Monday January 12 News Updates Lakewood

 Weather: 43° sunny 

New Jersey could see snow later this week from a winter storm, with northern and western areas most likely to get snow, while southern and eastern areas may see rain or a mix. 

- Today 23 Teves the 25th Yahrzeit of Rav Mordechai Gifter zatzal

- Hespedim tonight in BMG for The Yartzeit of the mashgiach Rav Matisyahu Salomon ZTL divrei zikaron by the R"Y Rav Dovid Schustal shlita

- Trump posts that utility bills rose over 30% under Biden, says Americans shouldn’t bear higher electricity costs from data centers, and announces his administration is securing commitments from tech companies starting with Microsoft to pay their own power costs while supporting U.S. leadership in AI.

- The U.S. State Department issues a security alert calling upon all U.S. citizens to leave Iran immediately

- BDE: Petirah of Rav Yitzchok Moshe Kook zt”l, of Bnei Brak noted  talmid chochom author of sefer Siach Yitzchak, passed away  today at age 78 after being hospitalized. He learned in Gatshead and at Yeshivas Telz in Cleveland, where he learned under the roshei yeshiva Rav Chaim Stein, a close relative, and Rav Mordechai Gifter. He was a learning rebbe in camp Kol Torah. Levaya was held today in Bnei Brak.

- The New Jersey Assembly voted by 46-26 to approve a set of three bills 46-26 intended to protect illegal immigrants in New Jersey from federal immigration enforcement. and reduce cooperation by state and local law enforcement with federal immigration enforcement. The senate has yet to vote on it.(onejersey)

- Trump slams Manhattan congestion pricing as a ‘disaster’ Congestion Pricing in Manhattan is a DISASTER for New York. It’s got to be ended, IMMEDIATELY! It’s never worked before, and it will never work now. I love New York, and hate to see it being destroyed so rapidly with such obviously foolish “policy.” Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

- Agudath Israel of America applauds Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (Both Republicans) for wasting no time and officially opting in their state to take advantage of the new federal scholarship tax credit. While the $1700 tax credit can only be taken starting in 2027, the IRS is allowing states to opt in now so that scholarship granting organizations can apply to the state for approval.

- President Trump: Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

-  Update: S. Bertram Foods announced Monday it has acquired Dependable Foods, a major kosher distributor in the tri-state area. Dependable, owner of the Masbia brand, will cease operations after 30 years. Bertram also announced it will open a new state-of-the-art facility in Eatontown, New Jersey, while its current distribution center is located in Linden, New Jersey

- Trump leaning toward striking Iran as Vance urges diplomatic talks (WSJ)

- A senior United States official tells Al-Jazeera that the US armed forces is in advanced planning stages for a military operation against Iran, and that "our forces in the Middle East are ready for any emergency, any mission, and to defend themselves and our interests."

- U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has told Sky News that the United States has no plans to intervene in the ongoing anti-government protests in Iran

- According to Israel ch.12 over the last two -days, the number of protesters on the streets of Iran has decreased. Consequently the regime feels more confident, which is why it has offered to restart nuclear talks with the U.S.

- Dependable kosher food distributors shuts down. One of the largest distributors serving the frum community delivering  products  toschools yeshivos and camps has notified that they will cease operations after 30 years of service. The last day of deliveries is Wednesday January 14.

- NJ State police ticketing in Lakewood along rt 9 and surrounding streets 

- Grand Opening today Jus by Julie, opens Location in Howell, NJ at 6772 Rt 9

- Mortgage rates hit a 3-year low down over a point since President Trump took office.Mortgage rates dropped below 6% mainly due to President Trump's directive for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds. Rates fell from 6.21% to 5.99% shortly after the announcement,

- Iranian state media report over 100,000 at pro-regime rallies in Tehran, while the opposition says most are government-organized to discredit anti-regime protests.

- The Iranian foreign minister approached Steve Witkoff with a request to discuss the protests in the country. The parties discussed a possible meeting between the two in the coming days. axios

- Giyus: Degel HaTorah officials are determined to complete the advancement of the draft law soon, despite regional tensions and developments on the Iranian front, and they assess that this is the best possible version that can be achieved for the Caredi public per JDN

- The Lakewood Development Corporation is scheduled to meet today on zoom to consider a resolution authorizing a request to the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority for up to $300,000 to fund a 12-month Lakewood UEZ Shuttle Busing Liaison project in 2026. The position supports management of the township’s shuttle bus service.

The liaison role began in 2022 with a salary of $75,000 and was increased to $150,000 in 2024 and 2025. The current request seeks funding solely for 2026.

Township officials report that the shuttle buses transported more than 140,000 riders last year, a figure some residents say is surprising given that the buses often appear lightly occupied or empty while in service. There are buses that operate in the southern part of town servicing the chassidishe developments.

- Mir Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Lazer Yudel Finkel, is currently in the United States and was in Jackson, New Jersey, yesterday. The visit comes as the yeshiva holds several fundraisers this week in Brooklyn.

- Nichum Aveilim: Rav Simcha Aaron Strohlie Rav od B:M Sharei Ish Royal grove Jackson will be sitting shive today for his mother at 18 Imperial ct Jackson from 1pm -11 pm 

- Shiva for Mrs. Miriam Disking A"H is at her home, 1004 Madison Ave Apt 109, Lakewood, NJ. daughters Mrs. Matti Shaingarten, and Mrs. Fraydy Klapper are sitting in lakewood the sons R’ Pesach Diskind, R’ Tovia Diskind, are sitting in Brooklyn 

-A New Jersey Lottery player in Ocean County won $500,000 in the Double Play drawing of the Powerball game Saturday night. It was purchased at a QuickChek located at 3001 Ridgeway Road in Manchester Township, between the Holly Oaks and Pine Lake Park neighborhoods, across the street from Manko Kosher Market and Toast Cafe. The player secured the prize by matching all five white balls in the Double Play drawing

- A second asifah on the impact of artificial intelligence was held Thursday night in Lakewood, with senior rabbinic leaders warning about the dangers of AI and discussing its technological and hashkafic implications.

-At the Chazak dinner in Hollywood, Florida, Rabbi David Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, gave a heartfelt speech thanking President Donald Trump for his leadership and support of the Jewish people. He highlighted President Trump's care and compassion for the hostages in Gaza. To be a leader means to take responsibility. Moshe Rabbeinu stepped forward and accepted responsibility, and that is the essence of true leadership. We see this again in our generation. President Trump saw Jewish people suffering in Gaza and acted to save lives. Many are now waiting for him to complete the task with Iran, to protect not only the Jewish people, but the entire world from the Iranian threat.

-New Sefer Meoros Moshe Al Pirkei Avos based on the writings of Rav Moshe Feinstein and his talmidim Compiled by: Rabbi Moshe Meir Kurtz of Allentown, PA

 

- Up to 1,000 additional ICE agents are set to surge into Minneapolis following left-wing protests, on top of the 2,000 agents already deployed.

- Israeli Police were called Sunday night to remove roughly 100 demonstrators who tried to enter a Chashmonaim Brigade conference in Bnei Brak for parents of soldiers. Several soldiers were lightly injured during confrontations. 

- Jackson Township officials face criticism after appointing the wives of two planning board members and an active architect to the Municipal Utilities Authority, raising concerns over conflicts of interest and transparency. Council leaders say the appointment process followed standard procedures. in Lakewood there are similar appointees 

- Family Food Relief of New Jersey known as Tomchei Shabbos of Lakewood is set to receive a $500,000 grant from the state of NJ, Bridges NJ is receiving $250,000 this is part of democrats two state panels approved $128 million in new spending for a variety of local projects in New Jersey late Thursday. This last-minute effort by Democrats in Trenton to award dozens of grants to local, county, and state agencies drew criticism from Republicans and a government watchdog. State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth), the Republican Senate budget officer, said, “I have never seen this before.” We already have a $4 billion structural deficit and we are told we will have a large Medicaid hole,” O’Scanlon added. “Why are we spending nearly $130 million randomly?”

- Thousands of nurses in three New York City hospital systems went on strike Monday after weekend contract negotiations failed. The walkout affected Mount Sinai Hospital and two satellite campuses, as well as NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, with picket lines forming at the locations.

Giyus: Kol Chai radio host strongly condemned a Hebrew Mishpacha magazine column blaming the Bnei Torah  community for the death of 14-year-old  bochur  Yossi Eizenthal Z"L at an anti-draft protest in Yerushalayim. He called the article inciting, insensitive, and false, rejecting comparisons to terrorists and other claims about Charedim. He demanded a public, sincere apology, calling the column shameful.

The family reportedly issued a scathing letter in response to the article while asking everyone to accept kabalos liluy nishmas their son