Monday October 20 News Updates Lakewood

 Weather: 63° Windy. Cloudy skies this afternoon. High 63F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible

Nichum Aveilim

Shiva for Habachur Shlomo Abba Cohen z”l is at 31 Ponderosa Pine River Lakewood Shachris 8am Mincha 1:45 pm Maariv 9 pm 

Shiva for Habachur Chaim Simcha Grossman Z"L will be in Lakewood until wednesday noon at 74 Tova Drive shachris 8 am Mincha 1:45 pm, Maariv 8:45 pm Thurs and Friday in South Fallsburg at 24 Estate drive

Shiva for Habachur Yaakov Kilberg Z"L is at 120 Hearth Ct E Lakewood. Shachris 8am, Mincha 1:45 pm, Maariv 8:30 pm

Shiva for  Habachur Aharon Nosson Lebovits Z"L is at  132 Spruce street Lakewood 

Shachris 8am, Mincha 1:45pm, Maariv 9pm

- Giyus: Israel Police chief Danny Levy has instructed officers to refrain from detaining ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers or deserters, despite requests from the IDF and the Justice Ministry for police assistance in enforcement, Haaretz has learned, officers are now instructed not to detain such individuals, but rather to coordinate their appearance at a Military Police unit and release them in the meantime.

The new directive, issued by Maj. Gen. David Filo, head of the police operations division, with Levy's backing, was motivated by concerns over potential protests and manpower shortages.

-Agudath Israel calls on the community  to Please Contact President Trump and Thank Him for Bringing the Hostages Home. 

Feel free to personalize the following message template:

Dear President Trump,

As an Orthodox Jewish American I want to thank you and your administration for brokering the deal that brought back all the living hostages.Please continue to insist that Hamas return every murdered hostage for a proper burial.

We hope and pray that the deal will also mean the end of Hamas, the end of the war, and the beginning of a lasting peace to the region.

We thank you for standing with the Israel in its time of need and for your commitment to remain involved as the chair of the Board of Peace that will oversee the next stages in Gaza.

- White House begins demolition of part of East Wing for Trump's ballroom

- The Jackson Jewish Community Council (JJCC) has issued a warning that basement rentals in Jackson Township are still strictly illegal. This comes in response to reports that some realtors are misleading homebuyers by falsely claiming that such rentals may soon be legalized. The JJCC cautions that these claims are being used to justify inflated home prices and create false expectations of rental income.

- A new Gotham Polling and AARP survey shows that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo could nearly tie frontrunner Zohran Mamdani in the NYC mayoral race if Republican Curtis Sliwa drops out. Without Sliwa, Mamdani leads with 44.6% to Cuomo’s 40.7%, within the poll’s 4-point margin of error. With all three candidates in the race, Mamdani holds a wide lead 43.2% to Cuomo’s 28.9% and Sliwa’s 19.4%. Notably, 78% of undecided voters are aged 50 or older, a demographic that could give Cuomo a late boost, while younger voters strongly favor Mamdani.

- The New Jersey Department of Health is warning that after November 1st, the ongoing federal government shutdown could “compromise access” to the state‘s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).(Onejersey)

- Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva Rav Malkiel Kotler is currently in Eretz Yisroel for a quick visit.He met with  Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman shlita

-  UPDATED Lakewood zoning board meeting today the agenda has yet to be posted on the township website. Watch livestream Here 7pm

See Agenda HERE

Applications on the agenda

- Cedarbridge Ave Use variance for self-storage facility in ABC Zone.

- Hatzalah EMS: Use variance to construct an ambulance garage in R-15 Zone.

- Avalair Executive Center, LLC (E. County Line Rd): Two 3-story office buildings; use variance for parking lot in R-15 Zone.

- Hamilton of Lakewood, LLC (600-800 New Hampshire Ave): Use variance for office building in R-20 Zone.

-Congregation Meshech Chochma (Rose Pl. & Williams St.): Subdivision for two duplexes and one single-family; Yeshiva/dorm requires use approval.

-1501 Prospect Street, LLC: Use variance for single-family homes, duplexes, and retail in M-1 Zone.

-Peby Holdings, LLC (505 E. County Line Rd): Use variance for two-family dwelling in OT Zone

- Traffic light at Oak st and rt 9 construction crews putting final touch to electrical connection expected to be activated soon.

- The New Jersey State Police is asking for the public’s help in connection with the horrific crash on the New Jersey Turnpike early Sunday morning that tragically claimed the lives of four bochurim Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or observed the Dodge Ram traveling in the wrong direction is urged to contact the Troop “D” Moorestown Station Detective Bureau at 609-860-9000 ext. 3226.

- BDE: Petirah of R Aharon Blumenthal Z"L who passed away following an illness. Originally from Yerushalayim/Toronto and recently moved to Lakewood. Levaya is 10:30 am at the Lakewood chapel with Kevura in EY.

- President Trump calls for Virginia & New Jersey to vote republican in Governor race— Endorses Winsome Sears and Jack Ciattarelli “Democrats Are a DISASTER he said they will raise energy costs through the roof.

- Hundreds of  new bochurim  will be joined BMG for this winter zman.

- AP: Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for New Jersey governor, is leading in polls. But some in her party are concerned her campaign won't rouse voters come Election Day per Associated Press.  Meanwhile Jack Ciattarelli is gaining momentum and drawing large crowds expecting a big turnout in Lakewood after visiting multiple times campaigning specifically he said as Governor he will opt into the ECCA plan signed by Trump to allow tax credits for private school tuition.

- The Israeli government announced Sunday that bochurim enrolled in yeshivos who have not enlisted in the IDF will lose their National Insurance benefits starting January 1, 2026.

- Dov Hikind interview on the Zev Brenner show says Otthodox Jews should vote for Curtis Sliwa.  Brenner followed up with a interview of Cuomo who again tried to explain his position targeting the community during covid. Hiking who is a follower of Meir Kahana criticized the Satmar tally in Manhattan as well as their meeting with Mamdani over Sukkos.

- Sufganiyot already on the shelf at Iaraeli grocery stores leading up to Chanuka in 2 moths

- Secret Service agents found a suspiciously-placed hunting stand Sunday that is now under investigation by the FBI. The stand's line of sight pointed directly to President Donald Trump's Air Force One area at Palm Beach airport.

- Keren Olam HaTorah delegation in Cleveland today led by Rav Dov Landau shlita.

Nichum Aveilim

- Shiva for Mrs. Sars Leah Zeilingold A"H 115 Pawnee Rd,Lakewood getting up Tuesday morning 

- Shiva for Mrs. Rita Pantierer A"H 370 Brewers Bridge Jackson getting up Thursday am

- APP reports on the tragic ca accidemt that took the lives of 4 yeshiva bochurim

"A driver going the wrong way on the New Jersey Turnpike in Salem County early Oct. 19 collided with a vehicle, killing four teenagers, three of them from Lakewood, state police said.

A 41-year-old man driving a Dodge pickup truck was traveling north in a southbound lane near milepost 1.3 in Carneys Point Township at about 12:42 a.m. on Sunday when he struck a Mazda SUV carrying four people, police said.

After the collision, police said, the Mazda was hit by a Freightliner tractor-trailer.

The driver of the Mazda, Yaakov Kilberg, 19, of Lakewood, died in the crash, along with three passengers: Aharon Lebovits,18, and Shlomo Cohen, 18, also of Lakewood; and Chaim Grossman, 18, of Fallsburg, New York, police said.

The driver of the Dodge, Christopher Neff, of Westminster, Colorado, sustained serious injuries. The driver of the Freightliner, Harpret Singh Sandhu, 29, of Nova Scotia, was uninjured, police said.

The crash remains under investigation."