Monday Zos Chanuka Dec 22 News Updates

כָּךְ אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָשִׂינוּ לְךָ מְנוֹרָה בִּימֵי מֹשֶה – וְכָבְתָה, בִּימֵי שְׁלֹמֹה – וְכָבְתָה מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ אֵין אָנוּ מַמְתִּינִים אֶלָּא לְאוֹרְךָ. שֶׁנֶאֱמַר: "כִּי עִמְךָ מְקוֹר חַיִים, בְּאוֹרְךָ נִרְאֶה אוֹר". ילקוט שמעוני

Weather: 39° Sunshine  then a few afternoon clouds. 

Most of New Jersey could see a dusting to up to 2 inches of snow overnight into Tuesday morning. There's also a chance of ice north of I-78 The snow is expected to change to rain along the Jersey Shore by late Tuesday morning as temperatures warm above freezing.

- President Donald Trump claimed he plans to build two “Trump-class battleships,” calling them the largest and most powerful ever made and “100 times” stronger than any previous battleship. He said they would be part of a future “Golden Fleet,” with the first ship named USS Defiant, though no official Navy confirmation has been issued.

- A bill expanding New Jersey’s family leave protections to employees at businesses with as few as 15 workers has passed the state Senate and is headed to Governor Phil Murphy’s desk. Currently, family leave benefits apply only to employers with 30 or more employees. The legislation would allow more workers to take paid time off to care for a sick relative or a new child while receiving 85% of their earnings, pending the governor’s signature.

- Powerball jackpot rises to $1.6B, Estimated cash value stands at $735.3M  drawing tonight

- Tonight Rubashkin Seudas Hodaah celebrating 8 years since the Nes a evening of Bitachon. An uplifting night of bitachon, chizuk, joy, live music & dancing, including a special personal Yeshuos video presentation.Monday night, Dec. 22, 2025 (ב’ טבת תשפ״ה) at 8:45 PM, at Bnos Melech, 550 James Street , Lakewood. Featuring Harav Pinchos Lipschutz, Harav Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, and Harav Hagaon Yerucham Olshin (Divrei Bracha).

- Tefilos for Harav Reuven Feinstein Shlita  who is undergoing a medical procedure today name is Sholom Reuvein ben Shima (Chasdei Lev)

- Girls school off today

- LPD: Squakum Rd just north of the Lakewood border/Howell border is closed in both directions due to downed wires. Rd to reopen 5pm

- An estimated 600,000 Jews in New Jersey are living in fear as unthinkable hate becomes the “new normal,” with rampant harassment and violent assaults increasingly targeting Jewish communities across the state. More 

- A new personal injury lawsuit filed in Ocean County Superior Court alleges that Lakewood Township and Ocean County created a dangerously defective pedestrian crossing that led to a child suffering severe and permanent injuries after being struck by a vehicle. The complaint states the child was lawfully walking in a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred and argues it was the foreseeable result of long-standing government neglect, unsafe roadway design, and a pedestrian-hostile intersection not a freak accident. Faanews.com 

 - US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee at the INSS conference: “I don't know if Iran ever took Trump seriously until the night the B-2 bombers flew to Fordo. I hope they got the message, but apparently, they didn't get the full message, because it seems they are trying to rebuild and find a new way to dig the hole deeper to secure it further. If the Europeans don't understand that this poses a real threat to all of Europe as well, then they are even dumber than I sometimes think they are."

- Governor Phil Murphy signed a new law sponsored by Assemblyman Avi Schnall that reforms New Jersey’s construction inspection system by requiring inspectors to provide a four-hour arrival window instead of an all-day wait. The change aims to cut wasted time, reduce delays, and give contractors and small businesses more predictable construction schedules.

- Giyus: Protests took place Monday on Route 4 near Bnei Brak, closing down highways in the area in response to the arrest of yeshiva bochurim. During the disturbances, police were seen forcefully pushing and removing a Chareidi women and daughter near Bnei Brak as they attempted to cross the street bochurim from yeshiva Rav Chaim Ozer in Bnei Brak joined the protest. 

- A festive atmosphere marked the final New Jersey Assembly legislative voting session of 2025, with baked goods and chocolate coins shared, as dozens of bills received final votes during the hours-long session.(Onejersey)

-Nichum Aveilim:

Rebbetzin Miriam Landynski-Perlow A"H – 215 Hudson Ave, Lkwd Thursday morning

R' Zelig Goldman Z"L – 708 Park Ave, Lkwd Wednesday morning

Mrs. Agi Braun A"H – 78 Enclave Blvd,  Lakewood Thursday morning

Rabbi Elimelech Monoker Z"L – 91 Lublin Ter, Westgate, Friday morning

Reb Shia Chaim Fischman Z"L – 4A Dogwood Ct, Country Pl, Lakewood, Friday morning

- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued an apology to the Jewish community following the Bondi Beach massacre, but critics say he stopped short of taking real personal responsibility or outlining concrete actions to confront the growing threat of Islamic extremism. Albanese dismissed criticism of his response as “partisanship,” further drawing backlash from those who argue stronger measures are urgently needed.

- The Trump administration is recalling 48 U.S. ambassadors from diplomatic posts in multiple countries, according to U.S. officials.A senior State Department official said the move is a routine step taken by administrations, with ambassadors expected to support and carry out the administration’s policies.

-US Senator Lindsey Graham in Israel: 'We cannot allow Iran to produce ballistic missiles because they could overwhelm the Iron Dome' The US appears to be planning to join Israel directly in the next war against Iran