Thursday February 5 News Updates Lakewood

weather: 33° Abundant sunshine

NWS:. Wind chills could hit -20 this weekend after potential snow squalls, up to 1 inch of snow Friday night “The lowest wind chills of the year are possible motzei shabbos ” the weather service said.wind chills could drop to minus 10 to minus 15 degrees for most of southern New Jersey

- Donald Trump claims the U.S. is the world’s most powerful country, saying he rebuilt and expanded the military during his first term, including nuclear weapons, Space Force, and new battleships. He says his leadership prevented nuclear conflicts involving India–Pakistan, Iran–Israel, and Russia–Ukraine. Trump argues the New START treaty is flawed and violated, and calls for a new, modern nuclear arms agreement.

- Georgian Court University in Lakewood was evacuated Thursday afternoon after a bomb threat prompted a large emergency response. K-9 units found no danger, and students were allowed back on campus around 5:30 p.m. Authorities say the threat appears to have been a hoax, made during a Holocaust Remembrance event, though no connection has been confirmed.

- A fifth-floor apartment fire at 1215 47th Street in Borough Park on Thursday killed 81 year old Amram Mizrachi ZL, a well-known local resident. Firefighters battled heavy smoke and frozen hydrants, The cause of the fire is under investigation.

- The Mesivta farhers took place yesterday, with close to 2000 boys preparing to enter mesivta next year. Many boys received answers on the spot or were asked to respond within the hour, while others were told they would be notified at a later time. As families lined up for multiple farhers, listing first and second choices, many appointments were canceled once boys received acceptances. There are still farhers scheduled today. Time will tell whether the new system proved more effective and what improvements, if any, are still needed.

-An asifah on AI artificial intelligence will be held today at Bais Medrash Govoah  will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the Beren Dining Room and feature speakers  the R"Y Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Dovid Breslauer, and Rav Efraim Glassman.

- Tonight Lakewood township committee meeting virtual only 5:30 pm  livestream here 

 agenda Here   On the agenda, the township has hired five additional private contractors to assist with snow plowing and removal. The meeting will begin as an official Board of Health meeting.

- WIC now covers Mehadrin flavored yogurt in 8‑pack, 32 oz containers, but the individual 32 oz cups are no longer accepted due to high sugar content.

- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman tomorrow, as efforts to salvage nuclear talks that appeared in jeopardy yesterday continue, Channel 12 news reports.

- Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein shlits R"Y Yad Aharon will be spending this shabbos in Lakewood 

-The Sanz Klausenburg rebbe shlita  collapsed on stage during his speech at the Siyum in New York. After receiving medical treatment, the Admor returned to speak.

New York State Senate  and assembly approved legislation that would legalize assisted suicide, despite strong opposition from lawmakers and advocacy groups across New York State. The measure goes to governor Hochul to approve or veto  by this Friday Feb 6.  Six Democratic State Senators joined all Republican State Senators in voting against the bill. Among those Democrats was New York State Senator Sam Sutton, who represents the Borough Park district.

- Lakewood MUAand NJ American Water issued a joint winter advisory warning residents about frozen pipes. They urge homeowners to keep indoor temperatures at or above 55 degrees, insulate pipes in unheated areas, allow a small drip from unused faucets, and know where the main water shut-off valve is located to prevent or limit damage during extreme cold..

- A $12 million transportation project is planned for Cedar Bridge Avenue (Route 528) in Lakewood, from South Clifton Avenue to Airport Road, to improve safety and mobility. Upgrades include new traffic signals at six intersections, a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, widened shoulders, high-visibility crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and improved lighting. The project is expected to begin in summer 2026.

- Mir Yeshiva yerushalayim has overhauled its kollel stipend system with a single, fixed monthly check for youngeleit. The new system consolidates all bonuses and supplements, providing  a monthly check with most receiving 2,000–2,200 shekels depending on seniority and learning track.(Matzav)

- Giyus: MK Naftali Bennett launches a scathing attack on Religious Zionism chairman Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, accusing him and Shas chief Aryeh Deri of “fighting together to pass the evasion law and exerting enormous pressure on the MKs to betray our soldiers.”

- Shidduch in the Brisk yeshiva world:

The chosson, Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, the oldest son of Rav Yankel Soloveitchik, oldest son of  Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik engaged to the kallah, daughter of Rav Yisrael Yaakov Kaplan, son of Rav Nechemia Kaplan, who is the son-in-law of  Rav Dovid Soloveitchik ztl.(M Weisberg)

- Survey: Only one-third of American Jews say they identify as Zionist, even as nearly nine in 10 say they support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and Democratic state, according to a new survey conducted by Jewish Federations of North America. The findings of the survey reveal that American Jews do not have a mutually agreed-upon definition of Zionism, with those identifying as anti-Zionist and those identifying as Zionist ascribing sharply different meanings to the term

- NJ property tax benefits, applications for the next year are now open. The PAS-1 combined application for ANCHOR, Senior Freeze, and Stay NJ is available at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov and is open to seniors 65 and older, disabled homeowners, and eligible mobile homeowners.

- Jewish philanthropist and the owner of the New England Patriots football team , Robert Kraft, has unveiled an ad targeting Jew-hatred that will be aired during the Super Bowl this Sunday. showing solidarity against antisemitism and urging viewers to share the blue square emoji. The ad highlights that 2 in 3 Jewish teens have faced antisemitism critics called it tone-deaf for overlooking modern antisemitism sources and portraying Jews as helpless,

- An Ocean County resident who spoke about the Lakewood community in a recent YouTube video shared his thoughts over lunch at Caffoterai Cafe with local residents. He discussed both positive aspects of the community and his views on the possibility of coexistence, noting, among other observations, that Mexican workers prepare the food for everyone.

- Mamdani's New York: A new group called the “Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group” held its first meeting Tuesday at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, both in-person in Long Island City, Queens, and remotely. Speakers at the session criticized Israeli military actions, describing them as “genocide” against Palestinians, prompting controversy and calls for action from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

- Coca-Cola is discontinuing Minute Maid's frozen juice concentrates in the U.S. and Canada, ending an 80-year run that turned a freezer-aisle cylinder into an American breakfast ritual. The move could hit lower-income households hardest, as frozen concentrate has long been one of the most affordable ways to buy juice.