Thursday August 20 News Updates

Weather: 84° Cloudy early then strong thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Chance of rain 70%. Localized flooding is possible.

Flash flood watch issued Issued By  US, National Weather Service from 12pm today until late tonight  flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. Rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour are possible.

7 Elul 3rd Yartzeit of Rav Aharon Shechter ZTL R"Y Chaim Berlin.

Yartzeit of R'Reuven Margulios (1889-1971). Author of over 50 books & sefarim including Margoliyos HaYam on Sanhedrin.

- The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch in parts of New Jersey as waves of strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to move across the region Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening. The tornado watch was issued at 3 p.m. and covers seven counties in southern New Jersey: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem.

- Frum Knesset member Threatens Consumer Boycott: United Torah Judaism lawmaker Meir Porush warned that the ultra-Orthodox community could leverage its annual spending of more than 52 billion shekels through a consumer boycott. He said religious leaders would issue instructions when necessary.

-  Today at Yeshiva South Fallsburg, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel shlita, announced that he will be limiting his daily shiur to three times a week. On the other days, his son-in-law, Rav Meir Weinstein shlita, will deliver the shiur. (Israel media)

- LSTA Raises price for non mandated to $945

- Lakewood Town Square has been transformed into a designated parking area, with the township painting individual parking spaces across the plaza. The change comes as Lakewood officials grapple with a growing homelessness problem along Clifton Avenue and in the downtown area. The square, which has historically served as a civic gathering space, has increasingly been used as an encampment by homeless individuals. The newly marked parking spaces appear to represent a significant change in how the township intends to use the property.

- Howell, banned data centers becoming the 33rd municipality in New Jersey to ban AI data centers. The ban was applauded by Howell residents, community leaders, and grassroots climate activists who worked with Howell Mayor John Leggio and township council members. The ordinance passed the all-Republican council by a unanimous vote.A data center proposal was submitted days before the ban was introduced, according to the Asbury Park Press.

- Jackson, officials demanded a second post office after a population boom, according to the APP

- The new charedi  “HaKahal” party  held primary elections for the list pf candidates final results with approximately 14,500 voters: Attorney Shlomo Alboim of Bnei Brak won the top spot.

- Shas leader Arye Deri met with Rav Yitzchak Yosef asking him to continue what his father started as spiritual leader of the party.

- More Than 1,100 Undocumented Immigrants Hold Driver’s Licenses in Lakewood according to the latest report from NJ Assemblyman.

- New Jersey recorded a sharp rise in bias incidents at churches, synagogues, temples and mosques during the first seven months of 2026, even as the state’s overall bias incident total held roughly steady, according to New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Reporting data. The state logged 42 bias incidents at houses of worship from January through July 2026, up from 16 during the same period in 2025, a 163% increase, the statistics show. 

Anti-Jewish bias was the single largest religious motivation statewide, accounting for 387 cases, or roughly 21% of all bias motivations recorded from January through July. Anti-Islamic, or Anti-Muslim, bias accounted for 49 incidents

- Mamdani official reveals NYC may give grants to local grocers struggling to compete with the mayor’s city-run grocery stores.

- 11,000 Non-Resident Voters Confirmed as New Jersey’s Illegal Voting Scandal Grows: New Jersey election officials have removed more than 5,000 additional voter registrations and referred another 1,650 for county review.

- List of top 10 Israeli Yeshivos that received mosst funding through Keren Olam HaTorah from Juky 2024 - December 2025.  There many more yeshivos and kolelim on the list. Data from Israeli journalist