Video: Candidate Langert asks bracha from Gedolim in Eretz yisrael for upcoming election- defends his position

 Can we have an explanation on the current sky rocketing property taxes?

Girls school heads back to court

APP JACKSON – An appeal was filed in state Superior Court, Toms River, to overturn a Jackson Zoning Board denial of a plan to build an all-girls Orthodox Jewish high school in Jackson.

The Zoning Board denied the application in June after eight months of testimony and deliberation. Rabbi Ephraim Birnbaum was seeking a variance to build Oros Bais Yaakov — a two-story, 400-student school — on a 7.5-acre parcel on Cross Street. A variance would be required to build because schools are not permitted uses of land within the residential neighborhood of mostly one-acre lots. More..

Gentiles Standing up for the Tzibbur in Lakewood

The NYT article painted the Lakewood olam in a bad light, however some comments deserve a mention for defending the Lakewood community.

 I read 500+ comments in disbelief. This article is about beggars who come to Lakewood. How come a large percentage of the comments have nothing to do with the topic. When the word Lakewood comes up, people feel a license to criticize and attack anything that happens in Lakewood. That is bigotry and prejudice at its highest. And to those who focus on Mr. Ehrlich, he is but one person. There are thousands of people in Lakewood, mostly not wealthy, who are willing to put their hands in their pockets to take out something for someone who may have less than them. That is a beautiful thing regardless of your opinions about what they should be doing with their lives and what a better idea would be. And to those who would discuss the women. Have you met the women of Lakewood? Do they feel deprived and abused? Everyone has an opinion what other women should do, ironically labeling it as a woman's right to choose. They do choose - to ignore all you self-righteous nose-in-the-sky feminists, who kindly make decisions on other people's backs.

Another comment from helene in Virginia 

 This is a beautiful article about kindness and love. The world would be a greater place with more communities where people treat others the way they do. This should be an example for the rest of us on how to treat our family, neighbors and fellow citizens. I wish my upper class neighborhood would be like this. I beg all those that are posting hateful comments about people treating others with kindness and love to please take off your white hood then look in the mirror and see the racist bigot staring at you.

New York Times magazine profiles meshulachim in Lakewood

 Credit Peter van Agtmael/Magnum, for The New York Times

 The NYT writes up how the tzibbur in Lakewood responds to meshulachim who come collecting for Tzedaka. Once a year, Elimelech Ehrlich travels from Jerusalem to Lakewood, N.J., with a cash box and a wireless credit-card machine. During the three weeks he typically spends in town, Ehrlich — a white-bearded, black-suited, black-skullcapped, wisecracking 51-year-old — haunts the many local yeshivas, schools where Jewish men, mostly in their 20s, study the Talmud and other texts. Sometimes he loiters around the condominium complexes where students live with their young wives and growing families. Some days he hires a driver to take him to the houses of local ashirim, rich men. Throughout town, he greets old friends, asking after marriages made since his last visit and new babies. And at every stop along the way, he asks for money.

Ehrlich is a full-time beggar. His strategy is one part humor, one part not taking no for an answer. He gives you levity; he expects money in return. “I say rhymes,.. read more from the new york times

Tie down your schach and secure your succah : Very strong winds and rain expected tonight in Ocean county

Severe thunderstorms and strong winds tonight as a cold front cruises through the area, according to the National Weather Service. Strong, possibly severe, storms are expected tonight in the Lakewood area. The primary hazard with any storms will be strong winds. If you have a schach mat its important to tie it down as a wind can blow it right off. Many poskim permit to tie the schach down with a 100% natural string.

Many mishpachos in desperate need for a sukkah

If you will not be home for Yom Tov or getting rid of your old Sukkah there are many families that need one for Yom Tov. Young couples that will be home for Chol Hamoed or others that cant afford a new one can benefit from this. you can contact Chesed of Lakewood sukkah exchange 732-901-0482 ext 4 or email info@chesedoflakewood.org or leave your info in the comment section we will match up those that need one with those who have an extra one. 

Daf Yomi Community wide Siyum on Seder Moed

There will be a community wide siyum on Chagiga and seder Moed, sponsored by the Daf yomi commission of Agudath Israel. Tonight 7:15-8:30 pm at Ateres Riva hall, 500 Summer avenue, Lakewood.