Weather: 37° Cloudy rest of weeks temps will be in the mid 50's with 60 on Shabbos
- An emergency asifa was convened in the United States to address concerns over the growing risks associated with artificial intelligence on phones following what was described as a significant breach in their usage.
The gathering was called by Rav Elya Ber Wchtfogel shlita and brought together prominent roshei yeshiva, rabbanim, and admorim. Participants discussed the spiritual challenges posed by advanced technology and AI-enabled mobile devices by calling phone numbers.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided to designate a Yom Tefillah/fast day while continue intensifying efforts to ensure that bnei yeshiva refrain from possessing smartphones, as part of a broader initiative to protect Torah values and the integrity of yeshiva life.
- Beth Medrash Govoha announced that a construction-related fire occurred at approximately 3:00 PM today in the new Cedarview Terrace/Yeshiva Apartments building at the former GCU property. Baruch Hashem, no injuries were reported, and the damage was limited to a small number of units. Repair work is already underway.
As a result, the first move-in dates will be delayed by a few weeks, though leasing is expected to continue next week and apartments should be ready for occupancy before Pesach. BMG expressed appreciation to the Lakewood Fire Department, EMS, First Aid, and Chaveirim for their prompt and professional response.
- Admor M'Pinsk- karlin is visiting Lakewood today in the Oak n Vine area
- Donald Trump has reiterated his claims that Tylenol may cause autism in pregnant women. Current evidence, however, supports that Tylenol is safe for use during pregnancy when taken as directe
- A Polymarket user bet $32,000 that Maduro would be toppled shortly before the U.S. operation and made over $400,000 when it happened, raising questions about whether it was luck or inside knowledge.
- Jackson Township reminded landlords of updated rental rules, including a $125 annual registration fee due in January, a $100 fee for CCO inspections when tenants change, and a new $100 rental safety inspection fee. Property owners must report tenant or ownership changes, schedule inspections in advance, and comply with new documentation and payment requirements.
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was headed back to Metro Detention Center Brooklyn, roughly 1 mile just outside Boro Park on 3rd ave and 30th st
- Structure fire this afternoon at Cedarview and 14th st at the construction site of BMG yeshiva in Lakewood upgraded to 2nd alarm no injuries. Update Heavy smoke on the 4th floor
Fire departments from Jackson and Howell also responded. Fire is under control.
- Trump: Minnesota’s Corrupt Governor will possibly leave office before his Term is up but, in any event, will not be running again because he was caught, REDHANDED, along with Ilhan Omar, and others of his Somali friends, stealing Tens of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars. I feel certain the facts will come out, and they will reveal a seriously unscrupulous, and rich, group of “SLIMEBALLS.” Governor Walz has destroyed the State of Minnesota, but others, like Governor Gavin Newscum, JB Pritzker, and Kathy Hochul, have done, in my opinion, an even more dishonest and incompetent job. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!
- Bank of America has officially begun advising clients to allocate up to 4% of their portfolios to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies.
- A New Jersey appeals court has upheld the state’s first-of-its-kind rule to keep pollution out of low-income areas and communities of color. The 2023 rule package from the state Department of Environmental Protection made it harder for eight different industries, including power plant developers, to get permits in places now considered “overburdened.” (Onejersey)
- Naftali Bennett announced a proposed “servicemembers’ law” offering expanded benefits for soldiers and reservists abd nothing for yeshiva students, responding to efforts to pass a draft exemption bill for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. He said those who serve should be prioritized, while those who evade service should not.
- United Refuah HealthShare is closing February 1st enrollment on Monday!
Same low rates for 7+ years: Single $199 | Couple $349 | Family (3–6) $499 (+$50/add’l)
- Giyus: 537 Charedi youths enlisted in the IDF yesterday. Senior military sources say: The arrests of yeshiva bochurim are increasing enlistment numbers; many frum youths fear getting entangled with the law and becoming criminals. (Yoeli Brim)
- Giyus: Netanyahu in the knesset today on the Conscription Law: "We are advancing a historic plan that will bring about the enlistment of 23,000 Haredim in the next three and a half years. This is a revolution unlike anything since the establishment of the state."
netanyahu: Strongly condemns talk of yellow patches, this is not a yellow patch to enlist. We will also uphold the world of Torah because without it we would not have reached this time and we will have no future
- Preparations are underway for a big Atzeres protest against the Giyus law tomorrow in Yerushalayim, organizers are anticipating up to 50,000 participants.
- Pomovezh: A request has been filed to cancel the arbitration ruling of arbitrator David Cheshin in the matter of the Ponevezh Yeshiva.The claims: extreme exceeding of authority and violation of public policy.
- Lakewood zoning board reorganaztion meeting with several applications for single homes on the agenda watch livestream Here
see agenda Here
Lakewood Planning Board Appointments chairman and 2 members with 4 year terms.
- Lakewood Development Corporation Official meeting today Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 4:30 PM. Resolution Awarding $100,000 in Small Business Technology Incentives. watch l;ivestream Here
-Nicolás Maduro arrived at a New York court for his first hearing since being seized by U.S. forces. He will be represented by longtime New York criminal defense attorney David Wikstrom. Maduro tells judge 'I am innocent, I am not guilty,' in court appearance on narco-trafficking charges
- New Jersey lawmakers are reviving a push to consolidate school districts, a move that could merge hundreds of districts without giving parents a direct vote. Supporters say the state’s roughly 600 mostly town-based districts are inefficient compared to other states, while critics warn consolidation could reduce local control and community input.
- The Bagatz high court in Israel is set to hear petitions today against the funding of ultra-Orthodox schools that do not teach the required number of hours of core curriculum subjects, such as math, English, and science.
- ICE arrested a man Monday in Lakewood amid a nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants, sparking anxiety in the local Latino community.
- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced that he will not seek reelection.
- Developer sues to overturn Lakewood Zoning Board’s denial of a duplex more https://www.faanews.com/2026/01/just-in-developer-files-lawsuit-to.html
- New Jersey’s spending on group home services for adults with autism and developmental disabilities has more than tripled since 2018 and so have salaries for top nonprofit group home executives. Meanwhile, frontline workers caring for vulnerable residents earn about $21 an hour. State officials are now calling for limits on executive pay and more money to go toward care and worker wages. A total of 29 executives made more than $250,000 at the eight largest nonprofits examined by NJ Advance Media.
- At the Yeshiva Orchos Chaim’s annual dinner in Lakewood, Reb Yaakov Mandelbaum publicly addressed a recent bizayon haTorah during Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch’s visit, criticizing the distribution of pashkevilin and the community’s silence. He used the event to make a public macha’ah, taking a stand for kavod haTorah.(Matzav)
- Law enforcement is investigating an incident at Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home. One person has been taken into custody, and authorities say Vance and his family were not home at the time. Officials do not believe the suspect entered the residence, though there appears to be damage to at least one window, according to reports.
- Both Skver and Satmar Rebbes left today for vacation in California.
- 2,000 federal agents are being deployed to Minneapolis as part of a broad immigration enforcement operation and a separate fraud investigation.
Rav Moshe Sternbuch burned a bochur’s IDF draft order. The bochur was jailed for 16 days and then released with instructions to report the following Sunday to the enlistment office. Rav Sternbuch commented: “You should ignore it!”
we oppose Zionism, Zionists, the medina, the IDF we only need our beis medrash and our ketzos and other sforim, we need nothing from the Zionists. Bchol dor vdor they rise up, in this generation it is the Zionists
ReplyDeleteOK. Tell us what the last Ketzos you learned was about. We was more than enough about your beliefs about Zionism. Let's see you write over a stickel Ketzos. I'd love to see it
Deleteyou can get a ketzos in Iran.
Deleteopen up a yeshiva there, or in Guatemala, and you can pontificate there about how you don't need any Zionists, and how many years you lived without Zionists.
It's has everything you need, shochtim, mikvaot, next week you can get esser makot cupcakes.
Your heroes the Satmar Rebbes can come visit occasionally (but you have to give them money.)
I see; the Zionists who gave billions of shekel to support all the Yesivahs and Kollelim for 45 years? Amazing what brain-washing coupled with ignorance can produce
DeleteWhy isn't the 40-year war in yeshivas ponevez going to secualar courts. Fighting etc not front and center of our concern but rather giyus? It's not a question of which side you're on or if giyus is terrible but rather a huge chillul hashem which should be our focus because we are abetting and supporting one side or another this is our business we need to be concerned about it
ReplyDeleteSpare us the selective macha’ah in the name of kavod haTorah especially when it shows up three months too late.
ReplyDeleteWhere was this outrage when Lakewood Roshei Yeshiva were accused of acting on behalf of the Conservative movement within the WZO?
Where was the protest when younger rabbanim publicly signed letters attacking talmidei Rav Aharon Kotler and senior Roshei Yeshiva in America?
Those pashkevilin were rightly ignored at the time, yet the media and watsapp chooses to publicize them for clickbait.
If kavod haTorah is the concern, it cannot be applied selectively or opportunistically.
1. Nobody accused those in charge of the Lakewood Yeshiva of acting on behalf of the conservative movement. The point was made that their interests aligned. And they did.
Delete2. Younger Rabbanim were following the lead of the Gedolim of Lakewood, who refused to accept a pashkevill of yungeleit to undermine a Beis Din. No mecha'a necessary.
3. But you are right. We weren't moche enough against those who tried (BH unsuccessfully) to close down the premiere Beis Din in town.
#1 You are distorting and not being honest of that campaign by Eretz Hakodesh it was advertised on all the JCN platforms that the conservatives sponsored the Lakewood campaign against WZO. The YU Rosh Yeshiva even repeated those claims.
DeleteA clear smack in the face to the Lakewood and other senior Roshei Yeshiva
#2 The young rabbonim either denied they signed or called REBW to ask him Mechila
#3 Nothing changed the original letter still stands
Haha!
DeleteThey asked mechila.....
Sure!
Meanwhile, nobody cares about the 'original letter', everyone knows where the truth is.
You can't wave the 'talmid of reb aaron' claim and think that shuts people up. The great Talmidei Chachamim of Lakewood told us how to treat that stupid sign.
Yes they all asked mechila.
DeleteYou can't deny the facts no matter how much it hurts.
Your opinion says nobody cares about the original letter but that's just your opinion.
Again facts prove otherwise
The mechila commenter has a point. There was a person going around calling all of the Rabbanim in Lakewood who supported the Beis Din demanding that they ask mechila. Some were approached in person, and were dealt with violently.
DeleteThe actual mechila request came from the mechila of an interested party.
The people sided with those younger rabbanim and the senior rabbanim who back them.
ReplyDeleteThe senior rabbanim who signed against them lost respect and influence in the Torah world.
Strange how things work out.
ReplyDeleteIt’s getting worse by the day. Klal Yisroel is being bombarded with nonstop sewage on WhatsApp, with so-called self righteous admins and editors openly mevazeh Roshei Yeshiva Rabonim and Gedolim, questioning them as if they need explanations or approval and that Hashem should give then "clarity". It’s sick and sad that people are exposed to this filth and even worse that some are supporting and amplifying it
Get off those watsapp groups it makes you addicted ro someone else's commentary you have no control over your mind
DeleteThe Mecha'ah was quite appropriate.
ReplyDeleteThe one doing the protest is in charge of a prestigious Mossad, no less than the ones that he was protesting against.
He waited and waited for an answer, he asked those who declared themselves in charge of our town why they kept quiet, and they answered that they were 'scared'.
This protest was long overdue. Why didn't anyone else say anything?
They don't have watsapp or go online to see the stupidity. The pashkevillin were cleared off the streets in the early morning and that was it. The chutzpah was those who publicized it in order to ba able to paintbrush their opposition and show their hatred of kanoimm. Typical mafia tactics pretending to stand up for Kavod HaTorah the olam sees right thru it.
DeleteNobody knew about the pashkevil until the Whatsapp kanoyim lshein shomayim told everyone
DeleteA Fascinating Shiur about a Yaakov Avinu and Yosef's Kevura in a special Feature by Reb Michoel Sorotzkin
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/lXFa4NuZhhs?si=kF63OgEFaXTUEVtl
Rabbonim don't recognize the gitten issued by the clown bais din. Same for the hazmanos and the seruvim. They are running around giving shiurim, making noise, waving their flag in online media and begging to stay relevant, but as a beis din in the real world they are defunct.
ReplyDeleteNot the campaign of sheker nor your angry comment can change the reality that Bais Havaad is booked solid for dinei torah and gittin.
DeleteThe kanoim have been exposed as waging a מלחמת "מצוה" לשם מלחמה, and dragged Roshei Yeshivah and Rabonim along with them, thereby being the ultimate mevazei talmidei chachomim
Friend of mine newly married daughter and already in divorce proceedings. He went to bais vaad and asked if they are all clear with the rabbonim and was told unequivocally yes. He then called one of the rabbonim to double check and lo and behold he was told no change they are still not acceptable. He took the case elsewhere. The real reason he took it elsewhere was not so much the rabbis declaration but because they lied to him. He said to me "a bais din that lies is worse than a bais din that's not acceptable to all. I can always get a second get, but there's no way out of getting screwed by liars."
DeleteIs there a single Rav or Rosh Yeshiva that refused to be mesader kidushin for a lady who was divorced in the Beis Havaad?
DeleteI find that hard to imagine, because if it was true, there would be people publicizing it.
The Internet commenters running the fight against the Beis Din tried to get the Rabbanut to refuse their gittin, but that went nowhere and the Beis Din is as accepted as ever.
How many Gittin has Bais HaVaad done since the letter from REBW and RSM came out in the summer?
DeleteThere's was a story a few weeks ago where a Rav declined siddur kidushin for a Beis Havaad divorcee. Husband was a nice guy, gave another get and wedding proceeded as planned. I guess they forgot to inform you.
DeleteI always find it funny how people think they can create facts on the ground through comments on the internet.
DeleteA Rav declined siddur kidushin, sure. And no other Rav would do it, right.
Strange people out there.
I always find it funny how people think they can deny facts on the ground through comments on the internet.
DeleteStrange people out there.
My rov told me to ignore a hazmana I got from beis havaad, and that anyone who goes to court with a heter arkaos issued by beis havaad is oiver ואלה המשפטים, and that I have a full right to bring him to another beis din to force him to withdraw.
ReplyDeleteMy Rav told me not to listen to your Rav.
DeleteThe way batei din operate is through their mutual respect.
DeleteThere is no bonafide Beis Din that cares for a hazmana, ikul, seiruv, or pesak of the badatz of Lakewood. Which is why they are not recognized by anyone outside of the periphery of society.
OTOH, the Beis Havaad's decisions are respected by other Batei Din, no Beis Din will issue a seiruv based on someone's willingness to go to the Beis Havaad, and a היתר ערכאות of theirs is respected by other Batei Din.
Not anymore, since the summertime tumult the respected battei din in town no longer recognize beis havaad as a regular beis din, but they do it in the most diplomatic way so not to appear as they are getting involved.
DeleteThey are afraid of AI because it has made many Rabbonim absolete, as now u can ask almost any shaylah to AI and get a clear answer with sources
ReplyDelete9:41 No. They are scared that unlearned people like you will THINK they have an answer with sources. I've asked AI to find maare mokomos three times. All three of them they just made them up. Looking inside it didn't remotely say what they claimed it did.
Delete"Both Skver and Satmar Rebbes left today for vacation in California."
ReplyDeleteThey are brothers-in-law.
KJ Rebbe went to Palm Springs, New Square Rebbe to Malibu.
How does the bagatz (supreme court) have more control than the elected officials in Israel? It seems like they run the country.
ReplyDeleteSome clarification.
ReplyDeleteWhen two people agree to use a Beis Din to settle their monetary, nobody can stop them. That is still taking place at Beis HaVaad.
When someone summons another person to Beis Din xyz, and the defendant may choose his own place. When the defendant chooses Beis HaVaad batey din will look away, unless the petitioner demands a heter to go to courts, which the Beis Din will give reluctantly, but it's strongly discouraged and the two sides eventually find an agreed upon Rov or Beis Din to hear their claims. Nobody wants to end up a court besides for a last resort. But yes, if the defendant insists on only Beis HaVaad and the petioner insists no Beis HaVaad, he will get a hetter for court.
As for gitten it's much more complicated. Rabbonim have been told people even if you go to Beis HaVaad for the MSA, go elsewhere for the actual get.
DeleteHow many Gittin has Bais HaVaad done since the letter from REBW and RSM came out in the summer?
Bagatz despises Yidishkeit.
ReplyDelete