road to Route 9)

14. Miller Road

15. Joe Parker Road

16. Cross Street

17. Hope Chapel Road

18. Chestnut Street

19. Squankum Road

20. James Street

21. New Hampshire Avenue

22. Locust Street

23. Washington Avenue

24. Kennedy Boulevard (Between Twin Oaks)

25. Vine Street

26. Clifton Avenue

27. Oak Street

28. Hillside Street

29. Williams Street

30. Prospect Street

Monday August 24 News Updates Lakewood

Weather: 82° Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon 

    

- BDE: Petira of Sanzer Rebbe of Boro Park, Harav Hatzaddik Reb Boruch Halberstam, zt”l. He was 70 years old. The Rebbe, a descendant of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, zt”l, was widely known for his extraordinary dedication to chesed and hachnosas orchim and for his open door to Yidden from across the community.

- LPD Traffic Alert: E 4th Street will be closed from Cottage Place to Negba Street for planned NJAW construction. Plan alternate route if possible.

- Amazon plans to begin using drones to carry out deliveries around South Jersey starting in mid-October, according to a notice the tech giant sent to Mantua Township officals. According to the notice, the proposed operating area for its "Prime Air" service will cover a radius of around 15 miles from its facility at 240 Mantua Grove Road in West Deptford Township. NJ

- Trump:  The Radical Left Democrats are going CRAZY with Fake Polls. They’re putting them out at levels never seen before. They’re called, “Demoralization Operations,” where they try to demoralize Republicans so that they don’t go out and vote — But the actual Polls are tremendous, and the Spirit in our Country has never been higher. We’re winning against EVERYONE, including Iran, whose Country is in Economic and Military Death Spiral. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

- LSTA update: Parents will have to "only" pay an additionl $290 instead. Total of $675 per child for courtesy busing. (While Lakewood township fully sponsors  public school courtesy busing.)

This is what schools are asked to send out

Important Update Regarding Non-Mandated Bussing

Dear Parents,

We are pleased to share an important update regarding non-mandated bussing for the upcoming school year.

Over the past several days, we have been working closely with representatives of the LSTA, together with our local and state government officials and dedicated askanim, in an effort to ensure that transportation for the children of our Kehila can begin on time and without interruption.

Baruch Hashem, through these discussions, the additional fee for non-mandated bussing has been reduced to $290 per student.

In light of this development, we are now recommending that parents opt in for transportation. Please note that the $290 fee is due at this time in order to secure transportation.

We fully recognize that this is still an additional expense for families. This arrangement is intended to allow bussing to begin on time while we continue our efforts to explore possible solutions.

We will continue to keep parents informed of any developments as they arise. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation throughout this process.With best wishes for a successful school year,{Your Mosed}

- Rav Shlomo Eisenberger shlita R"Y Telz will be giving a Elul shmooze  at B"M Kol Aryeh today at 1:15pm

- Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut off electricity and critical minerals to the US if the trade war with Canada worsens.

- LSTA: With the Monday night deadline looming, there have still been no updates from LSTA, the schools, or elected officials, leaving parents wondering what to do about bus transportation for the upcoming school year. There is still hope that some source of funding will come through, but for now, families are being left with a wait-and-see approach as the deadline rapidly approaches.

- LSTA from the state report: Recent LegislationIn 2024, new legislation expanded the LSTA model and allowed additional transportation consortia to form. Unlike the 2016 pilot, the new law allows districts from multiple counties to participate, removes district-size requirements, requires savings  from mandated  funds to be returned to districts, and permits up to a 6% administrative fee for  busing.

Lakewood Student Transportation Authority functions similar to a coordinated transportation services authority (CTSA). However, a CTSA is a governmental entity and the LSTA is a non-profit limited-liability company.

More from the report: One of the LSTA’s advantages over Lakewood for operating nonpublic routes is its flexibility in charging for courtesy busing, which Lakewood cannot do because of the district’s free and reduced lunch percentages. A study performed by Lakewood, NJ CPA firm HFA Certified Public Accountants and Advisors in 2020 found that the LSTA saves the district over $11 million versus the district bidding and managing all routes.

- Man with the truck will be in Lakewood today  at BM Ohr Tuvia East End Ave hall 4:30 pm

- Tuition in Lakewood  survey from TVOL interview with Lakewood families: Tuition remains a significant financial burden for many families. Sixteen percent spend at least half their income on tuition, while 29% spend more than 25%. Despite this, 61% believe tuition is reasonable, and paying tuition ranks 4.6 out of 5 in importance. Still, 29% owe tuition from the previous school year, showing that families can consider tuition important and reasonable while still struggling to pay it.

- Giyus: IDF police ramps up activity as they arrested 2 yeshiva bochurim today. Major protests expected as the rt 4 Highway will be shut down

- Giyus: “I have a feeling that the state will give up on us. They’ll understand that this isn’t possible and back off from us.” Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, leader of Degel HaTorah, speaking to several activists about the issue of drafting charesim into the military.

Tonight Lakewood zoning board meeting 7pm watch livestream Here see Agenda Here

On the agenda

Rabin & Company: Nassau Street, Amsterdam, Columbus, and Nostrand Avenue  residential units.

1127 CL, LLC: 1127 East County Line Road  office building.

Arcadia Avenue side-yard setback variances.

1503 Sean Court  side-yard setback for an addition.

Beth Medrash Govoha: 678 5th Street  subdivision for cemetery, house of worship, and house.

Debroz Real Estate: 485 River Avenue  addition to service the facility.

Pine Blvd. —multiple setback variances.

Westmount Group, LLC: 270 Albert Avenue  used-car lot and sales office.

Congregation Tiferes Ish: 131–135 East 7th Street, triplex.

- Did you know approximately 37% of all pregnancies in New Jersey end in abortion, which is one of the highest proportions in the country? There have been about 2,204,400 abortions in NJ since it was allowed in the 70s.

- Keren Olam HaTorah delegation Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva Rav Malkiel Kotler shlita joins the gedolim arriving this morning in Mexico.

Iran Israel News Updates Monday August 23

- Iran tried to assassinate one of Netanyahu's sons, prime minister tells Israeli TV outlet Channel 14

- Trump: IRAN IS COMPLETELY COLLAPSING!!! President DJT

- Trump posted a Newsmax headline quoting a statement by Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament: “We are starving, we cannot survive.."

- The United States is preparing a sweeping new round of economic sanctions against Iran as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Tehran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls the effort an “economic D-Day.” The move comes as Iran’s currency hits a historic low and Iranian officials threaten to halt oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. officials say commercial traffic through the region has increased despite the tensions.

- At the Cairo negotiations, the United States and the Peace Council were presented with intelligence indicating that there are elements within Hamas planning to deceive and not fulfill the commitment to full disarmament

- The U.S. naval blockade remains in place as the USS Abraham Lincoln heads home after a record-setting deployment and the USS George Washington moves in to replace it.

-  October Council Warns of Renewed Security Failures: A comprehensive report based on testimony from observers, soldiers and security personnel warns that Hamas is testing the IDF, operational approvals are sometimes delayed and people are afraid to report threats. Families bereaved in the 7 October massacre demanded a state commission of inquiry, warning that without investigation and corrective action, another disaster could occur.

- Israeli Strikes Reported in Southern Lebanon: Lebanese media reported Israeli airstrikes in the southern towns of Houla and Al-Mansouri.

- IDF Strikes Hamas Operatives in Deir al-Balah: The IDF said it struck 2 Hamas operatives overnight in central Gaza who infiltrated Israel during the 7 October massacre, killing Nukhba operative Abd al-Nasser Jabr Abu Assad. According to the military, they had recently planned attacks, tried to rebuild Hamas capabilities and systematically violated the ceasefire

- After 78 years, the Irgon boat, the Altalena, has been found. Tonight, August 24, 2026, at 00:30, during a complex maritime search operation, the ship was located intact at a depth of 503 meters, west of the Israeli coast.

 In June 1948, shortly after the establishment of the state, the Irgun ship "Altalena" arrived at the shores of Israel carrying weapons and fighters. Ben-Gurion demanded that all the weapons be handed over to the IDF, but the Irgun demanded that a portion of them be transferred to their members. The dispute escalated into a violent confrontation, and the IDF fired at the ship off the coast of Tel Aviv. 16 Irgun members and three IDF soldiers were killed.

The incident is considered one of the traumatic events in the history of the state and a symbol of the struggle for the principle of "one army for one state

Oif Simchas Sunday 10 Elul

Kiddush Levana 🌙 opportunity  latest time to say is Wed night 

Chasunas:

Landau - Nelkin Ateres Esther 

Blumberg  - Sommerfeld Ateres Blima 

Ginsberg  - Birnbaum Cedar Palace 

Miller  - Suthon Fountain Ballroom 

Basch  - Kaminsky Bais Faiga

Elenbogen - Krupnik Ateres Reva

Ashkenasy  - Rosenblum Kesser Moshe Yehuda

Kaufman (Detroit) - Cohen Ateres Chaim Elazar

Mandelbaun - Dombrov Neemas Hachaim 

Sunday August 23 News Updates Lakewood

Weather: 84° Sunshine and clouds mixed. 

- Ironic:  The gaboim of 770 have issued a public warning following reports of increased missionary activity in and around 770.

Reports say missionary literature has recently been found inserted into siddurim ans seforim.

- Lakewood police conducted traffic  enforcement in front of Satmar shul on Forest Ave.

- Jewish Summer Camp Locked Down After Neighbor Fires 20 Rifle Rounds; 23 Guns Seized, Suspect Now Out on Bail. More than 400 campers and staff at a Jewish summer camp in Maine were forced into lockdown after a neighboring man allegedly fired roughly 20 rifle rounds, with shell casings suggesting some shots may have been fired toward the camp’s basketball court. Deputies seized 23 firearms from the suspect, while court documents cite suspected antisemitic bias. He was arrested and initially held on $50,000 bail, but has since been released under strict conditions.

-Jackson  carnival at Johnson Park

- A Point Pleasant man was arrested in connection with a series of swastika graffiti incidents in Asbury Park, according to police.

- New era at BMG : Rav Shneur Kotler shlita son of the Lakewood R"Y Rav Malkiel Kotler shlita will deliver a shiur today for the first time  at 12:45 pm in the Yosshon BM on the sugya of תולדותיהם כיוצא בהן in Case he's בבא קמא.

The shiur is part of the phasing in process for the next generation of the chavrei hanhala of BMG. Last zman Rav Aaron Olshin gave shiur klali. N Rav Aaron Shustal and Rav Yehoshua Abba Busel delivered shiurim over the last year.

- Admor of Chernobyl shlita from Brooklyn will be in Lakewood this week Wednesday for kabolas kahal ahead of the Yomim Noraim.

- LSTA Update: Parents still lack clear guidance on the LSTA non-mandated busing changes. While some local articles warn that opting out could worsen mandated routes through longer rides or shortages, those claims need to be backed by facts. The bigger concern is transparency and timing: It appears Township officials knew about the funding increase and its impact earlier, why were parents only notified days before the deadline, leaving little time to understand the situation and make an informed decision?

- Keren Olam Hatorah delegation of gedolei yisroel from E"Y have arrived today in Mexico for a South American fundraiser trip.

- LSTA Audit in 2002 Raises Financial Oversight Concerns

A 2022 state audit of the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority (LSTA) reported approximately $27.3 million in revenue and $30.8 million in expenses, a roughly $3.5 million shortfall. The audit reported about $1.13 million in administrative expenses, with salaries approaching $500,000.

LSTA transported roughly 25,000 nonpublic-school students, funded largely through aid-in-lieu payments, family transportation fees, and township contributions. 

$24.7 million in maximum aid-in-lieu payments for roughly 25,000 nonpublic-school students;

$2.5 million collected from courtesy-bus family fees ($260 per student); and

$1.2 million in Lakewood township contributions for public-school courtesy transportation.

While the state recognized LSTA’s innovative approach, it also raised concerns about oversight, potential conflicts of interest, data issues, federal ESSER funds, and unused resources that should have been returned to the district.

- A article with Lakewood Mayor Coles in TVOL says The New Jersey Local Finance Board officially denied Lakewood’s request to exceed the state’s maximum tax levy cap. This cap override was intended to cover a severe municipal budget shortfall. The Township Committee had voted to raise property taxes by 14.4 cents per $100 of assessed value. For a home assessed at $750,000, this would have meant an annual tax increase of $1,080.

In the above article Local officials suggest political retaliation may be at play. Over 90% of Lakewood voted for Governor Mikie Sherrill's opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, in the gubernatorial election. Mayor Coles noted that while former Governor Murphy provided millions in state grants to help bridge the funding gap, Governor Sherrill "ripped off the Band-Aid" and slashed that support down to $1 million.Consequences: Because the tax hike was rejected, town officials must review the budget to find alternative balances. Mayor Coles warned this will likely result in service cuts and employment layoffs across the township.

Mayor Ray Coles attributes the structural deficit to an outdated 1970s state aid formula. While Lakewood has grown to 141,000 residents, it receives only $5 million in state aid. By comparison, similarly sized or slightly larger NJ cities receive drastically more (e.g., Newark receives $110 million; Paterson receives $33 million).Collateral Financial Hits: The township's budget was further strained by FEMA's refusal to grant disaster aid for a historic winter snowstorm, alongside the state denying a separate $5 million Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) project for public safety.Political Tensions: 

- President Trump lashes out at Canada after trade negotiations between the two countries collapse, accusing America's northern neighbor of wanting the "benefits of being a State, without being one. “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!! They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of Tariffs. No more!!! President DJT”

- Jonathan Pollard will be joining MK Sharren Haskel's Israel First party and will support it in the upcoming elections. 0Pollard said he chose the party because he believes it represents Zionist and nationalist leadership that puts Israel’s security first.

- Today Lakewood-area residents can get help applying for New Jersey’s ANCHOR prperty-tax relief program this Sunday, Aug. 23, from 1–5 p.m. at 1001 Route 70 in Toms River, near the Lakewood border. Representatives from the state Treasury will provide application assistance and answer eligibility questions in English and Yiddish.

- Agudah CEO currently in E"Y met with PM Netanyahu Defense Minister Katz and the Gerer rebbe.

 

Sign of Shiur at BMG (photo m weisberg)

Video: Lakewood Roshei  Yeshiva  walk Rav Yosef  Chaim  Shneur Kotler shlita into the Bais Medrash as he delivers shiur klali for the first time

.

Iran Israel Updates Sunday August 23

- Joint Statement from the Israeli Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Israel Katz held a situation assessment tonight (Sunday) regarding the threat of launching drones, balloons, and kites from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. Israel warns Hamas that if the launches towards Israel do not stop immediately, the IDF will act to intensify operations against those responsible for the launches and will evacuate populations from areas from which kites, drones, and balloons are launched. The Prime Minister clarified that we will not return to the reality of before October 7. Israel will not allow the terrorist organization Hamas or any other entity in the Gaza Strip to return to threatening our settlements and undermining the sense of security of our citizens.

- Netanyahu on drones: This is an F-35 aircraft. Do you have a drone at home? It can be just as dangerous. If they are in large numbers, equipped with weapons, very accurate, and difficult to detect, they will be problematic. We have been trying to find a solution to this problem for years. We are the most advanced country in the world in this field, but this is a global problem. We have seen this in Ukraine Lebanon and Iran, and now they are trying to revive this technology and bring it into Gaza.

My directive to the security organizations and the Israel Defense Forces is to do everything possible to counter this dangerous tool: targeting the drones themselves, targeting their operators, and targeting the location from which they are launched.

- Trump on Iran: “They'd love to make a deal, but they're not ready to make the right deal”

- Terrorist stabs a frum young father in the Jordan valley. Elchanan Chanania was moderately wounded in a stabbing attack near the village of al-Auja in the Jordan Valley on Sunday morning, after stopping on the way to a family vacation in Tevaria for his wedding anniversary. Chanania’s pregnant wife, two daughters and father-in-law were waiting in the car when the terrorist attacked him from behind and stabbed him in the upper body. His oldest daughter witnessed the attack. He was taken conscious to Shaare Zedek Medical Center with a shoulder fracture and internal bleeding, while Israeli security forces continued searching al-Auja, Yericho and the surrounding area for the attacker.

- Defense Minister Israel Katz says he has instructed the IDF to “act forcefully” against the launching of kites from the Gaza Strip in recent days. Over the weekend, at least four kites flown from Gaza landed in Kibbutz Nahal Oz. The army said nothing suspicious was found on the kites and there was no danger to the public, but many have associated the objects with Gazan kites and balloons carrying incendiary devices that plagued southern Israel in previous years.

- Saudi Al-Hadath channel reports: The Pakistani army chief will deliver US messages to Iran during his visit and will attempt to break the current deadlock and resume the talks.

- NYP: Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz is weakening: The New York Post reports a 400% increase in traffic volume in the strait. According to the newspaper, traffic on the strategic maritime route surged by nearly 400% in the last two weeks, amid increased use of vessels in the US-supported corridor to cross the strait.

- According to sources within the Israeli security establishment, Hamas has been exerting significant pressure on the mediating countries in recent days to blame Israel for violating the ceasefire agreement. This move has two main motivations: first, to halt any future process of the organization disarming; and second, to gain legitimacy to escalate operations against IDF forces operating in Gaza. (Channel 12)

- The reason for the IDF attack in Syria this week: Turkey was about to deploy air defense systems at the airport, which would have restricted Israeli operational freedom

- US Secretary  of Energy Chris Right: Iran is losing the effectiveness of its leverage in the Strait of Hormuz: The US Navy helped transport more than 15 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. 

As a reminder, before the war approximately 23 million barrels of oil (including Iranian oil) passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day

Motzei Shabbos Ki Setzei News Updates

Weather Tonight low 68 kiddush Levana but cloudy

Tomorrow A shower is possible early. Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. High 84F.

- More confusion from local mosdos to parents regarding  LSTA

Over Shabbos, the latest LSTA increase was a major topic of conversation among parents, who had first received the news on Thursday. While the latest school email/Text before Shabbos instructed parents to opt out, confusing messages sent Motzei Shabbos told parents not to opt in or out, warning that doing so would delete and remove their information from the system.

Meanwhile, the original LSTA email stated that if no action was taken by Monday at 11 p.m., parents would be automatically opted out.

"If no action is taken by 11:00 pm Monday, your child will be opted out, and the routes will be adjusted and consolidated accordingly."

This was sent out by some schools on Motzei shabbos "Important clarification regarding the non mandated bussing. Our recommendation is to NOT opt in but also to NOT opt out. (Actively opting out will remove your data from the system and cause a big problem). “Shev V’al 

- At Yeshivas Brisk,  the Rosh Yeshiva Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, spent Shabbos in his new apartment adjacent to the yeshiva and participated in all the tefillos. During Krias HaTorah,  he eceived the aliyah of Levi and then recited Hagomel, breaking down in tears as he thanked Hashem following his severe illness and medical ordeal, which had left him critically ill and bedridden. (Bhol)

- Lakewood officials have turned the town square into a “temporary” parking lot and while the move pleases some local merchants, others are less than happy to see the historic town square gone. Over the years, charities have held food and clothing giveaways at the square for years and have held many protest rallies there as well. APP.

- Part of Morris County experienced a very small earthquake on Saturday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The 1.1 magnitude quake was recorded more than three miles southwest of Chester and at a depth of seven miles, the agency posted to its website.

- Tomorrow Lakewood-area residents can get help applying for New Jersey’s ANCHOR prperty-tax relief program this Sunday, Aug. 23, from 1–5 p.m. at 1001 Route 70 in Toms River, near the Lakewood border. Representatives from the state Treasury will provide application assistance and answer eligibility questions in English and Yiddish.

- 40  Lakewood area girls still not placed in High schools with a week left for the new year 

- RFK Jr. says Tylenol isn’t just linked to autismbut also ADHD and liver toxicity in kids.So why is Tylenol still on store shelves while Ivermectin isn’t? “Because Big Pharma owns our politicians,” RFK Jr. says. “And I’m telling them to get lost.

- Canada Announces New Tariffs After Trade Talks Collapse: Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will impose new tariffs on US products from 8 September after rejecting Washington’s demands, as new 50% US tariffs on Canadian goods take effect. Canadian measures will focus on sectors including steel and dairy, with further details expected in the coming days.

- Trump calls Tucker Carlson a loser and a low-IQ individual: 

"Tucker Carlson just met with Lightweight “Former” Congressman, Thomas Massie, and Marjorie “Traitor” Greene, LOSERS ALL! Tucker’s “Views” have fallen through the floor, and will only get worse. Nobody cares about him any longer in that he has become totally irrelevant, and happens to be, surprisingly, a very Low I.Q. individual. He could barely get out of College, and maybe he didn’t, but only really dumb people can’t make it through that wonderful four year time in life! Tucker wants to run for political office, but he should be required to take a cognitive test. He’s got no chance, but could probably take a couple of points away from whatever the Republican ticket happens to be! Tucker is a loser, and always has been! Marjorie Taylor Brown (Green turns to Brown under stress!), a highly neurotic young woman, went from Ultra Conservative to a Liberal “Fool,” all in a matter of weeks, because I refused to return her phone calls — Not because I didn’t like her, just because I had no time. She was way down in the Polls in Georgia (because I took away my Endorsement), and would have had no chance at winning, so she, just like everyone else, “QUIT!” Thomas Massie has turned out to be a failed politician, and a real JERK. He thought it was really wonderful to vote, “NO,” on everything, no matter how good, strong, or proper the Legislation would be. What a team this would be, THREE LOSERS, and a pocketful of change! The only chance they have is to join the Radical Left Dumocrats, and try breaking into the Primary System. To all of them I say, PRAISE BE TO ALLAH! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

Lakewood Zmanim עש"ק פרשת כי תצא חמישי דנחמתא תשפ"ו

Friday, August 21, 2026 / ח' אלול תשפ''ו

ערב שבת פרשת כי תצא חמישי דנחמתא

Candle lighting 7:27 pm

Shkiah/Sunset 7:45 pm

Weather: Tonight overcast Low 67F.

Shabbos day Cloudy skies. High 76F.

5787 is a leap year (for those makpid to have kavana by parshas Zachor this week) .

ברגע קטן עזבתיך וברחמים גדלים אקבצך

כי ההרים ימושו והגבעות תמוטנה וחסדי מאתך לא ימוש וברית שלומי לא תמוט אמר מרחמך ה׳

 Video: Kan tzipor by pirchei Yerushalayim

Lakewood Left Helpless: No Guidance, No Leadership as LSTA Deadline Looms

Elul 5786

A wave of frustration and panic has spread through the Lakewood community following the announcement of a major increase in transportation costs and an extremely short window for families to figure out what to do.

Families have been left scrambling to come up with money they don't have  or arrange carpools, private transportation and other alternatives, with only days to respond. For many, that simply isn’t realistic. Between multiple children, different school schedules and Lakewood’s already difficult traffic, finding a workable transportation solution on such short notice can feel nearly impossible.

And this isn’t the first time LSTA has given families a last-minute choice: pay more for transportation or opt out. 4 years ago the same shtick was pulled.  On July 31,2022, Yeshivos and private schools got short notice from LSTA to notify parents of courtesy busing increase from $180 to $260. Parents had until  12:00 pm August 1.

But this time feels different. The potential financial impact is enormous, raising a basic question: How can a change this significant be announced with so little notice and so little preparation for the families who will have to deal with it? Did they know this was coming or was this a last minute decision.

Across Lakewood, families are calling each other, posting in WhatsApp groups and online forums, comparing numbers and trying to figure out what their options even are.

Where is the leadership?

Families are especially frustrated by what they see as silence from nearly every corner of the community. School owners  Roshei mosdos have largely stayed quiet. Politicians who are often quick to speak up on community issues have not publicly stepped forward. And broader communal leadership has yet to offer clear answers, advocacy or even a meaningful acknowledgment of  nesius ol in what families are being asked to deal with.

The numbers 

People are struggling to understand how a reported transportation budget reduction of roughly $2.7 million could potentially translate into an $18–$19 million burden on families. The gap is staggering, and families want a straightforward explanation: How were these numbers calculated, and why does a relatively small reduction in the transportation budget result in such a dramatically larger cost being shifted onto families?

 A short deadline.

Families cannot build new transportation arrangements overnight. Carpools have to be coordinated. Private vans have to be found. Work schedules have to be changed. Children with different schools, pickup times and dismissal schedules all have to be accounted for.

For working parents and large families, this isn’t a minor inconvenience. It can affect whether they can get to work, whether their children can get to school and whether the family’s entire daily schedule is even manageable.

Families are being left to figure it out alone.

Lakewood kehilla is used to communal leadership stepping in when an issue affects thousands of families. Parents are not seeing that happen here. Instead, they are calling one another, trying to piece together while the people who could potentially provide answers remain largely silent.

The olam should be kept open about what is going on. They want the financial numbers explained and enough time to make arrangements that are actually workable for their families.

Right now, families are being asked to make major financial and logistical decisions within days.

And for many, the most troubling part is not just the cost it’s the feeling that when they need their community to step up, nobody is stepping forward.