Friday May 8 News Updates Lakewood

 friday, May 8, 2026 / כ״א אייר תשפ״ו ערב שבת פרשת בהר-בחקתי

Candle lighting 7:40 pm

Shkiah/sunset 7:58 pm 

Weather: 67° A mix of clouds and sun Friday night low 51°

Shabbos day 67° Cloudy with rain developing later in the day. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch.

Welcome home yeshiva bochurim as many mesivtas have an off shabbos this week

- Today, 21 Iyar, is the 28th yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moshe Sherer zt'l, leader of Agudas Yisroel 

- This shabbos 17 yeshiva bochurim are sitting in Israeli military prison for draft dodging 

- Rav Ezriel Auerbach shlita will be spending shabbos in Lakewood in the New Central area

- BDE: Petirah of Rebbetzin Necha Weiss a”h, wife of Rav Gershon Weiss zt”l, longtime menahel  at Yeshiva of Staten Island. Levaya details TBA.

- Tehilim:  Belaaz reports Three people were struck by vehicles in three separate accidents in Boro Park within a span of approximately 25 minutes on erev Shabbos, leaving all three critically injured with brain bleeds, Two of the victims are 13-year-old boys:

Yaakov Tzvi Hirsch ben Chana Yettel and

Chaim ben Feiga Rivka

- Tucker Carlson: When Tyler Oliveira exposed Somali welfare abuse in Minneapolis, Republicans praised him. When he did the same thing in an orthodox Jewish community in New York, the very same people called him a Nazi.

- NJ Governor Mikie Sherrill The New Jersey Department of Health been notified by the CDC that two New Jersey residents were potentially exposed to a person infected with hantavirus after that individual departed from the cruise ship MV Hondius. The residents were not passengers on the ship, and the potential exposure occurred during air travel abroad. Both individuals are being monitored in coordination with local health officials and are not currently showing symptoms.

Risk to the public remains very low. There are no confirmed cases of hantavirus in New Jersey.

We will continue to keep residents informed as the situation develops.

- Two New Jersey residents may have been exposed to Hantavirus infection after contact during international travel with someone linked to an outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. Health officials say neither resident is showing symptoms, and there are currently no confirmed cases in New Jersey.

- Trump announces 3 day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine 

Trump: “I am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE (May 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the War between Russia and Ukraine. The Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II. This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country. This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War. Talks are continuing on ending this Major Conflict, the biggest since World War II, and we are getting closer and closer every day. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

- Keren Olam HaTorah: Rav Moshe HIllel Hirsch shlita will not be joining the delegation to south America this coming week due to his wife's health issues name for tehillim is  Gittel Avigayil bas Chava Miriam.

- President Trump has directed federal agencies to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to UFOs and extraterrestrial life.The move follows  promises a level of transparency into unidentified aerial phenomena never before seen from the U.S. government.

- The new traffic signal at Pine Street and James Street is reportedly causing significant backups on Route 9. The concern is that while the light allows more vehicles to turn onto Route 9, it also leads to congestion when turning traffic gets stuck and ends up blocking the flow of cars coming down James Street, worsening overall traffic in the area.

- New store "Prachim"  a flower shop now open in Todd Plaza Lakewood.

- Tribute articles for Rav Chaim Abadi ztl in this weeks news papers front cover story in Ami Magazine see article Here 

- This Tuesday, 25 Iyar, marks the first yartzeit of the three yeshiva bochurim who were tragically killed in a car accident on Hope Chapel Road in Lakewood. Yartzeit seudos will be held Monday night to commemorate and honor their memories l’zecher nishmasam.

- Smash House kosher burger introduces a new item, Pastrami Heimishe cholent adding to the items on the menu in contrast to the parcel cheese and bacon. 

- A week after the changes along Route 9, there has still been no official statement or update from authorities or local officials, leaving drivers confused about the new traffic pattern. Motorists continue attempting to navigate the altered intersection, while the new northbound left lane on Route 9 reportedly remains underutilized, contributing to ongoing congestion and uncertainty in the area.

- Trump: “Huge win for the Republican Party, and America, in Virginia. The Virginia Supreme Court has just struck down the Democrats’ horrible gerrymander. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

- Trump: “As for my promise to you, the Department of War has released the first tranche of the UFO/UAP files to the Public for their review and study. In an effort for Complete and Maximum Transparency, it was my Honor to direct my Administration to identify and provide Government files related to Alien and Extraterrestrial Life, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, and Unidentified Flying Objects. Whereas previous Administrations have failed to be transparent on this subject, with these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, “WHAT THE ... IS GOING ON?” Have Fun and Enjoy! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

- Israel channel 12 investigation: An investigation alleged that associates of Eretz Hakodesh and Degel HaTorah party gained senior positions in the JNF Keren Kayemeth Lyisroel and other Zionist institutions, after which nonprofit organizations linked to them received large amounts of funding for alleged Zionist activities. The report claims some of the activities may have been fictitious and raises concerns about conflicts of interest involving relatives or associates employed by the nonprofits. Following the investigation into KKL and Degel HaTorah, an external audit committee headed by former District Court Judge Esther Shitrit will examine the transfer of millions of shekels to associations linked to the Degel HaTorah party/and Eretz Hakodesh. The funds were allegedly allocated for fictitious activities, amid concerns over a possible conflict of interest according to Investigative journalist Omri Maniv. 

MK Moshe Gafni responded that those are private individuals and not political figures, adding that the party involved is “Eretz HaKodesh and not degel haTorah.

MK Yitzchak Pindrus said that, under the guidance of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, he advised personell of “Eretz HaKodesh” five years ago, but later withdrew from involvement following instructions from Rabbi Dov Lando shlita.

- About 100 Camden school employees are expected to be laid off at the end of the school year as the district contends with financial difficulties due to increased costs and declining enrollment.

- WhatsApp founder Jan Koum is donating $200 million to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in what is being described as the largest philanthropic contribution in the history of Israel’s healthcare system, officials from the Jerusalem hospital told JNS on Thursday.