Weather: 77° Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals.
Labor Day government offices, banks, the stock market, and the U.S. Postal Service will be closed, while most national retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants, such as Target, Walmart, Starbucks, and Costco, will remain open, though some may have altered hours. Costco is a notable exception, as its warehouses will be closed.
- Jerry Nadler NY Dem Rep. is retiring and will not be seeking reelection in 2026 citing a need for generational change.
-Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that President Donald Trump may declare a national housing emergency in the coming months. The Trump administration hopes to make “affordability” a critical leg of Republicans’ 2026 midterm election platform, and Bessent told the Washington Examiner that housing will be a core focus of that push in the months to come.
- Trump: As President of the United States of America, I am pleased to announce that Rudy Giuliani, the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot, will receive THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, our Country’s highest civilian honor. Details as to time and place to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!
- A group of 13 White Street / New Egypt area residents have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Lakewood Township Planning Board's site plan approval for Kollel Kinyan Torah / Circle Time's child care center expansion, FAA News reports here
- New book release by Artscroll coding soon "RONNIE" a biography on Rabbi Ronnie Greenwald ztl
- Update on the condition of the Gerer rebbe shlita a recording was sent by the rebbes gabbai "Baruch Hashem we are at home and receiving antibiotic treatment due to pneumonia. B"H we are feeling a little better. We ask the tzibbur to daven and strengthen themselves in studying Torah because it is our life and we hope that there will be a refuah sheleima soon."
- Rabbonim in EY under the directions of Rav Dov Lando shlita have instructed girls high schools in Yerushalayim not to open until all girls are placed. They asked that classes be increased to 50 girls per classroom
-Secretary Kristi Noem: This Labor Day, America works for Americans again. 100% of all new job gains have gone to U.S. citizens, and 2.5 million Americans are back at work since January. Under Biden, 88% of all jobs went to foreign born workers. Meanwhile DHS reforms have saved taxpayers over $13.2 billion. President Trump and I are putting the American worker FIRST. Happy Labor Day!
- Labor day protest planned for Lakewood NJ on Rt 70E and airport rd joining the national movement to Stop the billionaire takeover corrupting our government.
- Bnos Penina girls school in Lakewood sends letter to parents that due to a serious financial crisis it will not be able to open up for the coming school year as teachers are owed salaries and rent payments are up to date. The school asks parents for help with immediate assistance.
- Today Monday Labor day a Hashkafa in the workplace learning program will take place at the Beru hall on the Lakewood/Toms River border from 10am - 1:00 pm featuring Labor day vaad by Rav Doniel Neustadt, Rav Yosef Veiner, Rav Ari Marburgur, Rav Chaim Meir Roth, Rav Yoel Marton who will discuss topics from Kashrus in Halacha to collections in Halacha, general chizuk and Q&A
- Labor day shiurum Agra D'Pirka Khal Ohr Chaim 618 Caranetta Dr 10:30am Rav Yeruchom Olshin Hachana for Yom Hadin
11:00 am Rav Simcha Bunim Londinsky Minhagei Elul Shofar Selichos
-Job fair this Monday, September 1, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at 500 Boulevard of the Americas (BOTA), Lakewood. Organizers say the free event will showcase a wide range of employers and industries, giving participants an opportunity to explore new career paths and network with professionals.
-The jackpot for the Powerball lottery drawing tonight, Sept. 1 is now at an estimated $1.1 billion.
- Another heimish girls school notified parents that it cant open due to many unpaid tuitions leaving teachers with out pay for last years as noted Lakewood parents are being hit with major back-to-school expenses this year, from uniforms and school shoes to rising tuitions. While costs keep climbing, salaries are not keeping pace, leaving families under growing financial pressure. On top of that, Lakewood property taxes are set to rise 12% after September, Get Covered NJ marketplace rates are increasing, car insurance premiums have nearly doubled due to the area’s high accident volume, and utility bills have skyrocketed. All this comes just weeks after many parents were already drained by hefty summer camp expenses. צרכי עמך מרובים.
- Chasuna hall updates:
Nightly traffic continues at the new wedding halls on Oak Street, as the current chasuna schedule brings all guests at once for simchas chosson v’kallah. With many people stopping in briefly to wish mazel tov, the narrow parking lots are causing frequent backups as drivers struggle to navigate in and out of spots.
Due to the takkanos limiting the number of seats at the seudah, many friends who want to remain at the wedding simply hang around without eating a meal, rather than leaving and returning later. The halls are smaller than others and when you have 2 large families the dancing room is tight.
Another notable change in the weddings is that the chosson and kallah are not actively present at the main seudah. They wash for hamotzi and eat privately, only joining the crowd after the meal for the first dance. This is immediately followed by bentching and sheva brachos, and then the second dance.
-Giyus Update:
The chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Boaz Bismuth, is advancing a dramatic proposal to enact a one-year regulation that would permit the immediate recruitment of Charedim according to the IDF’s manpower needs. This temporary measure would bypass the need for a formal law or set quotas. Bismuth explained that the initiative is meant to provide an urgent response to the army’s current shortage of soldiers, while avoiding the lengthy and complicated legislative process, which he says is not realistic in the short term. The regulation would be defined strictly as a temporary order, in effect only until permanent legislation is completed by the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
- A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was hit by GPS jamming over Bulgaria in a suspected Russian operation, a spokesperson says.The plane landed safely in Plovdiv airport after pilots used paper maps to navigate
- Giyus: military police have been stationed in areas where a high concentration of Chareidi travelers is expected, including Elad, Beitar Illit, and yerushalayim The police officers will conduct proactive inspections to locate bochurim trying to leave the country at air, land, and sea crossings.
- BDE: Petirah of Rebbetzin Faiga Shifra Hager A”H, wife of the Viznitzer Rebbe of Kiamesha in the Catskills, Gibbers, Rav Menachem Mendel Hager Shlita, was niftar at the age of 70. She was the eldest daughter of the Rachmistrivka Rebbe ZT”L. The levaya will take place today at 11:15 AM in front of the Viznitzer Shul in Gibbers, followed by a brief levaya in Monsey, passing the Viznitzer Shul, with kevurah at the Viznitzer Beis HaChaim on Route 306.
- Trump: it is very important that the Drug Companies justify the success of their various Covid Drugs. Many people think they are a miracle that saved Millions of lives. Others disagree! With CDC being ripped apart over this question, I want the answer, and I want it NOW. I have been shown information from Pfizer, and others, that is extraordinary, but they never seem to show those results to the public. Why not??? They go off to the next “hunt” and let everyone rip themselves apart, including Bobby Kennedy Jr. and CDC, trying to figure out the success or failure of the Drug Companies Covid work. They show me GREAT numbers and results, but they don’t seem to be showing them to many others. I want them to show them NOW, to CDC and the public, and clear up this MESS, one way or the other!!! I hope OPERATION WARP SPEED was as “BRILLIANT” as many say it was. If not, we all want to know about it, and why??? Thank you for your attention to this very important matter! President DJT
- U.S. President Donald J. Trump is set to hold his second meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of other European countries who are part of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris on Thursday, September 4.
Was at the wedding last week and they just pulled the tables out from under us while ppl were still eating it was disrespectful for the guests. They have to figure out a better system.
ReplyDeleteWhy did they build such small halls when they spent millions on decor??
There's no chesed if people don't enjoy the wedding
Huh? They built small rooms cause the goal is to have small weddings the decor won't cost the family more money - bigger weddings will! The hall has to operate very efficiently to keep the costs down - pulling food from the table is not a new phenomnom - so it was a bit worse - nu! Honestly, what weeding is enjoyable - they are all the same commercialized assembly line some a bit nicer than others but definitely not worth the thousands being spent. Especially now with 10 weddings going on a night in this town people will be jumping from one to the other or the very least going to multiple a week. Weddings are not an enjoyable relaxing night out like they used to be. Kind of makes sense that they are now being made into nice vorts.
DeletePlease explain how keren olam haTorah can walk out of Lakewood with millions for eretz yisroel but local schools are struggling and can't open up
ReplyDeleteLakewood residents should feel grateful to support the Torah learners in EY.
DeleteAniyei ircha is uncool
DeleteSimilar to Bill Gates giving endless dough to Africa,but barely in the US
Two totally unrelated issues. There's enough money for both. If the local schools would command the confidence of the local philanthropists that the money will be spent as well as the money that is being sent to Israel, the local schools would have a lot easier time fundraising.
DeleteHow is following Daas Torah "uncool"?
DeleteHow is following Daas Torah "uncool"?
Delete9:40 am -- people generally don't give to elementary schools, girls schools even less (unless the wife is strong enough to insist on her Bais Yaakov that she attended.)
DeleteBiting the hand that feeds you is despicable and shows a lack of gratitude. Such a display of kfias tov would halachiclly justify the benefactors ceasing to assist.
ReplyDeleteIt's not helpful when the most important day in your life is stripped down and not given the proper respect. There are other halls that have takanus and those weddings are beautiful and bataamt. This new experience is still in experimental stage and has what to fix up.
DeleteMind sharing which hall makes a beautiful Takana wedding at the same price point? Did this new hall upgrade Bais Faiga to Beautiful? Talking about proper respect what about the wild music? Respectful is what your used to - Someone coming from an oceanfront wedding venue will call any wedding in Lakewood, a disrespectful commercialized event! Make the schron wedding a standard and it won't be disrespectful! Are weddings in E.Y. disrespectful?
DeleteWe all appreciate the efforts to contain costs and the beautiful halls that were built. It does not mean that constructive critism can not be said if there is an issue. Correct it is best not said in a public forum. I do believe these halls should request comments from those that have made weddings there and from those that have attended weddings there by beither setting up an email address or a number to text. I for one have many thoughts that I believe can make a big difference.
ReplyDeleteReality is, more often it's only comments made on a public forum that cause enough groundswell to get a ball rolling
DeletePeople who complain, always complain. I just made a wedding there and was absolutely beautiful. The entire operation ran smoothly from beginning to end.
Deletehttps://matzav.com/matzav-inbox-chesed-wedding-halls-why-does-chesed-mean-second-class/
ReplyDeleteIck. Why type of person writes letters to complain about a chesed no one is asking him to use or to donate to?
DeleteDear Frustrated Baal Simcha,
DeleteI read your letter with surprise and dismay. My heart goes out to you and your family—not because of the hall in which you celebrated, but because of how you chose to view and describe it.
You missed the larger point. These wedding halls were built through the tireless efforts of devoted askanim, who not only raised millions of dollars but also invested countless hours of energy and heart. Their goal was not to create “second-rate” weddings, but to relieve struggling families of crushing expenses and to allow simchos to be made with dignity and joy.
Yes, it is frustrating that even with such a hall, weddings are still costly—there are gowns, hair, makeup, photography, flowers, and all the trappings. But that only underscores the point: no one forced you to make your simcha there. If you booked this hall, you did so knowingly—either to save money, or because you understood and respected the mission of these halls.
To complain that the salad wasn’t elegant enough or that the tables weren’t arranged like a five-star ballroom misses the essence of a Jewish wedding. A wedding is not a catered restaurant outing. The simcha is not defined by whether the chicken was plated like a Manhattan steakhouse, but by the joy of a new Jewish home being built with bracha.
I say this not as a bystander. I, too, contributed substantially to one such hall. My donation was only a fraction of what others gave, but it came from the heart, with the hope that every family could celebrate without fear of debt. When you speak dismissively about the hall, you’re also speaking dismissively about the countless donors who sacrificed to make it possible.
May these halls continue to bring joy and relief to families for generations, and may we remember that real kavod comes not from chandeliers or table settings, but from the simchas hachassan v’hakallah, the sheva brachos, and from the community that gathers to celebrate them- not the ones who have to raise money to help pay the expenses.
Respectfully,
A fellow Yid
Thank you @ A Fellow Yid. Not just for your selfless and worthy contribution to Yiddish simchos and families, but also for eloquently saying what we're all feeling. Thank you
DeleteFellow Yid,
DeleteIt seems you may have missed the core point.
A chasunah is one of the greatest highlights in a person’s life a sacred moment that continues the chain of Klal Yisrael all the way from Adam HaRishon. Chazal consistently use the imagery of a wedding to describe the most elevated and joyous experiences. That alone should tell us the weight and holiness of such an occasion.
Yes, affordability is important. Yes, simplicity and avoiding waste are values we should all hold. But when those values start to drain the ruach and simcha out of a wedding when they become an agenda rather than a sensitivity then we’ve crossed into dangerous territory.
To intentionally minimize joy, to dictate how others should celebrate because "you’re paying for it," or to reduce the baal simcha's experience with family and friends this is not chesed. It's control.
Have you ever heard of a concept where halls are purposely made too small, just to make sure no one dares add even one more seat? Really? Is that fair?
For the same money, this could have been done as true chesed with dignity, flexibility, and joy but other agendas seem to have taken priority. And now, families who are desperate for a wedding hall have no choice but to go along with it.
We can and should aim for affordability, but not at the cost of the simchas chassan v’kallah.
3:44 The simchas and weddings that Chazal were describing were a lot more simple than anything in any hall today. If you need more gasmius to feel the ruach and simcha of a wedding, maybe the problem is not the hall but you. No one is controlling anyone. Everybody can make whatever weddings they want if they foot the bill themselves . Let me say something else. Believe me the guy whose extra seat didn't fit so he wasn't invited did not want to be there anyway. As my eighth grade told us forty years ago. Don't have a big bar mitzvah because everyone who really wants to be there could fit into your parents living room and dining room anyhow.
DeleteWhat happened to the fireworks that were supposed to take place on Labor Day?
ReplyDeleteBudget cuts or maybe they have it for Avi Schnall election night victory
DeleteSuggestions for Improving the New Wedding Halls Experience:
ReplyDeleteParking: Make the parking lots one-way in and one-way out to improve traffic flow, or enforce the no-parking rules along the roads leading into both sides of the halls to prevent backups.
Atmosphere: Have background music playing throughout the meal and breaks, as the hall feels empty and quiet otherwise.
Dancing Schedule: The current setup 40 minutes of first dance, followed by a 15 minute break, and then a full hour of dancing is physically exhausting for the baalei simcha. It may help to shorten or break up the sets and reconfigure the schedule for a more manageable pace.
Dessert: Currently, dessert is served on the side, after the tables are cleared leaving many guests standing and balancing eating off plates. A better option would be to move dessert out to the hallway or lobby, similar to how it is done in the Brooklyn hall.
Meal Timing: Guests should be given a bit more time to finish eating the seudah without waiters rushing to clear the tables for dancing. To balance the schedule, the second dance could be shortened instead.
Chosson & Kallah Participation: Allow more time for the chosson and kallah to celebrate and enjoy with their guests. This is not a chassidish crowd, and the Lakewood yeshiva oilam does not have a mitzva tantz or other chassidish minhagim, so the focus should be on maximizing the simcha together with the guests.
50 girls a classroom?
ReplyDeleteChoson and Kallah dont have to eat together with everyone to have a sheva brochos?
ReplyDeleteI was once at a Rebbeshe wedding, the women ate at a hall two blocks away from the men.
DeleteThey started Sheva brachot, when they realized (in Yiddish, over the microphone) that the Kallah wasn't there. Someone said the Kallah doesn't have to be here, while they were here her from two blocks away.
I looked into it, and really, there's no halachic need for the Kallah to be at the wedding. Let her appoint a shliach for the whole wedding, chuppah, harei-at, eating, etc. (Except the fun that night).
Reb Moshe Feinstein, Z"L said that if the Chopson/Kalah don't wash and participate in the chasunah meal with the guests, the Sheve Brochos is a Brochos li'vatalah.
ReplyDeleteI've been at weddings where by the time the couple manage to sit down for the meal, they're just not into eating anything.
DeleteThe balei batim should accept the criticism and take the Musser and tweak the changes instead of attacking the poor balei simcha who big gevirim gave millions to help make nice affordable weddings
DeleteAfter those same gvirim skinned the poor families( who used to not be poor; they were both once in very much same category)&/or pushed them out of the way thereby smugly getting themselves to where they now are
DeleteImpossible. Rav Moshe would never write against the halacha, which in this case is very clear that not only does the kallah not have to be present but the chosson doesn't have to be there either! That is the halacha lemaisa.
DeleteFor your Kleine heimeshe crowd.For nobody else
DeleteIf a school was selective on accepting there's no rachmanus when there's financial troubles
ReplyDeleteIf - You might want to do your research...
DeleteReally? What did all the kids who are in that school do wrong?
DeleteHowever, people who bail them out do have every right to deman certain rabbinical oversight or conditions.
Schools must figure out additional sources of income. With the average family BA"H having 8-10 children, most really can't afford $5-6 thousand + a year for tuition.
ReplyDeletethey are asking a lot more than that
DeleteAnonymous 3:44pm you took the words out of my mouth. That's exactly what happened. The givirim are dictating how the others who can't afford should make a wedding and that their relatives and friends shouldn't be there. It's costing less but you're getting what you're paying for. It's not a wedding for 300-350 people costing 11k. I was there and it felt like a kiddush my son in law said it felt like a shalom zachor. We stood around from 10-1035 and nothing was going on eventually there was bentching. But alot of us left so we wished mazel tov but we would have stayed for dancing but not after waiting 30 minutes. The givirim wouldn't even make a vort in such a hall nor a bar mitzvah and for sure not a wedding. Giving tzedaka is about making the person feel good not just the givirim feeling good about themselves. I hear there was a space big enough for 1.5 halls so they came up with a brainstorm and made 2 halls in that space. His faiga isn't much more expensive and at least you don't feel like 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteWow so now Bais Faiga became a nice Hall! Not a bad outcome considering how many times I heard from girls (w no money) there's no way I'm getting married in BF...
Delete"You took the words right out of my mouth"
DeleteThat was a great picture show, also of a wedding.
@,517pm your a shakran
DeleteThe point is Tzedaka needs to be given with an Eisen Tov
Delete6:25
DeleteWeak comeback.
He obviously is relating that even there by a comparison is more decent.& you're proving his case
Eiyen or eizen tov?
DeleteI know it's a fact this girl's school refused to accept girls for their own stupid selfish reasons, now they can go to hell!
ReplyDeleteI happily made weddings for my kids at Bais Faiga. Enjoyed every minute. Wonderful simchas. I wouldn’t use the new places.
ReplyDeleteBais Faige would be a nice hall if they would do something about the present terrible bathroom situation
ReplyDeleteAnd make the Chuppa correctly with the men on the right on the woman on the left.
DeleteIt seems that people don't like being told what to do, even, or especially, when it is by a person who is doing them a favor.
ReplyDeleteTo the donors - do you want to help people in the best way possible? Do you want people to be happy? Do you want to perform tzedaka in a G-dly manner, without demanding anything in return? Are you willing to truly part with your money for another Yid, without any strings attached? Are you ready to bring a ruach of kindness in the world?
If so, take this criticism seriously. Don't write it off as 'a bunch of ungrateful complainers'. This isn't between you and them, it is between you and your middos.
To the complainers - you don't have a right to anything here. If you don't like these halls, you have the option of not using them. But there is no premise that things should look the same at all times, and if this is a new way of making chassunos, the world won't fall apart. The chassunos in non-takanah halls are also strange to someone coming from Eretz Yisroel or Europe. And the sky hasn't fallen. Find a way to find the positive in your life. You will thank yourself for it.
Who is telling anyone what to do? There was no community wide takona that everyone has to use subsidized halls. If anyone isn't interested, very well don't use those halls, they have a long line of people who will do so without you. Do people tell donors to specific types of yeshivas , if you really want to be machzik Torah it's not about your haskafa, it's where Torah will be learned so donate elsewhere too? I never heard of any Rosh Yeshiva telling one of his donors to also give to a Yeshiva that he doesn't approve of their general haskafa too.
Deletesorry, but this argument that “no one is forcing you to make a wedding in the takanah halls” is not based on Torah or hashkafah. when gevirim help the poor, they are supposed to go all out and make it comfortable and respectful. halachah says that if a person lost his money, you may give him maaser up to his previous living standard.
Deletewhen you collect money from the community, claiming you are helping the poor make weddings, you are representing all of lakewood families who need financial help. you have no right to create your own takanos and then tell others “too bad, no one is forcing you to use these halls.” you can’t play both sides pretending you’re helping the poor, but then saying they must follow your rules or go elsewhere and lose the help.
it’s an arrogant and shameful approach.
@12:08 - Well said
Delete@730 what's the sheker? Let's hear
ReplyDeleteBased on the complaints about the new wedding halls, those who built them are doing a major chesed even for those who don't use them. They are lowering the standards for everyone. A major thank you to all of them.
ReplyDeleteNothing was lowered.
DeleteBias Faiga and Reva make beautiful affordable weddings despite these halls.
These takana halls make a mockery out of it and take advantage of the desperation in finding a hall in a timely manner.
I say let the givirim show everyone they're also cutting down and making chasunas for only 100k (yes that's cutting down for them) and then you can expect others to also make less costly weddings. But basically telling people you are helping to strip their wedding from a basic bais faiga taking wedding to next to nothing is plain and simply not nice!!! Would they ever in their wildest dreams make such a wedding. I thought tzedakah means giving and helping someone on their level. Today these halls don't fit the bill. It's the size of the halls and the service. It's just not mentshlich
ReplyDeletePlain and simple: Whether you use their service and help is your choice. What they do with their money is not something you get to control, no matter how much kinnah and ungratefulness is dressed up as righteousness.
DeleteI, personally am deeply greatful for the cheaper options. I plan to use them.
Matzav has long shown themselves to be part of the problem and not part of solutions.
8:56
DeleteFalse.Noda B'yehuda regulated with takanos on the wealthy.Among many others as well. As long as you wear a yarmulke/sheitel & dwell within a Frum community you bear responsibility for others regarding every aspect of life.The option remains of taking it off
4:44
Let's elaborate how it goes.
The media & rabbis will be organized to beat the drums & make a groundswell that will coerce the have-nots to use those new mini-halls.It will become too hard to ignore or sideline