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Partial listing of topics: Multifamily, Retail, Office REO, Distressed, Foreclosures, Commercial Leases, Brokerage, Sourcing, Deal Analysis, Underwriting, Value Add, Contract, Negotiations, Financing, Management, Raising Equity, Syndication, Cash on Cash Return, Risk vs Reward, finding, negotiating, and closing deals.

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Reminder: Crossing over Rt. 9 is prohibited at most intersecting roads during the day.

One of the most difficult topics for those in the Yeshiva world to explain to Jews in general community, is the issue of the Charedim and IDF army service.

I wrote this article to give people in all Jewish communities a different perspective than they may be receiving from the general media.

How Charedim Benefit the State of Israel

One of the most interesting subplots of the entire story of Israel since October 7, is the role of the Charedim vis a vis the State. Discussion of this topic seems to bring out more passion and anger, than almost any other related to Israel.

The primary areas of divergence between the Charedim and the rest of Israeli society are, A)  IDF army service and B) employment.

The Army: Few Charedi men join the IDF, choosing for an exemption instead. Ostensibly, the army debate from the point of view of non Charedim is about fairness. The Charedim, argue their detractors, should bear the defense burden just like the rest of Israeli society, especially when receiving government subsidies. And more so, those that join the army are risking their lives to defend the State. Non Charedim, particularly those in the National Religious (Dati Leumi) camp, bore a fearsome cost in loss of life and limb since Oct. 7. (The Dati Leumi would further say that the Torah requires us to fight. This requires its own article)

Charedim will respond that they are defending the State spiritually through Torah and Tefilla, which form a spiritual defense of Israel. They will point to miracles that occur, such as the ballistic missiles fired from Iran with few casualties, as examples of God’s protection of His land. They will also counter the claim that most non Charedim risk their life for Israel, by pointing to the fact that the majority of IDF soldiers don’t see combat.

But there is a much more fundamental issue at play for both sides which is truly the crux of the issue. That is, socialization. Israel’s Charedim represent a quarter of all Hebrew speaking Israeli youth. This appears to non Charedim to be a demographic nightmare. Their future does not look like the Israel that most of the country is used to. That is where the army comes in. Israeli society looks to the army to normalize and assimilate Charedim into becoming Israeli. Charedim, however, don’t want to assimilate into Israeli society. The sine qua non of Charedi belief is to pursue the deepest possible relationship with God, something which stands in stark contrast to Israeli and  western culture. This isn’t to say that Charedim must always reject anything western. In fact, many young Charedim are conversant in Israeli history, politics, etc. And many Charedim find employment in non Charedi companies. It’s just that they don’t seek immersion in that culture. This socialization is really the crux of the issue.

Furthermore, it is debatable whether the army really wants Charedim; In the aftermath of Oct 7, 4000 Charedim tried to join the IDF, yet only 540 were ultimately absorbed into the IDF.

Employment:  Male Charedi employment stands at 54% while Jewish non Charedi employment is 86%. (Charedi women work at a similar rate to non Charedi women). Israeli Charedim are often accused by those to their left of costing Israeli society too much due to their low male labor numbers. A recent video by Naftali Bennett claimed that the average Jewish non Chareidi family contributes 6000 Shekel a year to the State, more than they receive in return, yet the average Chareidi family receives 4000 Shekel more than they contribute. Chareidi critics claim that they are taking, but not giving back anything in return. A careful analysis, however, should lead one to a different conclusion. In fact, there are a number of areas in which Haredim are quite a boon for Israel.

5 Ways in Which the Charedim Benefit Israel: 

1. Charedim are responsible for an immense amount of overseas dollars flowing into the Israeli economy: There are thousands of Charedi synagogues, Yeshivas, Kollels, educational institutions, as well as needy individuals and other charities which, altogether receive hundreds of millions of dollars annually from American and European donors. This alone brings in massive amounts of capital into the Israeli economy. Thousands of young diaspora Charedi men and women study in Yeshivas and seminaries, resulting in approximately $40,000+ per student benefit to the Israeli economy. Outreach institutions bring thousands of students to Israel each year. Few of these people or funds would come, if there were no Charedim in Israel. What’s more, tens of thousands of Diaspora Charedim visit Israel each year, often multiple times a year, bringing in further tens of millions. Many of these people own apartments in Israel, paying thousands of shekels in taxes annually. Again, this is a direct outgrowth of the Israeli Charedi population.

2. Charedim serve the State by volunteering and through charitable organizations: Charedim run numerous charities that benefit all sectors of Israel. Yad Eliezer feeds Israeli poor, Yad Sarah lends medical equipment to all, United Hatzalah volunteer EMS and Zaka post disaster response, serve hundreds of thousands of Israelis across the spectrum often under the most difficult circumstances (including their dangerous and heroic activity on and post Oct 7). Migdal Ohr has given life and hope to tens of thousands of underprivileged youth, and on and on.40% of Charedim in Israel volunteer significant time to charitable causes, not for a three year army stint, but often for decades. Charedi volunteers and nonprofits have a direct and massive social and financial benefit to almost all areas of Israeli society, at a significantly higher rate than that of secular Israelis.

Furthermore, since October 7, the Charedi community has stepped up in a remarkable way, with thousands volunteering to support the army. Wealthy Charedim in the United States played a crucial role, providing housing for thousands of Israelis displaced by the war in Gaza, offering accommodations in hotels across central Israel. Many (including my parents) opened their homes, offering their apartments to displaced families at no cost. Additionally, Charedi activist Shai Graucher has been an outstanding figure in this effort.

“In one video, Rabbi Shai Graucher is seen pulling up with an 18-wheeler hauling washing machines and dryers to an army base so soldiers can launder their uniforms. In another, he hands out iPads and AirPods in a hospital to victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. In a third, he is handing out pizza to kids from families that have been displaced by the fighting at a party featuring face-painting, magic shows and games.” Graucher’s work was largely supported by affluent American Charedim, whose generosity helped sustain these vital initiatives.

3. Ch_aredimand the National Religious (Dati Leumi) helped maintain a Jewish majority in Israel**:**_ One of the great crises facing Europe is population collapse and a takeover of non native populations who express animosity to their host cultures. Fouad Ajami, Lebanese – American thinker and professor, in a debate with a young Benjamin Netanyahu in 1978 claimed that this very thing would occur to Israel. He insisted that Israel would not maintain a Jewish majority and would be out populated by Arab Israelis. (Interestingly, Meir Kahane also feared this as well.) In fact this never materialized. One reason given by the Taub Center, is that “Among the Arab Israeli population, fertility trends have followed patterns similar to those in the rest of the modern world – decreasing significantly since the 1960s in conjunction with increased education levels and employment participation rates among women.”

In contrast, the overall Jewish Israeli fertility rate is above 3 births per woman. The primary driver of positive Jewish population increases in Israel have been large families birthed by Charedi (6.38 births per woman) and National Religious women (3.77). Jewish Israeli women outside of these communities still have children above the 2.1 replacement levels. Still, the stark contrast driving Jewish population growth in Israel comes from the religious sector. This high fertility rate in Israel is a full child per woman higher than the next highest developed country, Mexico. All this while Charedi female employment is roughly the same as non Charedi female employment.

Another related issue is the hundreds of thousands of Israelis living abroad. “Yerida,” leaving Israel, is largely not a Charedi phenomenon. Contrast that with diaspora Charedi youth who almost all spend some time studying in Israel for Yeshiva or Seminary. Some of these young people eventually make aliyah. 80% of North American Aliyah in 2021 was Orthodox. And while many of those people were Modern Orthodox, it is entirely common for Diaspora Charedim to have at least one sibling living in Israel.

4. _Charedim have low rates of crime and negative social impact:_Take a walk in a Charedi neighborhood and you will rarely see crime, illegal drug use, etc. Strong families and a religious ethic make Charedi neighborhoods very safe. Rates of drug use, abandoned children, etc are small. All of this results in lower need for police and emergency services, jails, general government services, family planning services, etc. This likely saves the State of Israel millions of dollars. What’s more, the Taub Center reported “that life expectancy was three years higher among Charedi men in [these] three cities than would be expected based on their socioeconomic status. Among Charedi women, life expectancy was 1.5 years higher than would be expected based on their socioeconomic status. Chernichovsky and Sharony propose that the relatively good health of Charedim is related to the fact that these communities have high levels of social capital. Social capital implies social trust, norms, and networks and includes aspects of life common to the Charedim: a high number of social relationships, high levels of satisfaction with family relationships, strong social support systems, and high levels of volunteering. Also, a relatively low percentage of Charedim report feelings of loneliness (less than half of the percentage reporting feelings of loneliness in other population groups).” Again, better health outcomes saves Israel money.

5. _Societies require a vision for the future and purpose in order to maintain themselves**:**_One of the great challenges in western society is the lack of ability to express a vision as to what one is living for and why one should defend one’s homeland and way of life. This lack of moral vision and purpose correlates in low marriage and birth rates and high rates of depression and crime. Because if a young person has no positive vision of the future, nor any real purpose as to why maintaining that future is important, they will most likely retreat into a self-serving nihilistic worldview.

It is not surprising that population collapse and a resulting economic calamity looms in the distant future of many countries. Furthermore, young people are less likely to fight for their country against an enemy if they cannot express what value their country has. Yet Israel’s young people rose to the occasion of fighting off the enemies that surround them since Oct 7. There are multiple reasons for this, but the religious inspiration that has swept the country cannot be discounted. And who maintained that religious vision since the founding of the State of Israel by a predominantly secular and oftentimes anti religious majority? The Charedim did. Often in face of heated attack for their “backward and outdated” ways. The impact of maintaining the Jewish nature of Israel and enabling young people of all backgrounds to share that vision cannot be gainsaid.

The eminent Charedi writer Jonathan Rosenblum is fond of mentioning the following incident which highlights this point: ” Salah Tamari, a former Palestinian terrorist, told Israeli journalist Aharon Barnea of the complete transformation he underwent in an Israeli prison. While in prison, he had completely despaired of any hope that the Palestinians would one day realize any of their territorial dreams, and so he was ready to renounce the struggle.

Then, one Passover, he witnessed his Jewish warder eating a pita sandwich. Tamari was shocked, and asked his jailer how he could so unashamedly eat bread on Pesach.
The Jew replied: ‘I feel no obligation to events that took place over 2,000 years ago. I have no connection to that.’

That entire night Tamari could not sleep. He thought to himself: ‘A nation whose members have no connection to their past, and are capable of so openly transgressing their most important laws – that nation has cut off all its roots to the Land.’

He concluded that the Palestinians could, in fact, achieve all their goals. From that moment, he determined ‘to fight for everything – not a percentage, not such crumbs as the Israelis might throw us – but for everything. Because opposing us is a nation that has no connection to its roots, which are no longer of interest to it.’

Tamari goes on to relate how he shared this insight with ‘tens of thousands of his colleagues, and all were convinced.’

And yet the Israeli youth fought. and that is because they did feel a connection to their past. During the early days of the State, when secularism was all the rage, it was the Charedim who held the line for tradition. This eventually spread to many Israelis and enabled them to have a connection to their past and a vision for the future, even if they weren’t very religious.

The schism between the secular and the Charedim will continue. The issues are complex and diaspora Jews long for this debate to be handled in a more nuanced fashion on both sides. Either way, it would be helpful for each side to have a truer and clearer picture of what Charedim do for the State of Israel.

—————

Rabbi Meir Goldberg is the director of the JX campus network, at NY/NJ/Chicago campuses. He can be reached at [email protected]

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced today announced she has joined a coalition of 15 states in suing the Trump administration over what she described as a sweeping and unlawful overhaul of the nation’s childhood immunization schedule.

Davenport said the lawsuit challenges a January 5, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Decision Memo” that removed seven vaccines, including those for hepatitis A and B, meningitis, rotavirus, influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, from the CDC’s list of universally recommended childhood immunizations.

The complaint also challenges Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s June 2025 dismissal of all 17 voting members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, and their replacement with what the states call unqualified appointees.

The lawsuit names Kennedy, Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya, the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services as defendants.

Davenport, who was confirmed to her role earlier this afternoon by the New Jersey state Senate, said the administration’s actions depart from decades of science-based vaccine policy and undermine public trust.

“Protecting children is a priority for our office,” Davenport said in a statement. She accused Kennedy of replacing established experts with an unqualified vaccine panel and issuing a “rogue vaccine schedule” that “gambles with children’s health and lives.”

Acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Raynard Washington said the federal changes threaten to erode confidence built on “transparency, stability, and evidence-based clinical guidance.” He said the state would continue to follow scientific and medical consensus.

The states argue that routine childhood vaccinations have prevented widespread illness and death. Researchers have estimated that among children born in the United States between 1994 and 2023, routine immunizations prevented roughly 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations and more than 1.1 million deaths, generating an estimated $2.7 trillion in societal savings.

According to the complaint, the reconstituted ACIP reversed nearly 30 years of CDC policy in December 2025 by eliminating the recommendation for a universal hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth. That vaccine is up to 90% effective in preventing perinatal infection when given within 24 hours of birth, the states said.

The January decision memo later demoted seven vaccines from the universal childhood schedule to a lesser status, a move the states say was not based on new scientific evidence or recommendations from a lawfully constituted advisory committee.

New Jersey officials said the state’s immunization requirements and guidance remain unchanged. However, they argued that the federal shift could lower vaccination rates, increase infectious disease outbreaks and strain state Medicaid programs and public health resources.

The coalition is asking the court to declare the revised immunization schedule and the ACIP appointments unlawful and to block and vacate both actions.

In addition to New Jersey, the lawsuit includes the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, as well as the governor of Pennsylvania.

An accident on River Avenue at the Lakewood/Toms River border has knocked out power in the area.

No injuries reported.

Expect also heavy delays for the repairs and cleanup.

The U.S. Department of Justice has sued the state of New Jersey and Governor Mikie Sherrill, challenging a newly signed executive order that limits federal immigration enforcement on state property and escalating tensions between the Democratic governor and the Trump administration.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, targets Executive Order No. 12, which prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal immigration officials from conducting secure arrests of criminal suspects in nonpublic areas of state property, including state correctional facilities, without a judicial warrant.

Federal officials argue the order unlawfully interferes with immigration enforcement and violates the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which establishes that federal law takes precedence over conflicting state policies.

“Federal agents are risking their lives to keep New Jersey citizens safe, and yet New Jersey’s leaders are enacting policies designed to obstruct and endanger law enforcement,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. “States may not deliberately interfere with our efforts to remove illegal aliens and arrest criminals — New Jersey’s sanctuary policies will not stand.”

The Justice Department alleges that New Jersey’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities has resulted in the release of individuals convicted of crimes including aggravated assault, burglary, drug offenses and human trafficking who otherwise would have been subject to removal proceedings.

Bondi, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, directed the department’s Civil Division earlier this year to identify state and local policies that impede federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit against New Jersey is part of a broader effort targeting so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, including legal actions filed against officials in New York, Minnesota and Los Angeles.

State officials sharply criticized the lawsuit.

In a statement, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport called the case “a pointless legal challenge” and said the state would defend the executive order in court.

“Instead of working with us to promote public safety and protect our state’s residents, the Trump Administration is wasting its resources,” Davenport said. “Under Governor Sherrill’s leadership, New Jersey will continue to ensure the safety of our state’s immigrant communities.”

Speaking to reporters following a snow-related press conference this morning, Sherrill also defended her administration’s position and criticized federal enforcement practices.

“I think what the federal government needs to focus on right now instead of attacking states like New Jersey working to keep people safe is actually training their ICE agents with some modicum of training, like any law enforcement officer in the state of New Jersey would have so that they can operate better and more safely,” the governor said.

Sherrill has said the executive order is intended to promote public safety and build trust between immigrant communities and state authorities by ensuring that federal agents operate with judicial oversight while on state property.

The case sets up a high-profile legal fight over the limits of state authority in the realm of immigration enforcement, an area where courts have historically affirmed broad federal power, but where states have sought to define the scope of their cooperation.

A driver is being hospitalized after going airborne off the 195 overpass, landing on Rt. 9 in Howell.

As first reported on TLS Communities, the accident happened shortly after 10:00 AM.

The driver is being transported to the hospital. No word on her current condition.

Avoid the area as police investigate the incident and clear the scene.

After already having a snow day yesterday, many parents were stunned to learn there will be no school again today, not because of impassable roads, but because of a chain reaction that began with transportation.

First, LSTA canceled bussing. Then, several girls’ schools announced closures because there would be no transportation. Boys’ schools followed with modified or shortened schedules, explaining that many of their afternoon teachers, who have children, would be home with their own children and unable to teach.

The result? Widespread closures across the community.

Meanwhile, NY Mandami is holding school.

Parents are left asking a simple question: if roads are safe enough for carpools, why aren’t they safe enough for school? On days without bussing, carpools somehow work. Parents who choose to sit in traffic do so voluntarily. That decision should belong to families, not be made preemptively for everyone.

We all remember the last major snowstorm, when roads truly were a mess. No one questioned school closures then. Safety must always come first.

But this situation feels different.

If a high school can hold a school play tonight, clearly concluding that roads are safe for evening travel, why is it unsafe to hold classes during daylight hours?

This decision has already cost families hundreds of dollars in lost wages from yesterday’s snow day. A second day compounds that loss. Many households cannot afford two missed workdays in a row. In a town that runs heavily on kollel families, many men may now need to stay home because their wives cannot afford to miss a second day of work. Either way, income is lost.

The financial ripple effect is real and immediate.

If schools charged $100 per day of class, trust me, they would find a way to open tomorrow. Every business will be open for one simple reason: they only make money when they’re open.

The two entities closed today are bussing and many morahs; the only ones that continue getting paid regardless. And the economic and communal impact of that reality is significant.

Tuition continues to rise. Donations are requested regularly. Parents are asked, often, to go the extra mile for the school. But when families feel that schools are not going the extra mile in return, frustration builds.

At this point, many parents feel the system is taking advantage, plain and simple, because there is zero accountability. Not from LSTA, and not from the schools. When no one must answer for the consequences, cancellation becomes the easiest choice.

But the easiest choice for institutions is not always the most responsible one for families.

Parents are not asking schools to compromise safety. We are asking for coordination, consistency, and shared responsibility. Snow days are part of winter.

Unnecessary snow days — especially when roads are navigable and other institutions remain open — feel less like safety measures and more like avoidable disruption.

Families deserve better leadership and clearer standards. Our children’s education and the stability of our community depend on it.

This letter is a sequel to my previous piece, “An Open Letter to Our Schools: Reconsidering Pre-Pesach School Closures,” published in The Lakewood Scoop.

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

We regret to inform you of the petirah of Rabbi Shlomo Leib Zweiback zt”l.

Rabbi Zweiback zt”l, served for many years as a beloved rebbi in Yeshiva Zichron Meir of Mountaindale, where he was mechanech generations of talmidim with warmth, dedication, and a deep sense of achrayus. His clarity in learning and personal care for each talmid left a lasting impact on countless families and Talmidim who continue to carry his lessons with them.

He is survived by his children:

Rabbi Tzvi Meir Zweiback

Rabbi Avi Zweiback, z”l

Mrs. Goldy Bleich

Mrs. Fraydel Abishour

Mrs. Sarah Kline

Mrs. Nechama Garfinkel

Mrs. Bashy Kolodny

Mrs. Chana Weiland (Passaic)

He also leaves behind many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 2:00 PM at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood. Kevurah details will be announced.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

A structure fire broke out early this morning in the Roosevelt City section of Manchester Township, prompting a large emergency response but resulting in no serious injuries.

At approximately 4:00 a.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to a residence located at 1761 Delaware Avenue following reports of a fire. Upon arrival, officers observed flames and heavy smoke coming from the home.

Authorities immediately confirmed that all residents had safely evacuated the residence, and no pets were left inside.

Multiple fire companies quickly arrived on scene and began working to suppress the flames. The fire was successfully extinguished before it could spread to nearby homes or vehicles.

Responding agencies included the Whiting Volunteer Fire Department, Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Joint Base Fire Department, New Egypt Volunteer Fire Department, Bayville Volunteer Fire Department, Pinewald Pioneer Volunteer Fire Department, Cassville Volunteer Fire Department, Whitesville Volunteer Fire Department, Manchester EMS, Manchester OEM, Berkeley EMS, the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the American Red Cross.

EMTs from Manchester Township Medical Services treated two residents for smoke inhalation at the scene. Both individuals declined further medical attention.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Manchester Township Police Department Investigations Bureau.

The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced family with temporary accommodations and essential needs.

You can download it here.

Halachos of Parshas Zachar, Taanis Esther, Purim 2026 Free PDF

Emergency personnel in Lakewood have just extricated a child who was buried under a collapsed igloo.

The child was reportedly trapped in large mound for over an hour, emergency personnel told TLS.

According to some personnel on scene, it appears a plow may have dumped snow on top of the igloo while the child was playing inside, causing it to collapse.

Hatzolah is now transporting the child to the hospital in stable condition.

Emergency personnel tell TLS that the boy was conscious and communicating with paramedics in the ambulance, adding that it’s a Neis the boy made it out alive.

There are people out there suffering in silence. Maybe others judge, but do they truly know? So many issues are addressed, but yours is off the radar. You may struggle daily with basics like home chores, work, schedules, organization, motivation, impulsivity, procrastination, relationships, davening, mood swings… the list goes on.

The problem is, you, my friend, are respected, even revered. You’re the doer in the community – you may run a school, shul, businesses, organizations, maybe even all of the above! You’re who the community counts on in tough times.

Yet you live your life with unspoken challenges, day in, day out. You’re sought after, everyone wants your help, your opinion, your money, your connections, your kind heart. If only they knew… if only they knew how hard it is to get out of bed, to deal with things before they become urgent, to live a life of normalcy, to have calm moments, to take a few minutes to decompress. Calm eludes you.

It’s hard being at the top but feeling like you’re at the bottom. It’s tough living life riding “waves” that give you a high, tackling new projects, bringing massive ideas to fruition – because waves crash, and depression sets in. How hard is it to always chase those waves and highs to keep from crashing?

Why can’t you live a 9-to-5 life for at least some days? Why can’t things slow down? Why do you have to live in a whirlwind of action, pressure, and deadlines to feel good about yourself?

And then, for some, there’s the anxiety – the ever-present anxiety that comes with it, hounding you, ringing alarm bells when there’s no smoke. Chest tight, you rack your brain, hoping to identify the source, but it never shuts down.

You were diagnosed with ADHD as a kid – don’t adults grow out of it? Why does it seem to be a major factor in your life?

It’s a lonely world to live in. People look up to you; they see a happy person leading a fulfilling life. How can they know the pain and discomfort you feel? You’re too proud to join support groups, but you desperately need someone to talk to, silently you’re screaming for help, but no one hears you.

The good news is, there is help. There are steps you can take to deal with the chaos, stabilize the whirlwind, and find comfort. There are tools to be learned that can help you.

ADHD is a double-edged sword. You can fall on it and get hurt, or learn to wield it. ADHD makes you a superman – it allows you to do so much more than anyone else. Your capacity is greater than that of everyone else; your talent and drive, unmatched.

You CAN have a better life, you can feel calm and composed, you can learn to quiet the voices and empower your condition.

I’m just like you, and I still struggle every day. I too yearn for serenity, calm, some semblance of normality. I don’t have all the answers, I wish I did… I have a ways to go. But, by learning about my challenges, and identifying the patterns, I have found some relief, you can too.

Seek out a professional who specializes in ADHD. Talk to your doctor about options. You’ll be so happy you did. Seek help. Don’t face it alone.

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

The accident happened this morning on County Line Road.

No injuries were reported.

(This video was posted earlier today on TLS Communities)

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Mr. Michael Kastelanski Z”L, father of Daniel.

The Levaya is scheduled for 1:15 PM on Tuesday, at Goldstein’s Funeral Home, 310 Second Street Pike, Southampton, PA 18966. The Kevurah will be at Montefiore Cemetery, lot H.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

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This past Shabbos, the city of Stamford, Connecticut, was transformed into a migdalor of Torah with the hosting of the 30th annual Dirshu Convention. The massive Maamad was held this year under the banner of three decades of Harbotzas Torah, bringing together thousands of Chavrei Dirshu who traveled from across the United States and North America. 

The town was filled with thousands of Yungeleit, maggidei shiur, members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, and prominent Roshei Yeshiva. They gathered for a Shabbos of spiritual elevation at the “Armon” hotel complex, which was entirely dedicated to the convention. To accommodate the overwhelming demand, the Marriott hotel—located a 40-minute walk away—was also chartered for the overflow of attendees. The main tefillos and gatherings took place in a massive, magnificent tent erected in the hotel courtyard to serve as the central Heichal HaTefillah.

The participants were zocheh to bask in the presence of Gedolei U’Meorei HaDor shlit”a, who made the effort to attend and provide chizuk to the lomdei Torah.  Among the Gedolim gracing the event were:

Horav Yeruchem Olshin shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha, Lakewood. Horav Yitzchok Sorotzkin shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe and Mesivta of Lakewood. Horav Dovid Goldberg shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe. Horav Hillel David shlit”a, Rav of Kehal Shaarei Torah. Horav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz shlit”a, Dayan of Skver Boro Park. Horav Chaim Mordechai Ausband shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Shlomo, who traveled from Eretz Yisrael as a special guest.

Dozens of other Rabbonim and Dirshu representatives from across America and Europe also attended the Maamad. Throughout the Shabbos, various Shiurei Iyun and Halacha were delivered, with marei mekomos distributed to the Chavrei Dirshu for in-depth preparation. The Nasi and founder of Dirshu, Horav Dovid Hofstedter shlit”a, also addressed the massive crowd. Additionally, specialized panels and sessions were held for maggidei shiur to discuss methods for deepening Halacha knowledge among bnei Torah.

On Motzei Shabbos, a vital Chinuch panel addressed burning contemporary issues, including maintaining the independence of traditional Chinuch from external interference. The panel featured Rav Ausband, Horav Eitan Feiner shlit”a (Rav of Kehal Tifereth Israel), and Horav Shlomo Cynamon shlit”a (Rav of Kehal Bnei Torah and Rosh Kollel Dirshu of Flatbush)
The convention culminated in a festive Melave Malka open to the wider public, featuring stirring words from the Gedolim. The evening became a powerful display of Kiddush Shem Shamayim, as the throngs of Chavrei Dirshu united in a rikud of simcha and a shared mission to further increase the learning of Torah.

More than 2,300 Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) utility workers are laboring in snow and icy conditions to restore power to tens of thousands of customers across New Jersey after a powerful blizzard knocked out service to nearly 170,000 homes and businesses, the company said this afternoon.

JCP&L said 169,000 of their customers lost power as heavy, wet snow and high winds swept through its service territory, toppling trees, snapping poles and bringing down power lines. As of Monday afternoon, service had been restored to more than half of those customers, with about 75,000 still without electricity, including 23,115 in Ocean County.

The company said crews are working around the clock in what it described as “difficult, often treacherous conditions,” including blowing snow and icy roadways.

Restoration efforts require a series of labor-intensive steps, beginning with clearing hazards such as downed wires, fallen trees and blocked roads to allow safe access to damaged equipment. Once sites are secured, crews repair high-voltage transmission lines that supply electricity to local distribution lines, restore service to critical public facilities and then prioritize outages affecting the largest numbers of customers before addressing more localized issues.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority said it is in the speed limits on both the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway will return to normal effective at 5pm today. Speed limits had been reduced to 35 mph during the height of the storm.

Utility officials said they are continuing to assess damage and field conditions and expect to provide estimated restoration times later in the day.

Customers who remain without power are urged to report outages by texting “OUT” to 544487, visiting the company’s website or calling its outage hotline.

Officials also reminded residents to keep at least 30 feet away from downed power lines and anything they may be touching, and to call 911 to report hazardous conditions. Residents using generators were advised to operate them outdoors only and to ensure their home’s power supply is disconnected to prevent electricity from feeding back onto utility lines and endangering workers.

The utility cautioned against using gas stoves, grills or outdoor heaters for warmth, noting the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and recommended using flashlights or battery-powered lanterns instead of candles to reduce fire hazards.

Crews will continue working until all remaining customers have their power restored, the company said.

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An artist in Lakewood carved out this sculpture of Mordechai on a horse – just in time for Purim!

And no, it’s not AI – it’s pure talent!

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We regret to inform you of the Petirah of R’ Meir Oiknine Z”L (Waknin), who was Niftar today.

He is the father of R’ Moshe, a longtime Chaveirim member and renowned photographer.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 2:00 PM at the Chapel in Lakewood, with Kevurah in Lakewood.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

During her confirmation hearing before the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee, Acting Education Commissioner Lily Laux faced questions from legislators on how she would address chronic financial distress and governance problems in districts such as Lakewood, where years of budget troubles have brought the township’s public schools to the brink of a possible state takeover.

During the hearing, Senator Paul Sarlo, who also chairs the Senate Budget Committee, asked Laux how she would approach districts, such as Montclair, Hackensack, Perth Amboy, Lakewood and Toms River who are all experiencing “these massive issues” and whether the chronic shortfalls stemmed from mismanagement, neglect or incompetence.

In her response, Laux, who was careful to note that she was not referring to any specific district, emphasized her commitment to understanding the underlying causes in each troubled district, saying better data and early warning systems would be key to prevention and support. “We need to know… what is that and that being able to have that conversation,” she told senators. “We’re not ending up in this situation that you just referenced.”

Lakewood, which is likely the most unique school district in the country has become a flashpoint in the debate over school funding and oversight.

Its public school district serves approximately 4,300 students but has been responsible for transporting and providing special education services to tens of thousands of children attending private schools, a burden that has strained its budget and contributed to repeated requests for state loans. State records show the district has borrowed more than $230 million from the state since 2014 to fill gaps and stay solvent.

The financial stress has drawn legal and political scrutiny. In September, a state appeals court rejected a constitutional challenge from parents who argued the state’s school funding formula starved Lakewood of necessary aid, instead blaming years of fiscal mismanagement, low local tax rates and outsized transportation and special education costs. The ruling described a “consistent pattern of neglect and misfeasance” by district leaders, leading the state to install several monitors.

Local officials in Lakewood have pushed back, contending that deep structural problems in the state’s funding formula, rather than local mismanagement, have created a budget imbalance that disproportionately burdens the district. They argue that mandatory transportation obligations to private school students and outdated funding mechanisms leave their public schools underfunded.

The Lakewood public school district has pushed back, and has a March 5 deadline to make a legal argument to stay independent.

Laux, if confirmed, would inherit these challenges at a time when lawmakers and advocates in districts across the state are also wrestling with broader questions about school finance equity, accountability and the role of state intervention.

In his questioning, Sarlo underscored to Laux that a purely reactive approach, such as seeking extra financial aid from Trenton, would not be sufficient. Instead, they signaled a desire for proactive analysis and tailored solutions that get at the root causes of fiscal distress in districts like Lakewood.

Governor Sherrill is expected to release her budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year on March 10.

Please take a moment to be Mispallel for 13-year old Mayer Yitzchok Zelig ben Malka, the boy who was pulled out from underneath a car this evening.

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How to Move Forward Without Needing It All Figured Out

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Lakewood DPW has approximately 100 trucks on the road, along with another 200+ private contractors.

Here’s an important message from DPW Director Phil Roux.

Following widespread complaints about road conditions during the last snowstorm, Lakewood Township officials have unveiled a bold new initiative aimed at “putting the power of snow removal directly into the hands of residents,” TLS has exclusively learned.

Already underway, every household began receiving a complimentary DIY Snow Cleanup Kit, which officials describe as “a practical, scalable solution designed for maximum community participation and minimum municipal involvement.”

At the center of the kit is a standard tabletop salt shaker.

“This isn’t just any salt shaker,” a township spokesperson told TLS in an exclusive statement, while carefully demonstrating a single grain being dispensed onto an icy sidewalk. “This is a precision-based snow mitigation device. Residents can apply it exactly where needed — one crystal at a time.”

The kit also includes a laminated instruction card encouraging residents to “think big, start small,” and a motivational sticker reading: ‘You Are The DPW Now.’

Officials emphasized that the program comes with a full guarantee: once salt is applied, results are expected within 6 to 8 weeks, or residents will receive their taxes back in full — “pending review, processing time, and several clearly defined exceptions.”

Local reaction has been mixed.

“I went through half the shaker just getting from my front door to the driveway,” one resident told TLS, noting he is optimistic conditions will improve by early spring. “They said it works. I just have to be patient.”

Others praised the township’s innovation. “It’s nice to finally feel included,” another resident told TLS. “Before this, snow removal felt like something only professionals handled.”

Township officials confirmed that if the program proves successful, Phase Two may include a Deluxe Winter Preparedness Kit, featuring a tea light candle for “ambient ice melting” and a printed photo of a plow truck “for morale purposes.”

As of press time, residents were reportedly coordinating neighborhood efforts to combine their salt shakers in hopes of clearing an entire intersection by mid-April.

TLS wishes all a safe storm and a Happy Purim.

Every year before Purim, the same quiet anxiety begins.

What are we making?
What theme are we doing?
How much are we spending?
Who are we giving to?

What used to be a beautiful, simple mitzvah has slowly turned into something else — a production.

Shalach Manos was never intended to be a financial showcase. It wasn’t meant to create pressure for families who are already stretched thin.

And yet, that’s exactly what it has become in many communities, especially the community I am part of – Lakewood.

Between themes, custom logos, matching packaging, professional labels, etc. These are at LEAST $30–$40 per shalach manos — sometimes more. Multiply that by 40, 50, even 60 people and that’s real money!

Even in families that appear “comfortable,” the math simply doesn’t work. With multiple children, tuition, seminary, weddings, cars, insurance, mortgages, groceries, and daily life — there isn’t endless “extra money” spending sitting around waiting for Purim. And remember, Pesach is right around the corner.

This isn’t about criticizing anyone. Many families genuinely enjoy the creativity. There’s nothing wrong with beauty. There’s nothing wrong with effort.

But somewhere along the way, the expectation quietly shifted.

And expectations create pressure.

Not everyone can — or should — be spending thousands of dollars on Shalach Manos. And many people who are spending it can’t actually afford to.

We don’t talk about that part.

What if we collectively decided to tone it down?

What if under $20 was normal again?
What if thoughtful mattered more than themed?
What if our kids learned that the mitzvah is about connection — not competition?

Interestingly, I just came across a contest encouraging exactly that — a Purim challenge rewarding the most creative Shalach Manos under $10. It felt refreshing to see something promoting restraint instead of escalation.

Because that’s what many families quietly need right now: permission to step back.

Purim is about simcha. Unity. Giving. Gratitude.

Not financial strain.

Maybe this year, the bravest thing we can do isn’t outdo each other.

Maybe it’s to reset the culture.

Hope this changes things,

Shulamis.

Lakewood, NJ

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

With a winter storm forecasted for this weekend, the Howell Township Police Department wants to ensure all residents are prepared and informed. Our Department of Public Works (DPW) will be working around the clock to keep our 573 lane miles of roadway safe, and we need your help to make their job easier!

Please keep the following Township Ordinances in mind as the snow begins to fall:

❄️ NO PARKING ON ROADS (Ordinance § 265-1) Once snow covers the street, an emergency exists. No vehicles, equipment, or personal property may be parked on any public street or right-of-way. This is critical for our plow drivers, especially in cul-de-sacs. This remains in effect until the snow has ceased and the roads are plowed curb-to-curb. Vehicles in violation are subject to summons and/or towing at the owner’s expense.

❄️ DO NOT PUSH SNOW INTO STREETS (Ordinance § 265-13) It is against the law to shovel, blow, or plow snow from your driveway or sidewalk back into the public roadway. This creates hazardous “frozen humps” and undoes the work our crews have already completed.

❄️ SIDEWALK CLEARING (Ordinance § 265-11) Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from abutting sidewalks within 12 daylight hours after the snow has stopped. Let’s keep Howell walkable and safe for our neighbors and emergency responders!

❄️ BASKETBALL HOOPS & EQUIPMENT All portable sports equipment must be removed from the public right-of-way. These are a major hazard for plow blades.

⚠️ SAFETY TIPS:

Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Give snowplows plenty of room to work.

For emergencies, dial 9-1-1. For non-emergency police matters, call 732-938-4575.

Stay warm and stay safe, Howell!

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Toms River Mayor Daniel T. Rodrick issued the following message to TLS:

The Division of Roads and additional contracted crews are fully mobilized and prepared to keep Township roads as clear and safe as possible during the storm and our Police and Emergency Services stand ready to ensure rapid response times throughout the Township.

I have been in contact with Governor Sherrill’s Office this morning, and they stand ready, should we need state assistance. JCP&L has additional crews — including mutual aid from outside the immediate area — to address any potential power outages as quickly and safely as possible.

Snow is expected to begin later this afternoon, with periods of heavy snowfall that could reach 1–3 inches per hour at times. While our plows will be operating continuously along established routes, road conditions may deteriorate quickly, and it may appear that streets have not yet been serviced. Please remain patient and avoid unnecessary travel. If you experience an emergency, contact 911 so first responders can safely reach you. Streets will not be fully cleared until snowfall tapers off.

This is forecasted to be a wet, heavy snow. Please use caution while shoveling and clearing driveways, and take frequent breaks to avoid overexertion. Check in on elderly neighbors and those who may need assistance.

Let’s work together to stay safe and look out for one another during this storm.

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UPDATE: Multiple accidents are being reported on local roads and highways. Avoid all unnecessary travel.

UPDATE: Governor Sherril has issued a ban on private vehicles across the State between the hours of 9PM Sunday-7AM Monday.

UPDATE: 4:00 PM: Snow has begun accumulating, making road conditions difficult for travel. Avoid unnecessary travel.

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As of 8:00 PM in Lakewood, Feb. 22, 2026

Thank you BS

A local business owner has chosen to allocate corporate funds toward a meaningful cause, opting to sponsor Purim meals for almanos and yesomim rather than invest in traditional corporate gifts.

Representatives from Misaskim Central Jersey told TLS they were deeply moved by the outreach from the business owner, who shared that after sponsoring meals in previous years, he experienced a significant increase in business. This year, he decided to expand his support on an even larger scale.

“This business owner recognizes that investing in the simcha of almanos and yesomim yields far greater returns than another conventional Purim gift,” a Misaskim CJ coordinator said. “When you take care of Hashem’s children, you can be sure you won’t be let down.”

https://vimeo.com/1167138728

Hatzolah of Central Jersey is several million dollars in debt, multiple insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity told TLS.

According to the multiple sources familiar with the operations, the non-for-profit organization is currently between $3,000,000-$4,000,000 in debt.

The sources told TLS the situation is so dire, that several programs within the volunteer department have been cut due to funding issues, and vehicles and expensive equipment needed to be financed.

“It’s a disaster,” said one insider.

It’s unclear if it’s a spending issue, an income issue, or they just simply can’t keep up with the growth.

According to the organization in a recent release, the organization has experienced tremendous growth due to the fact that it now services not just Lakewood, but also multiple surrounding communities.

Despite the financial deficit, the organization continues to add new members and add to its infrastructure to ensure sufficient coverage and response times.

Ahead of the expected storm – which is expected to bring extremely heavy snowfall to the region through Monday – Lakewood Township officials issued the following advisory:

• Starting Sunday late afternoon/early evening, all vehicles and trash cans should be kept off the roads, so that crews can effectively remove the snow. During the last storm, many roads could not be effectively cleared due to the presence of vehicles and/or trash cans.
• Vehicles may be parked on the grass if necessary. If there is no option to place a vehicle off-road, all vehicles should be parked on one side of the street only.
• Township crews and subcontractors will work diligently to clear snow off all Township roads as quickly as possible. Major roadways will be prioritized in order to allow emergency and other vital vehicles to navigate town. Smaller, secondary roads will be cleared as quickly as feasible.
• Residents should anticipate that, despite the best efforts of snow clearing crews, they may not be able to leave their homes and/or travel on the roads until Tuesday morning, or later. Residents are advised to ensure that they have an adequate supply of food and medication at home to last several days.
• There is a substantial risk of power outages during the storm and its aftermath. Residents are advised to prepare flashlights, batteries, non-perishable foods and other supplies necessary during an outage; and/or identify locations with backup generators in their area.
• Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Phil Roux announced that trash and recycling pickup has been canceled for Monday. Pickup is tentatively scheduled to resume on Tuesday morning, conditions permitting.

Township officials will provide additional updates as necessary.

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Ocean County Chief Fire Marshal Dennis Allen is urging residents and property managers to take immediate steps to maintain safe access around their properties.

Allen tells TLS that all property owners and managers should ensure that snow, ice, and debris are promptly cleared from all means of egress, including exit doors of structures. Additionally, fire hydrants and designated fire lanes must remain fully accessible.

Officials stress that blocked exits or obstructed emergency access points can significantly hinder first responders during critical situations.

With a major winter storm expected to impact our area Sunday into Monday, Hatzolah of Central Jersey is urging residents—especially seniors and those with medical needs—to take important precautions now.

Residents who rely on prescription medications are advised to refill and secure all necessary medications as soon as possible. Severe weather conditions may make travel difficult or impossible for several days, limiting access to pharmacies and medical facilities.

Hatzolah is also warning of the potential for widespread power outages during the storm. Elderly individuals and medically vulnerable residents who depend on electricity for medical equipment, heating, or other essential needs should make arrangements in advance. When possible, they are encouraged to stay with family members or friends who have reliable backup power, such as generators.

Additionally, Hatzolah is warning that this storm is expected to bring mostly wet, heavy snow, which is significantly harder to shovel and can place severe strain on the heart. Every winter, emergency responders see a rise in cardiac emergencies linked to snow shoveling. Residents—particularly older adults and those with heart conditions—are strongly urged to avoid overexertion, shovel slowly and in stages, take frequent breaks, or arrange for others to assist. If chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or unusual fatigue occurs, stop immediately and call Hatzolah.

“We strongly encourage families to check in on elderly relatives and neighbors and help them prepare,” Hatzolah said. “Taking steps now can prevent emergencies later.”

Residents are also reminded to stock up on basic necessities, remain indoors during dangerous conditions, and avoid unnecessary travel.

Hatzolah of Central Jersey remains on standby and fully prepared to respond throughout the storm. In case of emergency, residents should call Hatzolah immediately.

Stay safe, stay prepared, and look out for one another.

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We regret to inform you of the Petirah of R’ Hershel Klainberg Z”L of Detroit. He is the father of Mrs. Bayla Tyk of Lakewood.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM at Hebrew Memorial Chapel, 26640 Greenfield Rd, Oak Park, MI 48237.

Shiva information will be published when available.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

**Understanding how domestic violence affects divorce proceedings in NJ is important for anyone facing both issues at once.
**
By Jeff J. Horn – Divorce Attorney

Divorce is already complex, but when abuse is involved, it changes the way courts decide custody, support, and property matters.
Victims of domestic violence should know how these factors can shape the outcome of their case.

Custody and Parenting Time in Domestic Violence Cases

In New Jersey, courts make custody decisions based on the child’s best interests. When domestic violence is proven, judges often limit the abusive parent’s access to children.
This can include supervised visitation or, in severe cases, denying visitation entirely. By focusing on child safety, the court ensures that children are not placed at risk.

Restraining Orders and Their Role in Divorce

Restraining orders, whether temporary or final, directly affect divorce proceedings.
They can determine who remains in the marital home, who has temporary custody of children, and how finances are handled while the case is pending.
Because a restraining order creates clear boundaries, it often sets the tone for the rest of the divorce process.

Financial Support and Domestic Violence

Domestic violence can also influence financial decisions in divorce. Judges may award alimony if abuse caused one spouse to leave work, lose income, or face long-term financial hardship.
Child support orders are also shaped by the safety needs of children, especially if one parent has limited contact due to abuse.

Property Division in Divorce

New Jersey uses equitable distribution to divide marital property. While abuse alone does not automatically reduce an abuser’s share, it can matter if violence caused financial harm.

For example, if an abusive spouse damaged property or wasted joint funds, the court may consider that when dividing assets.

Why Legal Representation Matters

Because domestic violence affects divorce proceedings in NJ across custody, finances, and property division, it is essential to have legal guidance. An experienced attorney can present evidence, ensure your rights are protected, and help you work toward a safe and fair resolution.

Final Thoughts

Domestic violence adds serious challenges to the divorce process. Whether the issues involve custody, support, or protection, the courts will carefully weigh safety and fairness.

If you are facing this situation, you do not have to navigate it alone.

Multiple weddings scheduled for Sunday in Lakewood have been pushed up earlier in the day due to the impending storm, wedding hall managers tell TLS.

Guests are urged to stay in touch with family members of the Baalei Simcha to check the schedules.

Attention Baalei Simcha: If you would like TLS to share an update on your behalf with our tens of thousands of followers, you are welcome to submit the details to [email protected]

You can also post it in the comments section below – please only post with family’s permission.

NOTE: Multiple wedding updates have already been published on TLS STATUS. 

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We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Rebbetzin Rochel Zuckerman A”H, wife of Yb’l Rav Aharon of Kahal Zichron Pinchos.

Children:

Rabbi Yitzchok Zuckerman (Monsey)
Rabbi Pinchos Zuckerman (Detroit)
Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Zuckerman (Brooklyn)
Rabbi Mayer Zuckerman (Jackson)
Rabbi Eli Zuckerman (Passaic)
Mrs. Roizy Nadoff (Lakewood)
Rabbi Baruch Zuckerman (Lakewood)
Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Zuckerman (Lakewood)
Mrs. Shaindy Trenk (Lakewood)
Mrs. Yenta Chaya Moldaver (Lakewood)

Siblings:

Mrs. Sarah Bleich (Brooklyn)
Mrs. Itty Mendelson (Brooklyn)
Rabbi Shmuel Lew (London)
Rabbi Luzzy Lew (Lakewood)

The Levaya is scheduled to take place on Sunday morning at 9:00 AM at Kahal Zichron Pinchos, 145 Flintlock Drive, Lakewood.

Shiva will be held at 142 Flintlock Drive, Lakewood. Shachris 8:00, mincha 1:45, maariv 8:00.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

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A powerful winter storm is expected to bring blizzard conditions to parts of New Jersey, with forecasters warning of heavy snowfall, strong winds, and dangerous travel conditions beginning Sunday morning.

According to the National Weather Service, total snow accumulations of 20 to 24 inches are possible, with wind gusts reaching up to 50 miles per hour. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds is expected to create whiteout conditions at times.

The warning covers Eastern and Western Monmouth County, Coastal and inland Ocean County, and Southeastern Burlington County. The storm is forecast to begin around 10 a.m. Sunday and continue through 6 p.m. Monday.

Officials say travel could become very difficult or even impossible during the height of the storm. Blowing snow is expected to significantly reduce visibility, and hazardous conditions may impact both the Monday morning and evening commutes. Strong wind gusts could also bring down tree branches, potentially causing scattered power outages.

Residents in affected areas are urged to complete storm preparations as soon as possible and avoid unnecessary travel once conditions begin to deteriorate.

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A countywide high-visibility traffic enforcement initiative aimed at curbing dangerous driving and reducing fatalities will take place in Ocean County next week, authorities announced.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, in coordination with local law enforcement agencies, will participate in the statewide “Goal: Zero” campaign on Monday, February 23, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The effort comes in response to a sharp increase in traffic deaths across New Jersey.

According to officials, 57 people have been killed on New Jersey roadways so far in 2026, including seven fatalities in Ocean County alone.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said the initiative is focused on aggressive enforcement against speeding, impaired driving, and other hazardous behaviors.

“Goal: Zero is not a slogan — it is a commitment,” Billhimer said. “Every fatal crash is preventable, and law enforcement will use every tool at its disposal to hold careless and reckless drivers accountable.”

This month’s enforcement detail is being held in remembrance of Tim O’Donnell and his five-year-old daughter, Bridget, who were killed by an impaired driver on February 22, 2016, on the New Jersey Turnpike. Following the tragedy, Tim’s wife, Pam, established the Catch You Later Foundation to promote safe driving and prevent similar incidents.

The Goal: Zero campaign was originally launched in 2024 by Holmdel Township Patrolman Matt Menosky, bringing together dozens of municipalities to address unsafe driving. The initiative is symbolized by a bright green logo representing visibility and safety, along with a black mourning band honoring lives lost in traffic crashes.

Officials emphasized that increased patrols and enforcement will be visible throughout the county during the operation, with the ultimate goal of eliminating roadway fatalities.

Don’t pack away your shovels and boots just yet.

According to several weather models, an upcoming storm could hit Lakewood with up to eight or more inches of snow.

The storm is expected to hit around noon on Sunday, and last through Monday afternoon.

Feeling inspired? The Annual Public Health Awareness Competition is open now in recognition of the 2026 National Public Health Week theme: “Ready. Set. Action.”

Ocean County students from all grades can participate for a chance to win prizes and special recognition from the Ocean County Board of Health!

The deadline is March 27, 2026. Artwork can be sent to [email protected] or to the Ocean County Health Department, 175 Sunset Avenue, PO Box 2191, Toms River, NJ 08754.

Multiple winners will be selected. Please put the student’s name, grade, and school on all artworks.

The 2026 topics are:

1st Grade-2nd Grade: Physical Activity or Dental Health

3rd Grade-5th Grade: Environmental Health or Communicable Disease

6th Grade-8th Grade: Emergency Preparedness and Planning or Substance Use Prevention

9th Grade-12th Grade: Youth Mental Health or Create an Empowered County

Attachments contain contest criteria and a promotional flyer for posting. These documents are also available at the health department website at oceancountyhealth.gov.

Ocean County Health Department Public Health Coordinator, Daniel Regenye, explained that each year the competition gets bigger and better.

“This is one of our favorite events of the year, and the students do such a great job. It has become such a wonderful opportunity for students to learn many of the important public health topics that impact their communities while having some fun and expressing their creative side.”

“Everyone looks forward to seeing the students coming up with so many unique and great ideas, not only to showcase their artistic skills but to act as young public health ambassadors as well,” added, Jennifier Bacchione, Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director, and Liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health. We are anticipating more of the same in 2026 and cannot wait to see the results.”

[Press Release]

Parshas Teruma 86 2c

A pre-Purim meeting with various Lakewood Township departments – including representatives from all emergency services departments – was held this morning in order to ensure that Purim in Lakewood can be enjoyed safely and with as few disruptions as possible.

Items discussed were, the placement of crossing guards at key intersections throughout town, light towers, construction suspension and more.

The meeting was held at Police Headquarters.

See more videos on TLS Communities.

Watch the LIVE EVENT here.

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A New Jersey Assembly committee advanced legislation that would require the state to create and maintain a formal waiting list for families seeking child care assistance whenever funding runs out.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, would direct the Department of Human Services to track applicants who are presumptively eligible for the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) but cannot be served due to limited funding.

The Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee approved the measure by a 6-0 vote.

New Jersey’s Child Care Assistance Program helps income-eligible families afford child care. However, the program temporarily stopped accepting new applications last summer after officials cited funding shortfalls. Applications resumed on a limited basis in December.

Speight, who chairs the Aging and Human Services Committee, said the funding freeze highlighted vulnerabilities in the state’s child care system.

“Child care is a critical part of New Jersey’s infrastructure,” Speight said in a statement. “Last year’s freezing of new CCAP applications underscored the fragility of New Jersey’s child care system. Establishing a waitlist is a critical step toward understanding the scope of need and providing data necessary to make informed decisions about the program at the state level.”

Under current practice, families whose applications cannot be processed because of funding limits may receive little information about their status or when assistance might become available, which can discourage families from reapplying and complicate decisions about work and caregiving.

The legislation would require the Division of Family Development within the Department of Human Services to maintain a list of applicants deemed presumptively eligible but unable to receive benefits due to funding constraints.

The bill also would require the division to designate contracted child care resource and referral agencies as official access points to help families complete and submit applications, including standardized self-attestation forms used to determine eligibility.

Additionally, the division would be required to publish at least twice a year aggregate data on applicants who qualify for and apply to receive assistance through the program.

CCAP provides subsidies to income-eligible parents who are working, in school, or in job training. While new enrollments were halted as of Aug. 1, 2025, current recipients have continued to receive assistance.

The program has been providing subsidies for nearly 70,000 children across the state – with over 6,000 of those in the Lakewood area – at a cost of approximately $872 million in state and federal funds.

To be eligible, families must meet certain work or education and income requirements; for example, a family of four cannot exceed a gross income of $64,300, and family assets for all income levels must not exceed $1 million.

The bill now moves to the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee.

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Mrs. Leah Pines (Nee Grund).

She recently relocated from Brooklyn to Toms River, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration and guidance.

For 50 devoted years, she taught at Ezra Academy of Queens, touching the lives of thousands of students, many of whom became Frum through her influence.

She is survived by her husband, R’ Baruch; her sons: Abi, Shlomo, Nochum and Dovi; her daughters: Bassy Pollak, and Sarah Eisen; brothers: R’ Avrahom Abba And R’ Nochum Grund; sister: Mrs. Rochel Miller.

The family will be sitting Shiva at 1904 White Knoll Dr, Toms River, NJ through Tuesday morning.

Shacharis 8:00 am
Mincha 1:45 pm
Maariv 7:00 pm

Nichum Aveilim Hours
9:30 am-12:30 pm
1:45 pm- 6:00 pm
7:00 pm- 10:00 pm

Friday- until 2:30pm
Motzai Shabbos- 7:30pm- 10:30pm

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

Company: Bud Antle/Dole Fresh Vegetables

Advisory: Bud Antle, operating as Dole Fresh Vegetables, has informed OK Kosher that they will be transitioning to a different kosher certification for their products.

As of March 1, 2026, only limited special production items will be certified by OK Kosher and these will have the OK Kosher symbol prominently displayed next to the date code.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York Power Authority have opened the first public electric vehicle fast-charging station at LaGuardia Airport, adding 12 high-speed chargers that can power compatible vehicles in as little as 30 minutes.

Officials said the new site is designed to serve ride-share drivers, taxis, airport employees and travelers with electric vehicles at one of the nation’s busiest airports. The installation represents the single largest bank of chargers in the state-run power authority’s EVolve NY fast-charger network and brings the network’s total to 300 units statewide.

“These new fast chargers are doing much more than advancing sustainability. They’re expanding convenience for the millions of travelers who pass through LaGuardia Airport each year,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said in a statement. “As more drivers switch to electric vehicles, we’re ensuring our airports provide a seamless and reliable place to power up.”

The LaGuardia site, a popular destination for ride-share drivers, is expected to serve more than 100 drivers per day. To reduce congestion, the New York Power Authority will cap charging sessions at an 85% state of charge and impose idle fees once a session ends to encourage turnover.

The station is part of Electrify America’s open-access network and features 12 chargers rated up to 350 kilowatts. Drivers can pay with a credit card, mobile wallet or through the Electrify America app. No subscription is required.

The project is part of the Port Authority’s broader effort to reduce emissions across its facilities. The agency has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a target that includes both its own operations and the broader transportation systems that support its airports, bridges, tunnels and seaport facilities.

Across its three major airports, LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International, the Port Authority and its partners currently operate 1,400 electric ground service vehicles and 775 electric chargers used for equipment such as baggage tractors and aircraft towing vehicles.

The agency has also expanded renewable energy projects, including large rooftop solar installations at JFK’s new Terminal One, Newark Liberty’s Terminal A parking garage and LaGuardia Airport, as well as a solar array at JFK’s long-term parking Lot 9.

In 2020, 10 EVolve NY fast chargers were installed at JFK’s Cell Phone Lot West, a site that officials say now serves nearly 1,000 drivers per week and more than 200 per day during peak travel periods.

EV drivers can locate the new LaGuardia chargers and other public charging stations through mobile apps and mapping services, including EV Connect, Electrify America, PlugShare, A Better Routeplanner, Apple Maps and Google Maps.

No diapers to change.

No bottles to wash.

No nap times shaping their schedule.

And yet, for couples struggling with infertility, their time is anything but free.

Their days are full of appointments, procedures, and bloodwork.

Full of decisions they never expected to face.

And most of all, full of a dream whose absence they feel so deeply.

With expert guidance, crucial financial support, and steady reassurance, Bonei Olam takes the uncertainty that fills their days and slowly makes room for hope.

But with the cost of treatments averaging over $25,000 per couple, we need your support to fill their waiting hands.

Our 2026 campaign, Hands Full, is LIVE!

HELP US REACH OUR $2 MILLION GOAL

Help us fulfill the dreams of over 680 Lakewood couples.

A month-long investigation by the Lakewood Police Department led to the seizure of a defaced firearm and suspected drugs, and the arrest of two men, authorities said.

Members of the department’s Street Crimes Unit, along with its Special Response Team, executed a court-authorized search warrant at the residence of Kharii Pringle, 42, of Lakewood.

During the search, officers also arrested Jeffrey Keys, 41, of Toms River, on outstanding warrants.

According to police, detectives located and seized a defaced firearm. Pringle was allegedly found in possession of a high-capacity magazine, hollow point ammunition, and a quantity of suspected Ecstasy. Further investigation determined that Pringle is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Pringle was charged in connection with the weapons and controlled dangerous substance (CDS) offenses. Both Pringle and Keys are expected to be transported to the Ocean County Jail pending further court proceedings.

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation.

Lakewood Police Chief Gregory H. Meyer said the arrest was the result of focused investigative work and strong inter-agency cooperation.

“Removing illegal firearms from our community remains one of our top priorities,” Meyer said. “I commend our Street Crimes Unit, Special Response Team, and our partners at the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department for their efforts that directly contributed to making our community safer.”

An Ocean County Grand Jury has indicted a Jackson Township man in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred last fall at an apartment complex in the township.

Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on February 18, 2026, Shaquille Green, 30, of Jackson Township, was indicted on charges of Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. The charges stem from the September 6, 2025 death of 28-year-old Toraya Reid, also of Jackson.

According to authorities, on September 6, 2025, at approximately 11:00 a.m., officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired and an unresponsive female in the roadway at the Paragon Apartment Complex on Larsen Road.

Responding officers located a deceased woman near the exit of the complex who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was later identified as Reid.

Additional officers observed a male, later identified as Green, running on North New Prospect Road. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to police headquarters.

A subsequent investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, the Jackson Township Police Department, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit identified Green — who had reportedly been in a dating relationship with Reid — as the individual responsible for her death. He was formally charged and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains detained pending trial.

The following was submitted to TLS by a Rosh Mosad, who requested to remain anonymous.

I’m writing because the frustration around the seminary process has reached a breaking point.

Somehow, over time, seminary shifted from being an opportunity to becoming a necessity. And once that happened, the pressure intensified. If it’s “necessary,” then every girl must get in and get in with dignity. When that doesn’t happen, the fallout is painful. Mothers are crying. Girls are crying. That alone should force us to pause. Emes does not produce this kind of widespread pain.

We often speak about communal crises that feel beyond our control tuition, housing, finances. But this particular crisis is different. This one is man made. And because it is man made, it can be changed.

The current obsession with marks did not originally begin in the seminaries themselves. Many seminaries once accepted girls with weaker grades and helped them thrive. Over time, however, the pressure shifted. Seminarys became concerned about how they would be perceived by American principals and mechanchos if their student body was not seen as academically elite. The result was a system increasingly driven by transcripts and rankings.

But we must ask ourselves: Is this what the Bais Yaakov system was built for? Was it created to elevate numbers or to elevate girls? We are talking about exceptional young women, many with outstanding middos, depth, and sincerity, who will build extraordinary homes. And yet they are being filtered through a narrow academic lens.

At the same time, we are exhausting enormous energy helping girls who already have multiple acceptances analyze which option is “best.” Hours are spent dissecting subtle differences between strong programs, as if the choice were a corporate acquisition. Imagine if even a portion of that time were redirected toward advocating for the girls still waiting for a place.

This brings us to the core issue: leverage.

This is basic. When demand is guaranteed and a product is viewed as essential, the supplier controls the terms. As long as seminaries know that students must attend and that there is no coordinated alternative, they hold the leverage.

But principals also hold a product: their students.

Every seminary depends on American high schools for enrollment. Without those students, there is no seminary. The leverage exists it simply has not been used collectively.

There needs to be a clear, structured understanding with seminaries. After the primary admissions process is complete, each seminary should commit to allocating a defined percentage of seats to solid, capable girls whose marks may not be exceptional but whose character and potential are unquestionable. This must not be left to informal conversations or isolated advocacy; it must be part of the framework.

And it must apply equally. Every seminary participates. Those unwilling to be part of such a system should not automatically receive access to the strongest applicants. Access to top students cannot be unconditional.

We have already seen how coordinated pressure changes outcomes. When a certain seminary entered the market offering quality at a more reasonable price, pricing dynamics shifted. Once parents had options, other institutions adjusted because they did not want to lose students. The same principle applies here.

Some principals argue that students ultimately make their own decisions and that schools cannot control where they go. But seminaries value their relationships with principals and mechanchos. They depend on recommendations, credibility, and ongoing enrollment stability. Unified leadership carries weight.

There are also difficult questions we must confront honestly. If grades are documented for internal educational purposes, that is understandable. But when those same marks are transmitted in a way that predictably limits a girl’s opportunities, we have to examine our responsibilities. What must be shared? What is discretionary? Where is the line between transparency and unnecessary harm? These are serious shailos that require daas Torah but they cannot be ignored.

The current structure is not producing calm, healthy outcomes. It is producing anxiety and tears.

If we believe in our students truly believe in them then we must build a system that reflects that belief.

This will require courage. It will require unity. And it will require leadership willing to say that the rules of the game need to change.

Because right now, the ones absorbing the consequences are our daughters.

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

The Lakewood Police SRT team this morning – assisted by the Bearcat – executed a search warrant in the Township, police say.

At least one person was detained.

Further details surrounding the warrant execution were not immediately released.

(TLS-WY/SICB)

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This morning at Cross and Prospect in Lakewood.

Some complain about the smoke, some about the noise, some about missing words, and some about the general disturbance.

What’s YOUR take on kids using firecrackers or the sorts during the Megillah?

Q: Is there a problem of yichud when one goes on a date?

A: Absolutely there is a problem of yichud. And you have to know how to work it. Constantly these things come up and they’re nichshal in the issur of yichud if not something else.

So therefore you have to know how to make a date. The best way to make a date is to take a walk on Ocean Parkway. If you don’t want the yeshivah people to see you so walk down near Brighton.

Or go to Penn Station or Grand Central Station and sit on a bench there and you can talk if you wish. It doesn’t cost any money either except for the carfare.

I used to give that advice to boys in the yeshivah. Go to Grand Central Station, sit down on the bench. It just costs carfare.

Or use the subway. There’s no yichud on the subway.

Unless you’re afraid to go on the subway.

(Toras Avigdor – April 1986)

This article advances a structured, non-ideological analysis of professional authority in medicine and psychology, grounded in halachic, legal, institutional, and moral frameworks.

First, it anchors the discussion in a precise halachic source: Aruch HaShulchan, Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah סימן של״ו. The Aruch HaShulchan establishes that a physician’s actions are justified bedinei adam and fall under ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם only where two conditions are met: the practitioner is government-certified, and the specific refuah employed is itself government-authorized, provided no superior physician is available. Good intentions, professional culture, or internal consensus are explicitly not the determining criteria.

Second, the article draws a sharp doctrinal distinction between authorization of a practitioner and authorization of a refuah. Modern medicine satisfies both layers: physicians are licensed, and medications and devices are independently authorized. This is why the Aruch HaShulchan’s framework applies cleanly to medicine and may apply, in principle, to psychiatry insofar as it relies on FDA-approved drugs. It cannot apply to psychology, because psychological therapies themselves are never authorized by the state.

Third, the article explains this exclusion in structural and legal terms rather than ideological ones. Governments do not certify, approve, or vouch for psychological theories or treatment modalities. They do not ascribe causal certainty, predictive reliability, or truth-value to any therapy. What the state authorizes is only the practitioner’s right to practice, leaving method selection to professional discretion and personal risk. This posture—you may choose, at your own risk—fails to meet the Aruch HaShulchan’s requirement of רשות ליתן רפואות לחולאים, because the refuah itself is never authorized.

Fourth, the article provides a structural account of authority in psychology by identifying who actually determines standards. These are not government bodies but private accreditation organizations. Their incentives are not truth-adjudication but institutional survivability, shaped by legal safety, political acceptability, and institutional consensus. Standards are selected to avoid lawsuits, controversy, and mass noncompliance rather than to identify what is most accurate or effective.

Fifth, the article exposes the circularity of the system: accreditation bodies are paid by schools; schools require accreditation to charge tuition; licensing authorities defer to accredited programs; and accreditation, in turn, formalizes existing practice. This loop reinforces itself and resists correction, even when underlying assumptions are weak.

Sixth, the article advances a moral analysis grounded in emes, drawing on the sugya in Shavuos 31. It argues that taking money, time, trust, and life-shaping decisions from people while knowing that what is being sold is institutional legitimacy rather than verified truth—and allowing that legitimacy to be mistaken for truth—constitutes a moral failure, even absent malicious intent.

Seventh, the article demonstrates through pricing analysis that licensing costs do not track instructional hours, instructor expertise, or outcome effectiveness. Instead, they track administrative overhead, legal protection, lobbying, and institutional continuity. Licenses function as tolls for permission to practice, not as valuations of knowledge or skill.

Finally, the article offers a historical proof-of-concept in the long dominance of psychoanalysis. For decades, it retained authority not because of demonstrated effectiveness but because it answered primarily to itself and faced no external veto. Only sustained external pressures eventually forced retrenchment, illustrating how a self-referential field can persist in error across generations.

Taken together, the article argues that medicine is constrained by external regulators, law, institutions, insurers, and biological reality itself, whereas psychology operates largely within a closed system of delegated trust. The difference is structural, not personal—and it has profound halachic and moral implications.

This analysis is neither conspiratorial nor anti-vaccination. It is a straightforward application of a halachic rule articulated explicitly by the Aruch HaShulchan in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah סימן של״ו. There, the Aruch HaShulchan lays down the determining criterion for whether a doctor is absolved bedinei adam for damages caused in treatment and whether his actions fall under the mitzvah of ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם. The criterion is not good intentions, professional culture, or internal consensus. It is whether the doctor is certified and authorized by the government to prescribe the particular medications or treatments he uses, and provided that there is no physician superior to him in that field.

In practice, this framework applies cleanly to modern medicine where both conditions are met: the practitioner is licensed, and the specific refuah—medications or devices—is itself government-authorized. This is why the rule fits ordinary medical practice and may apply, at least in principle, to psychiatry insofar as it employs FDA-approved drugs. It cannot apply to psychology.

The reason is structural and legal, not ideological. The government does not authorize psychological therapies at all. It does not say of any therapy that it is true, that it is not false, that it predicts outcomes with accuracy, or that it has causal certainty. The state does not approve, certify, or vouch for any psychological model or method. What it authorizes is only the practitioner’s right to engage in the profession. Legally and structurally, this is nothing more than permission to practice at one’s own discretion and risk. The posture is effectively: you may choose a method, at your own risk. That is not “רשות ליתן רפואות לחולאים” in the sense meant by the Aruch HaShulchan, because the refuah itself is never authorized.

This stands in sharp contrast to medicine under the Food and Drug Administration framework, where authorization operates on two distinct and cumulative levels. The practitioner is licensed, and in addition, the medications and devices themselves are authorized through four concrete mechanisms: pre-market approval, demonstrated causal efficacy, formal risk–benefit analysis, and ongoing enforcement power including recall and prohibition. Only where both the practitioner and the specific refuah are government-authorized does the Aruch HaShulchan’s standard fully apply.

Over the past several decades, psychotherapy has expanded dramatically in cultural authority, institutional presence, and economic footprint. This expansion is usually framed as progress—more care, more science, more professionalism. What is rarely examined is the structure of accountability that sustains the field and what kind of belief is required to trust it. Who, in fact, determines what the material of therapy should be?

⸻

Who decides?

Private accreditation boards decide. Not the government.

Standards in psychology are set by private accreditation bodies whose function is not truth-adjudication but institutional survival. They are paid by the very schools whose curricula they accredit, and they remain viable only by staying within what both paying schools and downstream licensing authorities will accept. That is the circularity.

These boards do not decide standards based on what is most true. They decide based on what is safest.

They operate on three governing constraints.

Legal safety.

They look only at what has already not gotten institutions sued. They copy existing rules, language, and practices that courts have already tolerated. They do not predict law or test truth; they avoid novelty. Courts then trust them precisely because they repeat court-accepted patterns. The loop is closed.

Political acceptability.

They avoid standards that could trigger public controversy, media scrutiny, or government pressure. They choose language that sounds neutral, inclusive, and non-provocative so that no powerful group objects. The goal is not correctness; it is backlash avoidance.

Institutional consensus.

They formalize what most schools already do. If too many schools could not comply with a standard, accreditation would fail. Therefore the average practice becomes the standard, and deviation becomes risk.

Stripped of euphemism, the rule is simple:

They copy what already exists, avoid controversy, and codify the mean. That is why the system reinforces itself and almost never corrects error.

At the top, decisions are driven by the most secure posture for income, reputation, and continuity. Everyone underneath operates almost entirely on trust.

For accreditation boards, survivability is the selection criterion. Maintaining steady revenue from fees, avoiding lawsuits, avoiding political heat, and avoiding mass school noncompliance is the governing logic. Truth is not the metric.

For everyone beneath them—schools, students, employers, licensing authorities, and the public—there is delegated trust. Each layer assumes the layer above already did the verification, so no one re-tests substance. Challenging the system creates risk; accepting it transfers responsibility upward. That is why it persists.

This raises the central question: who are we actually trusting when we pay fifty thousand dollars for a license and entrust our lives, families, and communities to the interpretive structures of therapy?

The answer is not a government entity. It is private accreditation bodies, professional boards, and academic institutions that pay those bodies to approve their curricula. These institutions know that the public interprets accreditation as truth-validation, not survivability-validation. They also know that if this distinction were made explicit, trust would collapse. Continuing under that ambiguity crosses from neutrality into deception.

Once this substitution occurs, the downstream payer—often poorer students, patients, families, and communities—becomes invisible. Their belief is instrumentalized, not respected. That is a moral failure even if no one intends harm.

People inside the system do not experience this as lying because responsibility is fragmented. Each layer tells itself: I’m not claiming truth; I’m following standards. The standards come from accreditation. Accreditation reflects consensus. Consensus equals professionalism. No one says “this is true,” yet everyone benefits from others believing that it is.

Taking hard-earned money, years of time, trust, and life-shaping decisions from people while knowing that what is being sold is institutional stability and legitimacy rather than truth—and allowing it to be mistaken for truth—is not morally neutral. What Torah classifies as emes requires alignment between what one knows, what one signals, and what others reasonably believe, as articulated in the sugya in Shavuos ל״א. Here, those elements are knowingly misaligned.

The circularity deepens further. Colleges pay accreditation bodies to approve the very curricula that allow them to charge tuition. Accreditation follows money; money follows accreditation.

If licensing programs were priced according to real value, cost would track three variables: how many hours are actually taught, how skilled the instructors are, and how much usable skill graduates reliably acquire. Under such a system, prices would vary widely. They do not.

Prices do not track instructional hours. Programs with vastly different teaching loads charge similar sums. In other professions—pilots, electricians, engineers—hours matter. In therapy licensing, accreditation status matters.

Prices do not track instructor expertise. Most courses are taught by adjuncts paid a few thousand dollars per class regardless of tuition levels. When tuition rises, instructor pay does not. The money is not going to teaching quality.

Prices do not track skill or effectiveness. Licensing exams do not measure whether graduates help clients improve. No school is rewarded for better outcomes or penalized for worse ones so long as compliance boxes are checked.

What prices do track is administrative overhead, legal protection, lobbying, and institutional continuity. As tuition has risen, administrative staff has grown far faster than teaching faculty. Accredited programs must fund compliance offices, legal teams, insurance, reporting systems, and political maintenance. These costs protect institutions, not students. Students pay for that protection.

The same core material can often be learned independently for a fraction of the cost. The difference is not knowledge. The difference is permission.

Licensing fees are tolls, not valuations of truth.

This structure does not require malice. It follows mechanically from how the system is built. Those above must be funded. Those below must pay to pass. The moral problem arises because the system depends on people believing they are paying for expertise or truth when in reality they are paying for access and institutional cover.

History provides a clear demonstration. For much of the twentieth century, psychoanalysis dominated American psychiatry and psychology. It controlled training, journals, hospitals, and prestige. Patients paid, students trained, institutions endorsed it. Decades later, leaders within the field openly conceded that it had not effectively treated many of the conditions it claimed to address. This was not acknowledged as a moral accounting. It was reframed as “evolution,” “maturation,” or “new understanding.” That is institutional self-preservation language.

A field that answers mainly to itself can sustain ineffective frameworks for generations while people pay money, lose time, and place trust under false assumptions. Medicine could not do this at scale without external veto. Psychology could—and did—not because of intent, but because there was no external authority empowered to stop it.

That is the structure.

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

The Lakewood Police Department has filed criminal charges following an investigation into the theft of commercial merchandise valued at approximately $65,000.

According to police, officers responded on February 4, 2026, after a shipment scheduled for delivery to Lakewood never arrived. The victim reported that the merchandise had been picked up out of state by a contracted driver but failed to reach its intended destination.

An investigation by the Lakewood Police Department Detective Bureau included a review of shipping documentation, electronic tracking data, and coordination with out-of-state authorities. Detectives determined that the individual assigned to transport the shipment did not complete the delivery.

As a result of the investigation, Kamal Singh, 24, of Fresno, California, has been charged with two counts of Theft by Deception (2C:20-4), related to both the transportation payment and the value of the merchandise.

Police say Singh has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. The investigation remains ongoing.

Lakewood Police Chief Gregory Meyer stated that cargo theft can significantly impact businesses beyond a single transaction, noting that detectives worked across multiple jurisdictions to ensure appropriate charges were filed. He added that the department will continue to pursue individuals who seek to exploit the business community.

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Ganley of the Lakewood Police Department Detective Bureau.

Today’s post is about: DSCR Loans (Debt Service Coverage Ratio AKA “No Doc” Loans)

What it is

A DSCR loan is a mortgage for an investment property where the lender qualifies you mainly based on the property’s rental income—not your personal income.

Instead of focusing on your W-2s or tax returns, the lender looks at whether the property’s rent can cover the monthly mortgage payment.

DSCR stands for Debt Service Coverage Ratio.

Who it’s for

This loan is for real estate investors who:

• Want to buy or refinance a 1–4 unit rental property
• Don’t want to fully document personal income
• Have solid credit and some cash reserves

It’s common for borrowers who are self-employed, write off a lot on taxes, or just want a simpler income process.

How DSCR is calculated (simple)

DSCR = Monthly rent ÷ Monthly housing payment

The “housing payment” usually includes:

• Principal + interest
• Property taxes
• Insurance
• HOA (if applicable)

Example:

• Rent = $3,000/month
• Mortgage payment (PITI) = $2,500/month
• DSCR = 3,000 ÷ 2,500 = **1.20
  **

A DSCR over 1.00 usually means the rent covers the payment.
Some lenders allow below 1.00 (like 0.00–0.99), but the rate/terms are usually worse.

How rent is determined

Lenders use one of these:

• Current lease (if the property is already rented)
• **Appraisal rent schedule (market rent estimate / “1007”)
  **
• Sometimes both

If the lease is higher than market, the lender may still use the market rent number—it depends on the lender.

How much you can borrow

DSCR loans usually require a down payment. Typical ranges:

• 20–25% down for purchases
• Refi max LTV is often 70–80%, depending on the deal and DSCR

Rates are usually higher than conventional loans because they’re designed for investors and have fewer income docs.

What is a prepayment penalty? (and why it matters)

A prepayment penalty is a fee some lenders charge if you pay off the loan early—usually if you refinance or sell within a certain period.

On DSCR loans, prepay penalties are commonly 0–5 years.

The 3 common types:

1. **Fixed % (hard prepay)
   **Example: 5% of the loan amount if you pay it off during the penalty window (some lenders keep the % the same each year).
2. **6 months interest
   **If you pay off the loan early, you owe about six months of interest as the penalty.
3. **Step-down / declining
   **This is the most common structure.
   Examples:

• 5-4-3-2-1 (five-year step-down)
• 3-2-1 (three-year step-down)

Bottom line: If you might refinance soon, the prepay penalty can be the difference between a good deal and a bad one.

Process (high level)

1. Apply (basic borrower + property info)
2. Credit is checked
3. Provide asset docs (bank statements for down payment + reserves)
4. Provide lease (if any)
5. Appraisal is ordered (includes rent estimate)
6. Underwriting reviews DSCR, LTV, and borrower strength
7. Close and fund

What to watch out for

• Make sure your broker is quoting the actual DSCR ratio the lender is using (not just “you’re fine”)
• Confirm the prepayment penalty (years + type: fixed, 6 months interest, or step-down)
• Confirm the FICO score they’re pricing off (and which credit report/model they’re using)
• Confirm points and fees clearly—watch for “junk” fees like:
  • attorney/lawyer fee (when it’s not really needed)
  • processing fee
  • admin/underwriting/doc prep fees that feel padded
  • any other “misc” fees that aren’t standard
• Don’t compare quotes without comparing rate + points + prepay + DSCR + LTV together

Bottom line

DSCR loans are one of the simplest ways for investors to finance rental properties because approval is based mainly on rental income and the property’s ability to carry itself.

If you’re buying or refinancing a rental and don’t want the headache of full income documentation, DSCR is usually the first place to look.

Since 2023, Josh Dan has been a licensed loan officer. He takes complex finance and makes it simple, helping borrowers understand their options and make smart decisions. Connect with Josh at joshuadan.com

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has rolled out a new statewide service aimed at improving communication with customers who have limited English proficiency.

All NJMVC agencies are now equipped with handheld Pocketalk translation devices, allowing staff and customers to engage in real-time, two-way conversations in more than 80 languages. The devices are also being deployed with NJMVC Mobile Units as they travel throughout the state.

“These advanced language translation devices represent a significant step forward in our customer service capabilities,” said Acting NJMVC Chief Administrator Rosalie Johnson. “By bridging language gaps more effectively, we are affirming our commitment to improving service for every New Jerseyan and making sure all of our customers are supported, respected, and understood.”

According to state data, more than 30 percent of New Jersey residents age five and older speak a language other than English at home. Nearly 1.2 million residents report some degree of limited English proficiency.

Officials say the Pocketalk devices are designed to be user-friendly and provide quick, accurate translations, helping reduce confusion and streamline in-person transactions. The technology is expected to shorten wait times and make it easier for customers to complete their business.

The statewide rollout follows a pilot program conducted in fall 2025, which officials say received positive feedback from both staff and customers. Each agency and mobile unit is currently outfitted with between five and twelve translation devices.

The NJMVC has previously implemented several language-access initiatives, including a multilingual website, driver manuals published in multiple languages, driver knowledge tests offered in more than a dozen languages, and a bilingual phone system providing assistance in English and Spanish.

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As Purim approaches, many bachurim traditionally raise funds for their yeshivos and for tzedakah causes.

In recent years, however, particularly post-Covid, the method has increasingly shifted from groups to phone calls and text messages to baaleibatim in the weeks leading up to Purim.

Is this a positive evolution in fundraising, or does it cross a line?

Should bachurim be calling and texting baaleibatim before Purim for donations, or should clearer boundaries be set?

Should the yeshivos keep the fundraising strictly to Purim?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

“Why would I join a shidduch website?” he asked. “I already have more names than I can handle.”

I couldn’t have agreed more. “That’s exactly the issue,” I said. “You want compatible suggestions, not countless suggestions.”

It’s been a relatively straightforward task to explain the value of Canopy Shidduchim to young women. Yes, we emphasize our foundation of chesed, our commitment to privacy and dignity, and the care we take to ensure a 1:1 ratio of men to women daters. But above all, it’s a channel for receiving ideas. And for many women navigating shidduchim, that alone is meaningful.

Men, on the other hand, don’t immediately see the value. They are managing 10, 20, 50 ideas and hoping something on a page will give them a clue as to which idea might be the right idea. This difficulty has created pressure points in the shidduch world. For example, as making shidduchim becomes more complex, fast-moving, and globalized, we have started to commonly share photos. This practice certainly emerged with the best intentions and motivated by the desire to make shidduchim. With so many suggestions flying, a picture can ground a resume. In an instant, it clarifies whether an idea is on target or off base. But even with photo-sharing, the underlying problem remains. Men continue to feel overwhelmed, and struggle to determine which ideas to reasonably pursue.

Canopy Shidduchim was founded on a basis of chesed – a desire to approach shidduchim with the same care and sensitivity brought to every communal need. We asked a simple question: “Why is shidduchim treated differently from every other chesed?” A Hatzalah member would never chastise a heart attack victim for smoking; yet, well-meaning criticism is often given in shidduchim. No chesed organization charges the people in need; but in shidduchim, it’s common for daters to pay for shidduch services.

Canopy Shidduchim applies the donation-based, nonprofit model to shidduchim. Our daters don’t pay to join. There are no premium or priority levels. Everyone has access to the same service, all for free. Our shadchanim are all volunteers and trained to offer support, honor boundaries, and provide guidance only when requested. Our shadchanim are thoughtfully selected to ensure they share our values.

On Canopy, each dater submits an anonymous profile, which includes the same information on a typical shidduch resume—but without names or identifying details. It also includes a very specific description of the dater and what s/he is looking for. Once approved to join, daters receive one anonymous profile per day. This idea does not come from a shadchan. It is technology-generated. If both sides agree they want to see more, each dater receives the full, identifying shidduch resume and a shadchan is assigned to coordinate. At this stage, they have not yet agreed to a date, and have simply decided to further explore the idea.

This model enhances privacy and clarity. It protects shadchanim from burnout by putting daters in the driver’s seat at an early stage. Shadchanim often spent hours going between two daters on a potential idea, only to have the idea unravel after much time and effort because one dater realized the other was 5″4 or 5″6 or 5″8 and that was a dealbreaker. Canopy preserves the shadchan’s time, saving their wisdom and guidance for the conversations that matter most.

Because we care about our system working in the best possible way, we require daters to join in pairs. One man for every one woman. This may be arranged, for example, with a sibling or cousin. Those without a pair can ask a Canopy shadchan for assistance or join a waitlist, where daters are paired on a first-come, first-served basis. This 1:1 ratio is essential to ensuring the best, most useful operating model.

Canopy was built by alumnae of Manhattan High School for Girls and before launching, received brachos for hatzlacha from Harav Rav Dovid Cohen, shlit”a and Harav Asher Weiss, shlit”a. At Canopy, we are growth-oriented – constantly seeking feedback, evaluating outcomes, and refining our approach. We believe in the benefits of the shidduch system and also in leveraging technology to strengthen that mesorah.

It’s hard to think of a more universal צורך ציבור than shidduchim. Nearly every frum family, at one point or another, will go through shidduchim. And whether you’re currently dating, a dater’s parent or relative, or just someone who cares, Canopy Shidduchim offers a meaningful way to be part of the solution. We’re accepting partners in chesed at canopyshidduchim.com.

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The fire broke out this morning on Ronald Road.

No injuries are being reported.

The cause is under investigation.

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For nearly two decades, Batya Kahan — the visionary behind the acclaimed Batya’s Kitchen — has transformed the way families experience Pesach. With her signature blend of elevated flavor, meticulous standards, and heartfelt hospitality, Batya has helped thousands of families serve gourmet, homestyle Yom Tov meals with confidence and grace.

Now, for the very first time, she opens her kitchen to the public.

Pesach Secrets from Batya’s Kitchen is Batya Kahan’s highly anticipated debut cookbook — and it is so much more than a collection of recipes. It is a complete Pesach companion, designed to guide you through every stage of Yom Tov preparation with clarity, organization, and calm.

Over 150 Timeless, Gluten-Free, Non-Gebrokts Recipes

Inside this extraordinary volume, you’ll discover more than 150 refined, gluten-free, non-gebrokts recipes — each crafted with care and backed by over 18 years of Pesach expertise. From beloved family classics to fresh, innovative creations, every dish reflects Batya’s elevated style and commitment to foolproof results.

Her recipes are celebrated for their:

• Beautiful presentation
• Freezer-friendly brilliance
• Reliable, repeatable success

Whether you’re hosting a small Yom Tov meal or a full Seder for a crowd, these recipes are designed to work, every time.

More Than a Cookbook — A Complete Pesach System

What truly sets Pesach Secrets apart is its practical, make-ahead approach. Batya understands that Pesach is not just about cooking — it’s about managing time, energy, and expectations during one of the busiest weeks of the year.

That’s why this book includes:

Checklists, timelines, and prep plans
Thoughtfully structured to help you stay organized, ahead of schedule, and stress-free.

• A comprehensive shopping and label-reading guide
  Including how to confidently navigate imported Kosher for Pesach labels.
• The Batya Freeze Code
  A step-by-step system teaching you how to properly freeze, store, and reheat dishes so they taste freshly made.
• Plating and presentation guidance
  Transform your Yom Tov table with elegance and intention.
• Traveling-with-food tips
  Pack like a pro for hotel stays, family visits, or Yom Tov away from home.

Throughout the book, Batya’s practical “make-ahead magic” ensures you can focus on what truly matters — meaningful moments around your Yom Tov table.

Bringing Calm and Confidence Back to Pesach

Batya’s Pesach dishes have already earned a treasured place in Jewish homes across the globe. With Pesach Secrets, she shares not only her most beloved recipes, but also the systems, organization, and mindset that allow Pesach to feel doable, stress-free, and absolutely delicious.

Thoughtful, inspiring, and beautifully written, this remarkable guide blends culinary artistry with real-life practicality — empowering every home cook, from beginner to seasoned, to host with serenity and joy.

Whether you’re preparing your first Seder or your thirtieth, Pesach Secrets from Batya’s Kitchen is destined to become a year-after-year staple in Jewish kitchens everywhere.

Available at ArtScroll.com, by calling 718 921-9000 or at your local Jewish bookseller.

Instead of texting your friend or the neighborhood chat, a new web tool called Where It’s At Now is offering a simple way for Chasunah guests to stay in the loop and know exactly where a wedding is holding.

Designed with convenience in mind, the platform gives guests a clear, easy-to-read snapshot of what stage the simcha has reached.

With a clean, mobile-friendly design, users can search for wedding halls and quickly see what’s going on — whether the oilam is still at the chuppah, enjoying the smorg, or already dancing. The site also allows guests to give a thumbs-up to events they’ve attended, adding a light, interactive touch to the experience.

To keep everything accurate and relevant, guests enable location sharing when using the interactive features. This helps the site confirm that users are actually at the venue, keeping the updates meaningful while maintaining privacy controls.

For many guests, weddings — especially larger ones — can sometimes bring a bit of uncertainty. Is the chuppah starting? Are they already holding by the seudah? Where It’s At Now aims to remove that guesswork by offering real-time awareness without the need for constant texts or phone calls.

While wedding planning tools have long helped couples organize invitations, seating, and schedules, this new platform focuses on something different: helping the oilam stay aligned throughout the day itself.

You can check it out here.

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.)

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

your OWN SIYUM on the ENTIRE

Shas, Rashi & Tosfos

IN JUST ONE YEAR!

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact.

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own.

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden.

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

Beyond the Grave

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory.

ShasYiden.com

With significant U.S. military movement in the Middle East and rising tensions with Iran, many are wondering what comes next.

Do you believe President Trump will pursue and secure a diplomatic agreement with Tehran, or are we on the brink of a broader military confrontation, and when?

What’s your prediction?

During COVID, a friend of mine was struggling. His business was closed, and collectors kept coming to his home.

I approached him quietly and said, “I plan on giving tzedakah for Purim. Here is $2,000 in donor funds. Please distribute it.”

The relief on his face was unforgettable.

That Purim, I didn’t just give charity. I helped another Yid twice—once with the money, and once by restoring a friend’s dignity and letting him be the giver.

Many of our own family members and neighbors are struggling quietly.

This Purim, consider giving funds to someone who needs the boost and let them distribute the tzedakah.

Give charity. Give dignity.

Double your mitzvah this Purim.

A Lakewood resident

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

Here’s an actual message we received this morning from another happy client whose ad was placed just several hours prior!

Get YOUR ad running today and have your ad reach tens of thousands of potential customers!

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Lakewood Township officials say the recent winter storm — described as one of the most difficult in decades — tested local resources but was handled effectively by the Lakewood Department of Public Works.

“This has been the most challenging storm I have ever dealt with,” said Mayor Ray Coles, a 25-year member of the Township Committee.

Although snowfall totaled 10.3 inches, officials said the greater challenge was the sleet and freezing rain that followed, combined with more than two weeks of below-freezing temperatures. The conditions created an estimated two-inch layer of hardened ice on roads and sidewalks.

At peak operations, 112 snow-clearing vehicles were deployed, with crews working 12-hour shifts. More than 11,000 tons of snow were removed and transported to ShoreTown Ballpark for disposal. Crews used approximately 2,000 tons of salt and 2,000 gallons of calcium chloride.

In areas blocked by parked vehicles or curbside trash cans, front-end loaders were used. Officials said the township is considering purchasing additional specialized equipment for future storms.

Township leaders credited DPW Director Phil Roux and the department’s 182 employees, along with subcontractors, for planning, pretreatment of roads, and continued snow and ice removal operations. Trash and recycling collection was completed within the week.

How do you think the township handled the storm? Share your thoughts.

The victims of the double fatal accent in Jackson have been identified this afternoon.

Police have identified the driver as Dennis Ricardo Zelaya Zapata, 29, of Toms River, and the passenger as Edwin Ramon Montolla Padilla, 36, of Patterson, NJ.

The accident remains under investigation.

In Honor of Parshas Teruma,
Elevate your Shuls Davening with a FREE BEAUTIFUL ACRYLIC SIGN. Available in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish in 3 Beautiful Styles – White, Gold, and Clear.

To order one for your Shul, please fill out this short form below and we will ship it to you Free!

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In what officials are calling a “return to our roots, but with better branding,” Lakewood Township announced Tuesday that it will be phasing out all local emergency services and replacing them with seasoned personnel imported directly from Williamsburg.

Township officials, speaking to TLS on condition of anonymity because they were “not authorized to reveal visionary brilliance ahead of schedule,” confirmed that police, fire, EMS, and even certain municipal departments would be replaced by “heritage-certified response units.”

Under the proposal, veteran members of Matzilei Eish, senior coordinators from Hatzolah of Williamsburg, and “several sanitation experts who instinctively know which side of the street the garbage really belongs on” would assume full operational control.

“Lakewood has grown tremendously,” one official told TLS while reviewing what appeared to be a map of Ocean County with arrows drawn exclusively toward Brooklyn. “And with that growth comes the need for emergency services that understand our community’s unique needs — like navigating double-parked minivans on a Friday afternoon without losing composure.”

According to sources who insisted on anonymity but were very eager to elaborate, the transition will occur in phases:

Phase 1: Replace police cruisers with unmarked minivans featuring tasteful emergency lights hidden behind tinted windows.
Phase 2: Introduce a 24-hour hot kugel command center to ensure responders remain adequately fueled.
Phase 3: Replace all sirens with a more culturally resonant system of rapid Yiddish announcements broadcast from rooftop loudspeakers.

Residents reportedly expressed cautious optimism.

“I mean, the response times are already impressive,” said one local man. “But imagine if the dispatcher also reminds you to bench licht on time.”

The imported units bring decades of experience responding to five-alarm structure fires, simultaneous simchas, and “mysterious electrical smells that turn out to be a crockpot,” officials told TLS.

In a particularly controversial move, the plan calls for rebranding the local fire department as “Matzilei Eish South,” with apparatus featuring hand-painted gold lettering and a strictly enforced policy that every emergency must include at least three walkie-talkies per responder, even if none of them are on the same channel.

Meanwhile, longtime members of Lakewood Police Department and Lakewood Fire District 1 were reportedly offered honorary roles as “traffic cone placement consultants.”

When asked whether outsourcing public safety to another state posed any logistical challenges, one township source laughed.

“If we can coordinate 14,000-person weddings with valet, we can coordinate mutual aid across the Hudson,” the official told TLS. “The tunnel is basically a very long driveway.”

At press time, officials were finalizing negotiations to import alternate-side parking enforcement specialists who can parallel park a 15-passenger van in a space legally designated for a bicycle.

A Freilichin Chodesh Adar.

No diapers to change.

No bottles to wash.

No nap times shaping their schedule.

And yet, for couples struggling with infertility, their time is anything but free.

Their days are full of appointments, procedures, and bloodwork.

Full of decisions they never expected to face.

And most of all, full of a dream whose absence they feel so deeply.

With expert guidance, crucial financial support, and steady reassurance, Bonei Olam takes the uncertainty that fills their days and slowly makes room for hope.

But with the cost of treatments averaging over $25,000 per couple, we need your support to fill their waiting hands.

Our 2026 campaign, Hands Full, is LIVE!

HELP US REACH OUR $2 MILLION GOAL

Help us fulfill the dreams of over 680 Lakewood couples.