Wednesday May 27 News Updates Lakewood

Weather 81° Thunderstorms during the morning giving way to periods of light rain this afternoon. Chance of rain 90%. 

- The Lakewood Board of Education meeting tonight on the agenda the board approves nearly $600,000 in parental transportation contracts for the 2026–2027 school year, allowing parents of students with significant medical needs to transport their children to approved New Jersey schools after transportation bids were rejected. 

Board member Ada Gonzalez is stepping down

Board member Eliyohu Greenwald issued his resignation.

- After rumors spread that TYH boys choir members in 5 towns were told they would have to leave Yeshiva Darchei Torah if they remained in the choir, Rav Yaakov Bender released a video strongly denying it. He said the boys are “wonderful boys” and explained that his concern is simply that choirs can sometimes give boys a “big-shot” feeling that distracts from learning  with attention, autographs, and the celebrity aspect making it harder to stay focused in yeshiva. He added that he hopes the boys remain for mesivta.

Earlier in the week, while speaking in Lakewood, Rabbi Bender similarly criticized the local sports league culture.

- Giyus: Ahead of the big off shabbos after shavuos in EY, some Roshei yeshiva and mashgichim voiced concern over what they describe as increased police enforcement targeting bnei yeshiva for the IDF draft, urging bochurim to remain cautious while traveling, including around officers that are dressed in civilian clothing. They advised Bochurim to avoid public transportation 

- A group of rabbanim in Lakewood issued a public letter ahead of the summer season urging stronger adherence to standards of tznius and shmiras einayim, warning about increased exposure to inappropriatep environments and emphasizing parental responsibility and proper Torah values

- The White House announced a new app launching Thursday on Apple and Google stores to manage Trump Accounts, tax-advantaged investments for U.S. children under 18 created by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Eligible kids born 2025-2028 get a $1,000 Treasury deposit, with funds growing tax-deferred in U.S. equity index funds and accessible penalty-free for education, homes, or businesses. Nearly 6 million children are signed up, full activation hits July 4th.

- Trump: "Congratulations to the Dumocrat Party! Al Green, one of the most mentally deficient Congressmen in the history of our Country, has lost, in a landslide, his seat in Congress - But I will miss that lunatic not screaming and violently waving his cane at me during my next State of the Union Speech. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! President DJT"

- One benefit of Lakewood’s continued remote Township Committee meetings is that tomorrow’s meeting will still take place even while Town Hall is being used for primary election preparations.

The Township Committee has continued holding virtual meetings since COVID, avoiding in-person public interaction with residents.

- New traffic light coming to intersection of Boulevard Of Americas And Avenue Of The States 

- A new four way stop sign coming to Princewood Avenue and Claire Drive in Hearthstone

- Park avenue no parking extended at Bais Faiga Gratter Building school requested

requested a 250-foot extension of its school bus loading and unloading zone north toward Second Street.

- Bais Medrash  age bochurim farher season begins for Bochurin coming out of 12th grade or first year 

- Lakewood Girls high school aaceptance letters yet to go out as there are still girls not placed yet.

- Adirei haTorah: The  dais in Philadelphia arena will be along the main floor this year. Rav Yitzchok Soloveitchick shlita to depart from EY for the maamad. The program will begin  earlier with doors open at 3:00pm  mincha 4:45pm followed by the program.

- A 20-year-old man was critically injured in a single-vehicle crash in Lakewood early Wednesday, officials said.The Toms River resident was driving west on East 7th Street shortly before 1 a.m. when he veered off the road and hit a utility pole, Lakewood police said. The car continued across the front lawn of a residence and slammed into an unoccupied parked vehicle before overturning.

- Giyus: According to data published today by the IDF, during the April–May enlistment cycle, 433 ultra-Orthodox charedu men enlisted in designated service tracks across a range of roles, including a record number of 272 combat soldiers.The IDF says this represents an increase of about 24% compared to the same period last year

- Giyus: MK Moshe Gafni is calling on Degel HaTorah representatives in local municipalities across the country to boycott the police in response to the arrests of yeshiva bochurim draft evaders, he called on them to halt to all cooperation with police representatives, including municipal policing units, in all local authorities across the country, until further notice

- Early voting in Lakewood so far low turnout  with several candidates challenging the incumbent on the township committee.

- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin suggested suspending international flights into Newark Liberty International Airport following clashes between ICE agents and New Jersey Democratic officials and protesters outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark.

Mullin argued that the federal government should reconsider processing immigration through Newark if local officials refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

- Brick, NJ residents urged stronger traffic safety measures after 15-year-old Jackson Mueller was killed in a hit-and-run while riding his bicycle near Brick Memorial High School.

- Officials approved lowering the speed limit on nearby Lynwood Road and installing flashing speed signs.

-The Toms River School District will again join LSTA for the 2026–2027 school year to provide busing for private school students. The partnership, now in its third year, comes as the number of Orthodox Jewish families and private school students in Toms River continues to grow, particularly in neighborhoods near Lakewood. App reports 

- The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission has opened an investigation into numerous county political organizations and notified some county chairs that it intends to subpoena bank records, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. Leaders of both parties received letters over the last two weeks notifying them of a sweeping audit of all 42 county organizations and requiring extensive documentation of financial activities from December 1, 2024 through February 28, 2026. The total number of subpoenas remains unclear.

- A massive fire has engulfed Kosher Kingdom supermarket in London’s Golders Green, with the cause still unknown. It comes just weeks after two Jews were stabbed in the same area.