Just yesterday Josh Gottheimer said he strongly opposes tuition vouchers for private schools.
His campaign pledge is to Stop Trump to fight against Donald Trump and his policies, as he will safeguard abortion.
Today he gets the endorsement of the Lakewood vaad in a town that voted for Donald Trump more than any other in New Jersey earning the name as the Trumpiest town.
NJ Globe reports
ThLakewood Vaad backs Gottheimer, tells unaffiliated voters to vote in Dem primary
Ciattarelli wins Vaad support in GOP race
By David Wildstein,
The Vaad, a hugely influential coalition of Orthodox Jewish Rabbis in Lakewood and the surrounding communities in Ocean and Monmouth counties, has endorsed Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) for the Democratic nomination for governor, specifically calling on unaffiliated voters to vote for him in the June 10 primary election.
The endorsement marks a rare involvement in primaries for the Roshei Yeshiva with a push to expand Gottheimer’s vote tally beyond registered Democrats.
In the Republican primary, The Vaad is backing former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-Somerville).
“The outcome of the primary for the governor’s election is crucial. The Governor is the most powerful office in New Jersey and the governor enacts regulations and policies which have a direct effect on the whole Kehilla,” the Vaad said in a statement released to members of its community today. “As New Jersey statewide politics is volatile, it is urgent that we get the most favorable candidates on both party lines to put the Kehilla in the most favorable position for the general election in November.”
Lakewood itself has nearly 25,000 unaffiliated voters – not all part of the Orthodox community – along with rapidly expanding Jewish populations in Brick, Howell, Jackson, Toms River. An organized effort to move unaffiliated voters toward a particular candidate in a primary is unusual.
The Vaad’s endorsement is also unusually early; there have been times when it came on Election Day. But the decision to back Gottheimer and Ciattarelli reflects a change to the voting schedule with vote-by-mail and early voting.
In 2023, Lakewood voters fully embraced early voting as part of an upset victory by a prominent Orthodox Jewish leader, Rabbi Avi Schnall, for a State Assembly seat as a Democrat in one of the most Republican legislative districts in the state.
Schnall unseated a Republican assemblyman, Ned Thomson (R-Wall), by 11,406 votes in a district that Donald Trump won by 46 percentage points in 2024 and Jack Ciattarelli carried by 28 points in 2021.
Earlier this year, Gottheimer hired Schnall’s campaign manager, Tzvi Herman, to advise him of strategy and voter turnout..
“We are making our endorsements public at this time, because gubernatorial primary ballots have already arrived and in-person early voting is starting shortly,” The Vaad stated. “We strongly encourage our community to show up in strong numbers and vote according to these endorsements.”
The vaad is a despicable organization who has no representation from anyone in Lakewood.
ReplyDeleteThey are down to 1 or 2 members who have financial ties with local government..
They are to be ashamed of themselves for having the chutzpah to make an endorsement and tell the Lakewood community who to vote for.
The vaad is a clown show a sad chapter of Lakewood of people who put themselves in power to gain financially off the backs of Lakewood poor voting bloc.
Don't be fooled by them vote only republican .
They were never elected or appointed by the community not legally or al pi halacha. They must disclose all financial benefits that they receive .
Sad that in 2025 the Lakewood kehila is in galus from their control
Except that your dumb family & neighbors will vote for their candidates
Deleteunfortunately, its the sad truth, those of us living here for many years got smarter but theirs always the new olam who dont know any better and follow the herd
DeleteGreat Replacement theory on ground level
DeleteTypically when a newspaper endorses a candidate they run a editorial explaining why. Although it might be obvious that some backroom deal prompted the endorsement they have enough respect for the reading public to at least claim to offer a reason.
ReplyDeleteNot so the VAAD, ZERO RESPECT
They don't feel the need to address any concerns or give any reason besides some vague notions to vote for the klal..... FOLLOW THE VAAD AT YOUR OWN RISK
Step 1. Endorse the Dem candidate who promises to get school vouchers passed.
ReplyDeleteStep 2. The tzibur votes in the said candidate.
Step 3. Nothing happens or gets improved, except for the victorious candidate and his backers.
Step 4. Endorse the Dem candidate who promises NOT to get school vouchers passed.
Step 5. The tzibur votes and the said candidate wins (?)
Step 6. The powers that be sit back and laugh and laugh and laugh.
Vaad and it's bought off lap dog media treat lakewood citizens as little kids without any explanation on their decision or why should Orthodox lakewood jews vote for liberal lgbt loving Trump Hating Gottheimer.
ReplyDeleteGottheimer is 4th behind the front runner
ReplyDeleteThis move is only to squeeze the other candidates to give the vaad the money they want for their projects while lakewood infrastructure is neglected
It is timew to create another organization who will represent the oilam. What are you all wainting for? The VAAD does not represent you.
ReplyDeleteNow it all makes sense..
ReplyDeleteIt appears that The vaad was behind the gottheimer campaign to Lakewood all along
Herman was placed as a liason remember he was schnalls guy, BP had ads on front cover also vaad connections CBN was paid to market it JCN too met with him
And this is how they plot and fool the Gullible frum community to use their voting power as the big guys cut deals and have the money flowing to them.
Look at all the grants in the last few years see who was the recipient and who had their hand in the cookie jar
Too bad we have no נביאים today because those in power will never show their faces in public after the abuse of the kehillas resources and needs
I am voting for those who protect my HUD benefits so I guess with the support of Daas Torah/ VAAD I will vote for Gottheimer
ReplyDeletetroll
DeleteThen you're included in'your dumb family & neighbors will vote for their candidates'
DeleteWe assume the Vaad makes money off of their endorsements. But how do we really know? We don't even know who the members of the Vaad are!
ReplyDeleteThis is the reason behind the endorsement
ReplyDeleteThere's reason to believe Ciattarelli would lose to Gottheimer in a one on one in November. All other dem candidates will have a harder time defeating him. The vaad want a dem so they are taking a major gamble to fool everyone into voting for Gottheimer in hopes ro to push him over the top and than he will beat Ciattarelli in November. The vaad gains by backing the winner.
The question is why are they doing this and who did they talk to by making this decision?
They have no more leverage not to endorse liberal anti Torah candidates after what they just did.
This is התגרות באומות we are in golus yet trying to manipulate a governers election angering the democratic base and Republicans as well.
ReplyDeleteDoes lakewood have to be in the spotlight and be the ones to decide an election ????
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eallon_djt-gop-elections-activity-7330981934505816064-FJ4p?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=android_app&rcm=ACoAADH6tp4BkM_rEo1CLihoMxln6gmL9DwAKvY&utm_campaign=share_via
ReplyDeleteLinkedin post by Efraim Allon " is Avi Schnall a shoe in?
DeleteId like to know who was in the room when they had the meeting and decided to endorse Josh Gottheimer
ReplyDeleteWhat is their decision based on that they feel that they have a right to tell lakewood undecided voters to pull the lever for Gottheimer?
At least have some respect and explain the reasoning to everyone not just to the vip askanim who sit in a smoke filled office meeting
Once upon a time litveshe used to think for themselves . Now we just follow like sheep
ReplyDeleteThe Vaad endorsed Corzine.They even him here twice to campaign
ReplyDeleteWhat ever happened to Gov Corzine?
DeleteWas he indicted yet? Financial fraud, lying to his investors. Similar to NYS AG
NOW IS THE TIME TO FIX THE FORMULA
ReplyDeleteThe VAAD said dont vote for the fix the formula cadidates. They know better, they know that it is better for the oilam to be millions in debt to the state. They know that it is better to threaten to lay off public school emplyees an dbussing than endorse 'fix the formula' candidates. Heineman knows Lakewood traffic is a good thing for us. It shows a vibrant town. Bh we have such people working on our behalf
DeleteNever ever vote for any candidate endorsed by the vaad aka the machrivim of Lakewood or central jersey.
ReplyDelete