At least one person is in custody following a large-scale investigation underway in Jackson, TLS has learned.

At least one woman was taken into custody at the scene. Crime scene tape has been set up as authorities continue their investigation.

The SWAT team and drone units are also on scene, indicating that authorities may be searching for additional suspects or conducting an extensive search of the area.

Officers from additional towns have arrived as well.

DEVELOPING STORY.

A federal appeals court ruled today that New Jersey’s assault-weapons ​law barring possession of semiautomatic rifles like AR-15s and large ‌capacity magazines containing more than 10 rounds of ammunition is unconstitutional.

Today’s ruling follows a lawsuit filed by ​gun rights groups that said New Jersey’s law could no longer stand after ‌the ⁠Supreme Court handed down a landmark Second Amendment ruling in 2022 that expanded gun rights.

In their decision, the majority held that the AR-15 and other semi-automatic rifles in the AWB are in common use for lawful purposes, which means they cannot, in the court’s view, be “dangerous and unusual.”

The litigation over New Jersey’s law has stretched nearly four years and has produced a series of conflicting rulings. Federal district courts initially blocked enforcement of several provisions before the Third Circuit allowed much of the law to take effect while the appeal proceeds.

In a statement, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport described the ruling as “legally incorrect” and says the state is “considering our options.”

“Today’s decision from the Third Circuit invalidating New Jersey’s careful laws restricting the AR-15 and large capaour optcity magazines is as unfortunate as it is legally incorrect,” she said.

Every other federal circuit court to consider the issue has come out the other way. Assault weapons and large capacity magazines play a dangerous role in the modern epidemic of mass shootings, and New Jersey acted reasonably and lawfully in restricting them. We are considering our options. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to enforce our other firearms laws and treating gun violence like the public health crisis that it is.”

Asked by TLS in November, 2022 whether he thought the bill would stand up in court, then New Jersey Governor Murphy said he was confident the revised bill would stand up to any potential legal challenges.

“I hope so. I normally wouldn’t talk about bills that are not on our desk, but this one is important to all of us,” he said at the time.

“We are very concerned about the Supreme Court’s steps initially, and th

This is a developing story and will be updated

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A Lakewood resident nearly handed over $15,000 in cash (pictured) in an elaborate scam involving a fake arrest warrant, a phony Ocean County Sheriff’s Office caller and a fabricated jury duty case.

The victim tells TLS he received a call from someone claiming to be from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. The caller told him that he had missed jury duty and was now facing charges.

The scammer then claimed he would transfer the resident to a captain to verify the claims and charges. He also made the victim read off some pages he sent him – one of them is attached here:

The scammer told the resident that he could not hang up because there was an active arrest warrant for him. He was also instructed not to tell anyone about the situation, with the scammer claiming it was a private jury matter.

At one point, the scammer instructed the resident to get into his car and read the odometer. When the resident said he wanted to call his lawyer, the scammer allegedly told him, “We have to book you first.”

The scammer then offered him another option: posting $15,000 bond.

The resident was instructed to go to Chase Bank and withdraw the money in cash. He was told not to tell anyone on social media about the situation and, according to the scammer, he could not even tell the banker the real reason for the withdrawal because it was a private matter.

The scammer also told the resident to claim the money was for an attorney and insisted that he remain on the phone because they believed he might “run.”

After withdrawing the $15,000, the scammer told the resident that he would provide an address where the cash should be dropped off.

However, the resident became suspicious when he was told to go to an address not in the direction of Toms River – where the courts are located. He looked up the address on Google and discovered that it was a deli.

When the resident questioned the scammer and asked if that was really the correct address, the scammer allegedly responded, “Yes, that’s the right address.”

The victim, feeling something was off, then uploaded the supposed arrest warrant online to double-check it and quickly realized that it did not look legitimate.

He flagged down a police officer and got the scammer on the phone. As soon as the scammer realized that law enforcement was involved, he hung up.

B”H the victim was saved minutes before handing over the cash.

The incident serves as a serious reminder that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using official-sounding titles, fake legal documents and threats of arrest to pressure victims into immediately handing over large sums of money.

Reminder: It may look dim, but it’s still dangerous to stare at.

HFT 9 days Q and A

[TLS – Slavie Goldberger]

https://thelakewoodscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/wa-1784244601834-wes5fj.mp4

ICYMI:

This is it. After weeks of buzz, the Tomchei Shabbos Dining Room Makeover Raffle comes to a close this Sunday, July 19.

If you haven’t entered yet, you have days.

Not weeks. Days!

The grand prize is the one everyone’s been talking about: a complete dining room makeover, sponsored by TH Interiors, or up to $15,000 in any furniture of your choice!

And because Tomchei Shabbos believes in giving back to those who give, there’s more.

Enter with $50 or more and you’re automatically in the running for two round-trip tickets to Eretz Yisrael.

Enter with $75 or more and you could win a Shabbos getaway at the Wave Resort. Give more, win more. It’s that simple.

Tickets are just $26. Every dollar goes toward putting Shabbos food on the tables of families who need it most.

That’s the real prize here. The furniture is just the bonus.

The drawing is this Sunday. There are no extensions, no second chances, no “I’ll do it next week.”

When it’s done, it’s done.

Click HERE to enter or call 732.978.9901.

Don’t be the one who almost won!

New Jersey’s utility regulators have opened a formal review of Jersey Central Power & Light’s response to widespread power outages during a stretch of severe heat and storms earlier this month, following complaints from residents and local officials about prolonged outages and poor communication.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced that they will examine how the state’s electric distribution companies responded to outages that affected Lakewood and other surrounding communities during the July 4 holiday weekend and the days that followed.

The review comes after residents reported being without electricity for extended periods during dangerously high temperatures. Local officials also raised concerns about lengthy restoration estimates, communication with utilities, and whether enough crews were deployed to restore service.

As part of the proceeding, Board staff will review mandatory post-event reports that each electric utility is required to submit within 20 days of a major outage event. Regulators will also consider comments submitted by members of the public before determining whether utilities met state performance standards or whether additional regulatory action is necessary.

“The Board remains committed to holding New Jersey’s electric utilities accountable for providing safe, adequate, and reliable electric service and effective communication during outage events,” the agency said in announcing the review.

The review will include the performance of all of New Jersey’s electric distribution companies, including Jersey Central Power & Light, which serves approximately 1.2 million customers across 13 counties, including Ocean County.

State officials are encouraging residents affected by outages during the July 4 weekend and the following week to submit comments through the Board’s online docket or by email. Those comments will become part of the public record and will be considered as regulators evaluate the utilities’ storm response.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities regulates the state’s electric, natural gas, water, telecommunications and cable television utilities and is responsible for overseeing the safety, reliability and adequacy of utility service.

Any member of the public who was impacted by outages during the July 4th weekend and into the following week are encouraged to submit comments by clicking here to access the Docket and using the “Post Comment” button, or by emailing comments to [email protected] and referencing Docket No. EO26070387.

FISH LIST 5786 - ENGLISH
FISH LIST 5786 - YIDDISH

Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy;  and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna.

They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin.

Torah-24

A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.

Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun).

Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests.

Endorsements & Letters

Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman.

Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.

For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022

New Jersey voters continue to overwhelmingly support the state’s ban on self-service gasoline, with little change in public opinion over the past 14 years, according to a new Fairleigh Dickinson University poll.

The survey, released today found that 64% of registered voters want to keep New Jersey’s longstanding requirement that gas station attendants pump fuel for customers, while 24% favor allowing drivers to pump their own gas. Those results are virtually unchanged from a 2012 FDU poll, when 63% supported maintaining full-service stations and 23% backed self-service.

New Jersey is the only state in the nation that still requires full-service gasoline stations statewide.

“At a time when everything seems unstable, it’s good to know that there are some things that just don’t change,” Dan Cassino, executive director of the FDU Poll, said in a statement. “New Jersey voters have never wanted to pump their own gas, and they still don’t want to pump their own gas.”

The poll found notable differences across demographic groups.

Women were considerably more likely than men to support the current law, with 74% favoring full-service compared with 56% of men. Even so, a majority of men said they preferred keeping attendants at the pump.

Cassino suggested the gender gap could reflect differing attitudes toward pumping gas.

“In the past, full-service gas has been seen as a safety measure for women,” he said. “But the gap between men and women could also just be men saying that they like doing things with their cars.”

Younger voters were slightly more supportive of full-service than older residents. Sixty-eight percent of voters age 30 and younger favored keeping the current system, compared with 61% of seniors.

The survey also found Democrats were somewhat more likely than Republicans to support maintaining the state’s full-service requirement, though the poll said that difference appeared to be largely explained by differences in age and gender rather than political affiliation itself.

New Jersey lawmakers have periodically proposed allowing self-service gasoline, often arguing that it could reduce prices or give motorists more options. Previous efforts have failed amid strong public opposition and concerns from gas station operators and attendants about potential job losses.

The latest poll suggests that resistance to changing the law remains firmly entrenched, despite New Jersey’s status as the nation’s lone holdout on mandatory full-service gasoline.

New Jersey’s Division of Taxation has started mailing Senior Freeze property tax reimbursement checks to more than 188,000 qualifying seniors, with additional rounds of payments to follow for eligible applicants, the state Treasury announced today.

The first round of checks for Tax Year 2025, totaling more than $220 million, went out July 15. Payments will continue on a rolling basis to seniors who applied through the PAS-1 application, which allows residents to apply for three property tax relief programs — Senior Freeze, ANCHOR and Stay NJ — in a single filing. The deadline to file the PAS-1 application for Tax Year 2025 is Nov. 2, 2026.

The Senior Freeze program reimburses qualifying seniors and disabled residents for increases in property taxes or mobile home park site fees on their principal residences. The program works by establishing a base year of eligibility and “freezing” the property tax at that level, comparing it to subsequent years. The state then refunds the difference annually.

Treasury’s Division of Taxation and its Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services worked together to streamline the process this year, including reviewing pending applications early in the season and prioritizing Senior Freeze payment processing. Those efforts resulted in a 75% increase in approved applications at this point in the season compared with last year, according to the announcement.

To qualify, applicants must meet eligibility requirements continuously from their base year through the current application year; otherwise, a new base year must be established.

For the 2025 Senior Freeze, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Be 65 or older as of Dec. 31, 2025, or have received federal Social Security disability or Railroad Retirement disability benefits on or before that date (not on behalf of someone else)

Have owned and lived in their home, or leased a site in a mobile home park, since Dec. 31, 2022, or earlier

Have had an annual income of $172,475 or less in 2025 and $168,268 or less in 2024, with nearly all income sources counted, including Social Security and pensions

Residents can file the PAS-1 application online at propertytaxreliefapp.nj.gov. Those needing assistance can call the Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Information Line at 1-800-882-6597.

Authorities are investigating after a garage went up in flames on Whitesville Road in Jackson.

Firefighters responded to the home around midnight last night.

No injuries were reported.

https://thelakewoodscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/wa-1784212385275-h8bkf2.mp4

UPDATE: As of this morning, Mayor Ray Coles tells TLS the show is still on – despite the Canadian wildfires causing hazy and smokey conditions.

Note: Should the conditions deteriorate and air quality becomes hazardous (also limiting visibility), chances are the event will be postponed again.

TLS will continue to update you.

Click here to join the official TLS Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GGwlPaiG0d49MJTRLfHVPN

~~~~~

Take Note: The orange “moon” you’re seeing this morning from Lakewood and around New Jersey is actually the sun shining through the Canadian wildfire smoke.

It may look dim, but it’s still dangerous to stare at.

How would you like if we stopped springing forward and falling back every year?

What if Daylight Saving Time became permanent year-round with no more clock changes?

Would you enjoy having that extra hour of daylight in the evenings all year long? More time after work or school for family dinners outside, evening walks, sports practices, or just relaxing on the porch while it is still light?

How much would you value brighter evenings for shopping, dining out, or community events in our area, no matter the season?

On the other hand, would you be okay with darker winter mornings? Later sunrises that mean heading out to work, school, or the bus stop while it is still dark outside?

As earlier reported, many in Lakewood and similar Jewish communities are faced with a challenge with regard to Shachris. With permanent DST, the sun would rise much later in the winter months, potentially delaying the earliest times one can daven until significantly later in the morning. How would that impact minyanim, yeshiva schedules, working parents trying to pray before their day begins, or anyone who structures their morning around halachic times?

What about your own body clock and energy levels? Do you worry that permanent DST could make winter mornings feel even harder, or do you believe the benefits of consistent evenings would outweigh that?

If you own a business or work in retail, hospitality, or any evening-focused industry, do you see permanent DST as a positive for extending customer hours and outdoor activities?

Or do you prefer the current rhythm of earlier sunsets in winter and the natural reset that comes with changing the clocks twice a year?

What do you personally LIKE most about the idea of permanent Daylight Saving Time?

And what do you NOT like or worry about if we made the change permanent? Especially regarding religious observance, family routines, or daily schedules in our community?

Share your thoughts in the comments:

What pros do you see?

What cons concern you most including impacts on Shacharis?

How do you think it would affect your daily life?

If you’ve looked outside today and noticed hazy skies or caught the smell of smoke in the air, you’re not imagining it.

The unusual conditions are the result of smoke from massive wildfires burning across Canada. Carried south by upper-level winds, the smoke has spread across much of the Northeast, including New Jersey, creating reduced visibility and a noticeable smoky odor.

This isn’t the first time Canadian wildfire smoke has reached New Jersey. Similar conditions affected the region in 2023, when thick smoke blanketed much of the Northeast and led to some of the worst air quality the area had experienced in years (pictured).

While there are no local wildfires responsible for the haze, the smoke contains fine particles that can affect air quality. Those with asthma, heart or lung disease, older adults, young children, and anyone sensitive to smoke may want to limit prolonged outdoor activity if conditions worsen.

Meteorologists say the smoky conditions are expected to linger into the coming days before shifting weather patterns help clear the air.

A grandfather, his daughter, and his young grandson — all Ocean County residents — were killed Monday night when a small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff near Adirondack Regional Airport in upstate New York.

According to the New York State Police, the crash occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m. on July 13, when authorities were notified of a downed aircraft in the area of Hearf’s Way and State Route 186 in the town of Harrietstown.

A preliminary investigation determined that a 1976 Piper Aerostar departed Adirondack Regional Airport at approximately 10:36 p.m. Shortly after takeoff, while the aircraft was estimated to be about 100 feet above the ground, communication with the plane was lost.

A multi-agency search was immediately launched, and crews later located the aircraft, which had been destroyed by the impact and a post-crash fire.

Authorities identified the victims as pilot Gabriele P. Jasper, 70, of Toms River; his daughter, Gabriella M. Hillgrube, 33, of Forked River; and her son, Guiliana M. Hillgrube, 2. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.

The New York State Police were assisted by the Saranac Lake Fire Department, the Saranac Lake Police Department, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the New York State Police.

RWJ Barnabas Health is asking the public to donate blood and platelets as New Jersey and the nation faces a growing blood shortage driven by a significant decline in donor turnout and overall collections.

The current shortage is among the most serious blood supply challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals across the state are seeing reduced availability of blood products needed to care for patients and seasonal factors, including summer vacations, school closures and fewer community blood drives, have contributed to the drop in donations at a time when demand for blood products continues to remain high.

“Blood donations are essential to saving the lives of patients every day,” said Ellen Romanowski, Senior Vice President Laboratory Services, RWJBarnabas Health. “For individuals battling cancer, recovering from traumatic injuries, undergoing complex surgeries, or experiencing complications during childbirth, donated blood and platelets can be the difference between life and death. We are urging the public to donate today to give patients the care they need.”

Blood and platelet donations are vital resources used during emergency decisions like major surgeries, cancer treatments, trauma care, and childhood related complications. Across the entire system, RWJBarnabas Health transfused 97,977 blood products in 2025 alone, underscoring both the tremendous demand for these lifesaving resources and the ongoing need for a stable and reliable blood supply.

Some of the largest blood centers across New Jersey and the nation have declared blood emergencies. While all blood types are currently needed, an immediate increase in the Type O blood supply is especially critical. New Jersey is a net importer of blood products, meaning the state relies on blood collected from outside its borders to meet hospital needs. Increasing local blood donations is essential to ensure a stable and reliable blood supply for patients throughout the state.

RWJBarnabas Health Blood Services works alongside community blood suppliers to help strengthen and stabilize the state’s blood supply. Its mission is not to replace primary blood providers, but to supplement available inventory and help minimize disruptions in patient care during periods of increased demand or reduced collections, such as the current shortage.

How to Help:

• Donate blood or platelets at an upcoming RWJBarnabas Health blood drive
• Encourage eligible family, friends, and community members to participate.
• Share the urgent need for donors within your personal and professional networks.

RWJBarnabas Health thanks its employees, patients, community partners and donors for their continued support and commitment to helping ensure patients have access to the blood products they need.

To find a blood donation location near you and schedule an appointment, visit giveblood.rwjbh.org, call 732-235-8100 or 908-685-2926, or contact your local blood center. Below are upcoming blood drives open to the public from now through September 2026:

• Tuesday, July 21 at Community Medical Center in Auditorium A and B
  Address: 99 Hwy 37 West, Toms River, NJ 08755
  Hours: 10:30am-4:30pm
• Wednesday, July 23 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in the Cafe Vending Area
  Address: 1 Hamilton Health Place, Hamilton, NJ 08690
  Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm
• Wednesday, July 29 at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in the Conference Rooms
  Address: 600 River Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08690
  Hours: 1:00pm-7:00pm

• Saturday, August 1 at Secaucus Police and Community at the Secaucus Recreation Center in the Gym
  Address: 1200 Koelle Road, Secaucus, NJ 07039
  Hours: 8:00am-2:00pm
• Wednesday, August 5 at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in the Islami Conference Center
  Address: 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039
  Hours: 8:00am-2:00pm
• Wednesday, August 12 at Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield in the Multi-Purpose Room
  Address: 1515 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
  Hours: 12:00pm-6:00pm
• Tuesday, August 18 at Monmouth Medical Center in the Unterberg Learning Center
  Address: 300 2nd Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740
  Hours: 11:20am-5:30pm
• Thursday, August 20 at Jersey City Medical Center in Conference Room 5
  Address: 395 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
  Hours: 11:30am-5:30pm
• Wednesday, August 26 at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in the Conference Rooms
  Address: 600 River Avenue, Lakewood, NJ 08690
  Hours: 1:00pm-7:00pm
• Tuesday, September 1 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in the Arline and Henry Schwartzman Courtyard
  Address: 1 Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick NJ 08901
  Hours: 1:00pm-7:00pm
• Thursday, September 3 at Pine Belt Subaru in the Showroom
  Address: 1021 NJ-88, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm
• Thursday, September 10-Friday, September 11 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Steeplechase Cancer Center in the Auditorium
  Address: 30 Rehill Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876
  Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm
• Wednesday, September 16-Thursday, September 17 at The Yard @ College Avenue
  Address: 40 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
  Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm
• Tuesday, September 29-Wednesday, September 30 at Seton Hall University in the University Center
  Address: 400 South Orange, South Orange, NJ 07079
  Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm

-LAST CHANCE – ENDS TONIGHT! 11:59 EST

*This is your chance to win $25,000 CASH*

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Call/Text 24 HRS 845-400-8222

Power outages reported in several areas in Lakewood – including on New Hampshire Avenue, Pine Street, Airport Road and MLK Drive – apparently due to the heat and system overload.

Via the official TLS Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GGwlPaiG0d49MJTRLfHVPN

The accident happened Tuesday at the intersection of Airport Road and Cedarbridge Avenue.

Drawing TONIGHT! Last Chance! Win ATIME – SEFER TORAH Raffle!

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2 Tickets for JUST $72. 
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Drawing TONIGHT! Last Chance! Win ATIME – SEFER TORAH Raffle!

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2 Tickets for JUST $72. 
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15 Tickets for JUST $180
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Drawing TONIGHT! Last Chance! Win ATIME – SEFER TORAH Raffle!

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2 Tickets for JUST $72. 
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15 Tickets for JUST $180
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A Lakewood man was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly burglarizing a local business and later attempting to flee from police, TLS has learned.

On July 15, 2026, officers responded to Unique Catering, located at 32 Clifton Avenue, after it was discovered that a storage shed had been forcibly entered.

During the investigation, officers determined that the suspect entered the shed on two occasions and stole two cases of Heineken beer valued at approximately $60.

The responding officer identified the suspect as Marcos A. Rivera-Rodriguez, 28, of Brick, who was also found to have an outstanding Ocean County warrant.

Later that morning, officers located Rivera-Rodriguez in the area of Clifton Avenue. When officers attempted to take him into custody, he fled on foot.

With the assistance of the Lakewood Police Department’s Drone Unit and K-9 Unit, Rivera-Rodriguez was located and taken into custody a short time later without further incident.

Rivera-Rodriguez was charged with two counts of theft, along with burglary, criminal mischief, obstruction, and resisting arrest. He was also processed on the outstanding Ocean County warrant.

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as more information becomes available.

Chief Gregory H. Meyer praised the officers involved in the arrest, stating, “This incident demonstrates the value of teamwork and the resources available to our officers. The coordinated efforts of our patrol officers, Drone Unit, and K-9 Unit resulted in the safe apprehension of the suspect. We remain committed to protecting our businesses, supporting our community, and holding those who commit crimes accountable.”

WASHINGTON — July 13, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a sweeping national initiative to accelerate artificial intelligence innovation for Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), Long COVID, and other invisible illnesses, committing up to $2.5 million across multiple innovation challenges and a nationwide call to action designed to speed diagnosis, improve care, and transform federal open data into real-world healthcare solutions for millions of Americans.

At the center of the initiative is the TOPx HHS Tech Sprint for AI and Invisible Illness, a national innovation challenge offering up to $2 million in cash prizes, including a $1 million grand prize, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the LymeX Innovation Accelerator, and the Federal CDO Council. Team Mobilization (Phase 1) submissions are due July 15, 2026.

As part of the initiative, HHS has appointed Duvi Honig, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, to serve on the competition’s evaluation panel, joining leaders from government, healthcare, technology, academia, research, and innovation to help evaluate submissions and advance the next generation of AI-powered healthcare solutions.

“It is an extraordinary honor to be appointed by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve on the evaluation panel for this groundbreaking national initiative,” Honig said. “I look forward to working closely with Secretary Kennedy, HHS, NIH and leaders across government, academia, healthcare and technology to help usher in a new era of AI-driven innovation for American healthcare. Together, we have an opportunity to help shape the future of health technology in the United States, modernize our healthcare system, and advance innovations that improve patient outcomes across the Department of Health and Human Services. This includes accelerating earlier diagnoses, improving care for Lyme disease and other invisible illnesses, and developing solutions that will improve—and save—lives for generations to come.”

A National Call to Innovate

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a sweeping plan to combat Lyme disease and advance treatment for millions of Americans living with Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS, the “meat allergy”), Long COVID, and other complex chronic conditions that are often invisible illnesses.

As part of this effort, HHS launched up to $2.5 million across three TOPx and LymeX innovation challenges and a national call to action. Together, these digital innovation efforts will accelerate diagnosis, improve care, and transform federal open data into real-world solutions that improve health outcomes.

The TOPx Challenge

The TOPx HHS Tech Sprint for AI and Invisible Illness is a national innovation challenge and prize competition offering up to $2,000,000 in cash prizes, conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the LymeX Innovation Accelerator, and the Federal CDO Council.

Challenge Question

How might we use U.S. Open Data and AI to turn fragmented signals into trusted insights, so people living with Lyme disease, Long COVID, and other complex chronic conditions are believed earlier, diagnosed faster, and supported with care that works?

How It Works

Inspired by the U.S. Census Bureau’s Opportunity Project (TOP) model, TOPx is a fast-paced technology sprint that brings together government, industry, academia, nonprofits, and the public to build digital-first solutions using open data and artificial intelligence.

The effort advances the President’s Management Agenda priority to deliver secure, digital-first services built for real people while eliminating data silos across government and advancing HHS priorities.

Participants will compete for up to $2,000,000 in prizes by using U.S. Open Data and AI to develop tools and insights that address the following focus areas.

TOPx Focus Areas

Lyme Innovation

No one should suffer years of uncertainty from a preventable tick-borne infection. How might we use U.S. Open Data and AI to detect Lyme disease earlier, diagnose faster, coordinate care, and improve patient outcomes?

Invisible Illness

What we don’t measure, we don’t treat—and women are disproportionately affected. How might we use U.S. Open Data and AI to make invisible illness visible, accelerate diagnosis, improve care, and create meaningful real-world impact?

Cost of Illness

Patients and families carry the burden in silence. How might we use U.S. Open Data and AI to quantify the full healthcare, economic, workplace, and family impact of chronic illness, making those costs visible, measurable, and impossible to ignore?

Who Should Participate

The competition is open to eligible U.S.-based:

• AI developers
• Software engineers
• Researchers
• Designers
• Physicians and clinicians
• Entrepreneurs
• Students
• Universities
• Patient advocates
• Innovators across the public and private sectors

Team Mobilization (Phase 1) submissions are due July 15, 2026.

Expected Impact

HHS expects the sprint to catalyze dozens of practical tools, prototypes, and AI-enabled solutions within months—not years.

Participants may develop solutions that:

• Improve recognition of invisible illnesses, including Long COVID and other infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCIs).
• Detect Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases earlier.
• Support faster diagnosis, improved care coordination, and more informed clinical decision-making.
• Make the human and economic burden of chronic illness more visible, measurable, and actionable.

Learn More and Participate

Enter the Challenge:
https://api.jewishadgroup.com/e8bLRb

HHS Evaluation Panel Appointees:
https://api.jewishadgroup.com/OfPEoF

Official HHS Announcement:
https://api.jewishadgroup.com/RjiMEl

The TOPx HHS Tech Sprint is led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health, the LymeX Innovation Accelerator, and the Federal CDO Council’s Data-Driven Government Working Group.

For additional information about the challenge, contact:

[email protected]

Hundreds of thousands of New Jersey workers will gain expanded job protections when taking family or medical leave under a law taking effect Friday, broadening access to protected leave for employees of small businesses, newer hires and many part-time workers.

The changes, which are the result of a law signed by former Governor Phil Murphy, extend job protections to workers receiving benefits through the state’s Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance programs when their leave is not already covered by the New Jersey Family Leave Act or the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

State officials said the changes are intended to ensure more workers can take time away from work to recover from a medical condition, bond with a new child or care for a loved one without fear of losing their jobs.

The new law also expands eligibility under the New Jersey Family Leave Act by lowering the employer size threshold from businesses with 30 employees to those with at least 15 employees worldwide. Government employers remain covered regardless of size.

In addition, workers will now qualify for leave protections after three months of employment instead of 12 months. The minimum hours-worked requirement also drops from 1,000 hours to 250 hours during the previous 12 months.

Workers who qualify under the Family Leave Act may continue to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave during a 24-month period to care for a family member with a serious health condition or bond with a newborn or newly adopted child. Employers must restore eligible workers to the same or an equivalent position when they return from leave.

The legislation also provides job protection for workers receiving Temporary Disability Insurance or Family Leave Insurance benefits who are not otherwise covered under state or federal leave laws. Unlike the Family Leave Act, eligibility for those benefit programs is based on recent earnings rather than employer size or length of employment.

State officials said the expanded protections are expected to particularly benefit employees of small businesses, newer workers and many part-time employees.

The changes do not alter eligibility for cash benefits under Temporary Disability Insurance or Family Leave Insurance, which remain based on recent earnings. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act is also unchanged.

ArtScroll is marking its 50th anniversary in a big way, with a five week sale offering the lowest prices in the company’s history, along with a giveaway worth over $50,000.

Beginning July 7th through August 9th, ArtScroll will put 50 different books and sforim on sale each week, all 50% off list price. By the end of the five weeks, 250 titles will have been offered at their lowest prices ever. Each week’s sale is limited to that week only. Once it ends, the pricing does not return.

Week 2 is now live, featuring another 50 titles at half off. Shop this week’s sale here.

ArtScroll is also running a free giveaway alongside the sale, no purchase required. Each week, one entrant will win a $10,000 ArtScroll gift card at list price, plus more than $10,000 in additional weekly prizes, including digital libraries, exclusive book sets, and items and experiences not sold anywhere else.

One entry is all it takes, and that single entry applies to all five weekly drawings. Enter the giveaway here.

With five weeks of record discounts and thousands of dollars in prizes up for grabs each week, readers are calling it the biggest ArtScroll sale in 50 years.

Dr. Rich Roberts: I asked my Rav if I may publish this. He told me that I am required, by the Torah, to publish this as widely as possible immediately and to follow it with additional publications.

On June 17, 2026, Ami Living magazine’s cover story was a highly false article about dangers of generic drugs. I have had extensive messaging with Ami Living about the falsehoods and wrote a retort for Ami Living to publish. I toned down my article per the request of Ami Living. However, the only retort that they agreed to publish was a very neutered version of my already muted article. I am providing the following to protect the frum community from unnecessary concern, cost, and potential unavailability of medication.

Please know that brand and generic manufacturers are required to fulfill the same FDA safety standards. FDA has deemed it illegal for a branded drug company to claim that their products are better than an FDA approved generic because they are both held to the SAME FDA quality standards.

First, I will list for you some of the false information in the Ami Living cover story. Then I will provide you with the article that I wrote for them. Lastly, I provide for you my credentials.

————————-

False information in the Ami Living cover story

1. The first eleven paragraphs of the Ami Living article told a heart-wrenching story about a girl with a lung transplant who died because her tacrolimus was changed from the brand to a generic. Ami Living wrote that the generic tacrolimus “…provided only half of the oxygen level she needed to survive”. But here are some problems with that statement.
   1. Tacrolimus does not provide oxygen. It does not carry oxygen. It affects the immune system to prevent transplanted organ rejection.
   2. Patient blood levels of tacrolimus are measured frequently in organ transplant patients to detect and correct low blood levels before damage is done to the patient. If the tacrolimus levels were allowed to stay below therapeutic levels then that is a problem with the medical team.
   3. The Indian generic did have a recall of tacrolimus since some half-strength capsules were mixed in bottles with full-strength capsules. But the brand company’s tacrolimus also had a recall with some capsules having NO tacrolimus at all. So it is illegitimate to condemn generics when the brand had an even worse problem.
2. The article claims that Indian generics have “…unleashed a slew of deaths…” globally.
   1. No proof is given. It’s just a slanderous claim.
   2. For Americans, the drugs that come into the US go through the FDA approval process and ongoing FDA inspections. What happens in Asia and Africa does not pertain to drugs made for the US.
   3. Don’t cases of “…a slew of deaths…” make the front pages of major news outlets as crises like an Ebola outbreak do or a mass poisoning would? How many deaths are “a slew”? How many lives were saved by these very poor countries getting drugs, even if a lower quality than the US, versus no drugs at all? Btw, I know that unregulated Asian drug manufacturers do send lower quality drugs to Asia and Africa versus the US. It’s a shame but how does that inform frum people, in the US, that they are at risk taking the FDA approved versions from FDA inspected manufacturing plants and therefore must buy much higher priced brand versions?
3. Ami Living writes that “…thousands of grievous medical conditions…are attributed to poor quality control…In one case, a cancer patient was given…” the wrong drug.
   1. No proof is given of these “thousands of grievous medical conditions”. It’s just slander.
   2. There are 300,000,000,000 generic tablets used in the US each year (Yes, 300 billion). Even if true, is one cited case sufficient to scare frum people into spending much more on the brand version of the drug? Mistakes in drug manufacturing do happen but they happen for brand and generic drugs.
4. Ami Living writes that “…the FDA…practically colludes with the companies that make (generic drugs)”. Wrong.
   1. I battled against FDA for 24 years. FDA is constantly trying to find the slightest excursions at drug companies and reporting them in extremely exaggerated fashion. I even documented FDA committing multiple frauds against our company in an attempt to shut us down (but that’s a story for another time). FDA does not “collude” with drug companies. FDA inspectors are motivated to find and write violations.
   2. For example, say that 10 tablets are checked for hardness every half hour throughout a 10 hour tableting run for one batch. If FDA examines 5000 tablet hardness measurements across many batches of product, and finds one tablet was slightly harder than it should have been, the FDA “Observation” reads like this – “The company does not always assure that the products are manufactured according to the FDA approved process”. This is not FDA collusion. This is FDA harassment.
   3. The FDA found a bacteria in an Abbott (one of the largest branded drug companies in the world) baby formula manufacturing plant. There were about a dozen cases of infants becoming ill with this bacteria. FDA shut down the plant causing a major worldwide infant formula shortage four years ago. But the bacteria was never found in the pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment. Furthermore, that particular bacteria is found everywhere. Genetic testing showed that the bacteria in the Abbott plant was a different strain than what infected the infants. But FDA had already shut down the plant, caused a worldwide shortage crisis, and stuck to its absolute standards without regard to the consequences. Kol vochomer, if FDA does that to one of the most powerful branded drug companies in the world then imagine what FDA does to generic companies. I don’t need to wonder. I lived it.
   4. An FDA employee was revealed to have been bribed by a drug company. That was 1989. Does that justify an allegation in 2026 of collusion between FDA and drug companies?
5. The Ami Living article says that “…irresponsibility mutated into the criminal, with the generic drug executives knowing exactly what kind of defects lurked in their drugs and then shipping them anyway”.
   1. Using GPT 5.5, in the last five years there was one case of a generic drug manufacturer using an unapproved source of the active raw material, which is a big violation in FDA regulations, but there was no deficiency in the product.
   2. In 2013, the Indian generic drug manufacturer Ranbaxy knowingly shipped defective drugs to the US. But they were caught by FDA and severely (and deservingly) punished. There were $500MM in fines, products from their key facilities were banned from import into the US, and the company was sold when it was near bankruptcy. This is hardly collusion between the FDA and a generic drug company. So yes, executives from one company knowing did those things 13 years ago and that company was slaughtered by FDA.
6. The Ami Living article stated 17 paragraphs into the story that “I do want to note that multitudinous mishaps also occur in the brand-name domain…Mistakes happen, but they occur much more frequently in the generics industry…”
   1. This is a perfect example of a slanderous statement. 90% of US drugs are made by generic manufacturers so 90% of the mistakes should be in generics. The statement that more mistakes happen in generics is misleading in the extreme.
   2. The same paragraph then states “…a single bad lot doesn’t meant (sic) that all of a company’s products are toxic…”. Toxic means poisonous. I have never heard of a generic company’s tablets or capsules being toxic.
7. The Ami Living article states that, in FDA’s attempt to avoid shortages, “…substandard generics have been able to slip into our drug supply…”. This just isn’t true. FDA creates many shortages by halting or interfering with production when FDA believes that it is justified on quality grounds. When shortages occur, FDA allows compounding pharmacy companies to make the corresponding drug products. But these are NOT FDA approved drugs. They are NOT generics. And FDA has been severely cracking down on the quality standards of compounding pharmacy companies so that the leading regulatory expert, in the area of compounding pharmacies, stated that there is no longer profit to be made due to the FDA required manufacturing quality systems.
8. The Ami Living article states that, to avoid shortages, FDA has to just “hope and pray that the pallets of drugs unpacked at the ports are pristine enough to pass muster”. This is such a ridiculous statement that I almost don’t know how to respond. FDA doesn’t “hope and pray”. FDA takes samples, chemically tests them, and performs inspections of manufacturing plants demanding incredibly high levels of quality systems. This is just a slanderous statement in the cover story.
9. I need to skip pages of this fallacious article because the inaccuracies are too many to address right now. But I’ll leave you with one more laughable, ridiculous statement from this Ami Living article. It says that “An FDA inspection, one would assume, surely includes the testing of the drugs themselves on-site…Defying belief, this is actually beyond their (the FDA inspectors’) purview!”. I am almost speechless by this comment. Testing drug samples requires large, sophisticated scientific equipment that is found in chemistry laboratories. Usually these include dissolution apparatuses and HPLC-Mass Spec machines. HPLC-Mass Spec machines typically cost about $500k to $1.5MM, require a nitrogen generator or gas cylinder, dedicated electrical circuits, laboratory ventilation, and typical chemistry lab chemicals and devices. FDA inspectors collect samples and transport those samples back to the FDA District Offices to be analyzed by chemists in the FDA’s chemistry laboratories. Criticizing FDA inspectors for not testing the drug samples, during the inspection of the drug manufacturing plant, is beyond description.

Now I will provide you with the watered-down article that I provided to Ami Living but which was still too strong for them.

————————

You have been misled about generic drugs. I am an expert in the area. I will give you the full truth, good and bad. The bottom line is that generic drugs are considered overwhelmingly safe and effective to use in the US by the FDA.

Telling stories, about individuals’ situations, is called anecdotal evidence. It is not reliable evidence when widespread facts are available. First year medical students are taught that anecdotal stories are not evidence. Scientists never use anecdotal evidence. That is why scientific studies are done which, in the world of drugs, are called clinical trials.

You were told a story about a lung transplant patient dying, because GENERIC tacrolimus “… provided only half of the oxygen level she needed to survive”, which missed a few critical points. First, tacrolimus does not provide oxygen. It’s an anti-organ-rejection medicine. Secondly, doctors regularly measure blood levels of this critical drug in transplant patients to catch low levels before someone gets injured. Lastly, the anecdotal story says that the generic manufacturer had a recall of this drug but failed to tell you that the recall was for some half-strength capsules whereas the brand also had a recall for some capsules with no drug in them at all! Oops! So the generic had an error but the branded company had an even worse error.

So here’s the truth about generic drugs. Generic drugs are approved through human studies to show that they deliver the active drug into the bloodstream of human beings at the same rate as the corresponding branded products do. All FDA approved drugs are listed in FDA’s Orange Book and generic equivalents are given an “AB” rating by FDA. This allows pharmacies to substitute a generic drug for a branded drug prescription thereby saving citizens enormous amounts of money.

But that’s where the next phase begins. After FDA approval, the company now starts making batches of drugs that are released to the public. The FDA approval was given by tens of thousands of pages of scientific information sent to FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland to show that the generic is equivalent to the brand in people and the CMC section – Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls. This deals with the manufacturing machinery, procedures, chemistry testing, and assurance of quality.

But to oversee the actual manufacturing, that occurs for years thereafter, FDA has local offices of inspectors call District Offices around the country. These inspectors are frequently quite vicious in trying to write up violations. (I have documented FDA inspectors committing fraud in trying to shut down our company but that’s a story for a different time.)

In 2004, some of my Vice Presidents were telling me that Indian and Chinese tablet manufacturers were applying for FDA approvals to sell in the US. We would not be able to compete with companies that paid employees $25 per week and did not have to comply with labor or environmental laws. That’s when I started the process of transitioning our company into a drug discovery and drug delivery company.

The Indian companies started flooding the US with cheap generic tablets that we could not compete with. But I also realized that US companies live under the threat of criminal prosecution, if we would willingly violate FDA regulations, but the worst that the FDA could to do an Indian company was to prevent them from selling into the US. Additionally, we heard from FDA inspectors that they did not like going to India to do inspections. The travel, effort, and personal disruption was not desirable to them. We learned, through industry channels, that many Indian companies were cheating but there was nothing that we could do about it. It took years but eventually FDA at least partially caught up.

So how bad it is? Well, there are about 300 billion generic tablets and capsules sold in the US each year. If it is so terrible then where are the “bodies in the streets”? I don’t mean anecdotes. I mean where are the thousands of dying people that will register on the front pages of the news and in FDA’s surveillance systems? They don’t exist.

Recalls are part of the drug industry. The FDA is vicious in attacking US companies for quality. I have published videos on how the FDA caused a baby formula shortage, across the US, a few years ago based upon bacteria that were found at the Abbott (big branded company, not generic) baby formula manufacturing plant. However, genetic testing showed that the ANECDOTAL stories of babies getting sick from that bacteria were a different strain than what was in the plant but it was a strain that is found everywhere. Another example, for testing tablets for hardness, 100 tablets are typically tested for a 1 million tablet batch. Across many batches, if 5000 samples are tested and only one was accidentally missed as being a tiny bit too hard, then the FDA will write that “The company does not always assure that the product is manufactured according to the FDA approved process”. Vicious.

So here’s the truth:

1. Generic drugs are deemed by the FDA to be safe in the US.
2. If 90% of recalls occur in generics, and generics make 90% of the tablets, then that is to be expected.
3. Buying drugs from outside of FDA’s jurisdiction is dangerous because there is no way to know if you are getting the authentic pharmaceutical company manufactured drug or a counterfeit. We found one of our products being sold in Canada with our label on it but at a strength that we did not make.
4. Do not trust anecdotal (stories) evidence.
5. Do not be swayed by words like “massive” recalls when recalls are done by batch of product. So the recall of one batch could be 2 million tablets even though almost all such tablets are perfectly fine.
6. I can afford branded products. I take generics.

———————————–

Now, here are my credentials.

Dr. Richard (Kasriel) H. Roberts is a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Biophysics, educated at the University of Pennsylvania under the Medical Scientist Training Program scholarship from the National Institutes of Health and trained in Internal Medicine at Harvard. He was the President and CEO of a drug company for 24 years, URLPharma. Dr. Roberts lives in Lakewood, is active in helping and defending the frum community, and has no financial interests in the drug industry anymore beyond owning the S&P 500 index.

Introducing for the very first time SHMIRAS HALASHON EVENT!!

Tuesday- July 21 2026
Bais Faiga
Program 8:00pm 

Let’s Come together to uplift one another, Strengthen our Ahavas Yisroel & Bring the Geulah of Mashiach Closer.

For all women and Post High school girls.

Come to an evening with inspiration and Song.
Uplifting Program.

Rav Dovid Schustal BMG Rosh Yeshivah will be giving Dvrei Chizziuk.

*FREE ADMISSION
*Get a Free Sefer
*Hot food & Sushi
*Bring a Friend

An event you won’t want to miss!!

*Limited slots available

RSVP to Sara Rivkah Rosenfeld
732-288-4830

First responders from across Ocean County participated Tuesday in the county’s annual large-scale mass casualty incident (MCI) exercise at the Ocean County Fairgrounds, helping prepare for emergencies ahead of the opening of the 2026 Ocean County Fair.

This year’s exercise, organized by the Ocean County EMS Coordinators in partnership with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center and the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, with the support of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, simulated a vehicle ramming incident that escalated into an active shooter scenario, with 25 victims requiring triage, treatment, and transport. The realistic drill allowed responders to test emergency plans and coordination during a complex, fast-moving incident at a major public event.

During the exercise, crews established triage, treatment, and transport areas while operating under the Incident Command System (ICS), strengthening interagency communication, coordination, and operational effectiveness.

Deputy EMS Coordinator Motty Twerski told TLS that the annual exercise provides an opportunity to evaluate emergency response plans, identify strengths, and improve procedures in a controlled environment, ensuring first responders remain prepared to protect the public during real emergencies.

Participating agencies included the Ocean County EMS Coordinators, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Communications (911), Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Ocean County Fire Coordinators, Ocean County Fire Marshals FMBA Local 98, Manchester Division of Emergency Services, Point Pleasant Borough Office of Emergency Management, Lakewood Township EMS, Lakewood First Aid, Island Heights Volunteer First Aid Squad, Berkeley Township, South Toms River EMS, Jackson Township EMS, and Hatzolah of Central Jersey.

Officials also thanked the Ocean County Fair Association for allowing the use of the fairgrounds for the exercise, as well as the many volunteers, role players, evaluators, and exercise staff whose efforts helped make the training event a success.

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of R’ Yehoshua Max Z”L, a Choshuve Yungerman and Rosh Kollel in Lakewood, who was Niftar today following an illness.

R’ Yehoshua Z”L, who resided in the Rt. 88 area, was in his early 40s.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 11:30 a.m. this morning, Rosh Chodesh Av, at the 7th Street Chapel, 613 Ramsey Avenue.

The Levaya will be brief due to Rosh Chodesh.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes

CAN You Rely On a K?

Why do some Pepsi products have a K, some a Kof-K, and some no hechsher at all? Can you drink them?

Rabbi Alexander Charlop, Rav Hamachshir for Pepsi, takes us behind the scenes to explain the surprising answers—including how Pepsi’s secret formula stays secret while remaining kosher.

View it in its entirety at: https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/can-you-rely-on-a-k

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

🎤 https://open.spotify.com/show/6Rj5rIndHc886Fblqh8U49

🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-kashrus/id1631553497

https://24six.app/app/podcast/collection/985

https://mytat.me/o112

https://www.kosher.com/shows/lets-talk-kashrus-73

CLICK HERE to watch more episodes of Let’s Talk Kashrus

______

We invite your questions, comments, or feedback. If there’s a specific kashrus topic you’d like to bring to public attention, feel free to contact us by email: [email protected]

Message or call: 678-8-Kosher

You can also visit our website www.kashrusawareness.com for a growing list of resources, timely conversations, and to watch episodes of the Let’s Talk Kashrus audio-visual series.

Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group for educational content and kashrus updates

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Transcription

Hello everyone and welcome back to Let’s Talk _Kashrus_presented by the Kashrus Awareness Project in conjunction with the CRC of Chicago. Today I am honored to be joined by Rabbi Alexander Charlop, the Rov of Zichron Chaim in Cleveland and the Rav Hamachshir on Pepsi products. Thank you Rabbi Charlop for being here. Pleasure.

Yasher koach. It’s a zchus we’ve been trying to get you here for a while so we finally made it happen, Baruch Hashem. Now it’s interesting, you are a rov in Cleveland, but you are involved in kashrus unrelated to your rabbinical duties. This is something that as I would want to hear you speak about, this is actually a position as the Rav Hamachshir on Pepsi that you yarshened, you inherited from your father who inherited it from his father.

So this is something that’s been in the Charlop family for years. Just take us down that road of history how that developed. Okay so my grandfather came to America in 1920 be’erech. He came from Yerushalayim.

In around 1930 or so he started to realize that in America with food being made commercially, you really needed to have kashrus commercially. He was one of the founders of the OU kashrus department. That’s your zeida. Yes.

Rabbi Yechiel Michel Charlop. Then he went on his own, he went away from it. He actually, I believe, was the one that got them Heinz, which was like the first big commercial hashgacha that was gotten. And then he went away from the OU, he went on his own.

He gave the hashgacha I believe since 1934 on Pepsi. Now there are a number of questions that come up and maybe we’ll get into them. How do you give hashgacha on Pepsi if Pepsi tries to maintain a secret? We’ll get to that. But and he developed, and he had a relationship with them until he was nifter in 1974.

My father took over 1974 and gave the hashgacha till 2014. I worked with him for a number of years beforehand, but I took over the hashgacha since 2014. Now the Charlop family, are you related to the famous Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Charlop, is that same mishpacha? Yes, Rabbi Chiel Michel was a ben bechor of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe. Oh really? Wow.

Okay. So mishpacha meyuchases. He was a rov in the Bronx and yeah. Very interesting.

So it is a unique thing that this has carried over from generation to generation. It’s besides for fulfilling your duties as a Rav Hamachshir, you’re literally carrying on the legacy of your zeida and now your father which makes it extra special. How would you describe the yeoman’s task of giving the hashgacha on Pepsi and what are some of the challenges that you encounter? Okay, so the fact that they’re so large really makes the hashgacha much easier. 99 percent of our work is very boring.

Because they have systems in place. Good hashgachas have good systems. The OU developed many systems that many of us mimic or take part, add, subtract, and they work very well with systems. So for example, just as a mashal, if you’re giving hashgacha on a local restaurant that might only be doing $75,000 of sales a year, the owner of that restaurant could be short on oil and he could go out to a store and get oil which is a major sakana maybe he’ll get oil that’s not kosher.

At a Pepsi plant where they’re producing Pepsi, there’s nobody in that building that has the ability to order anything for Pepsi. He can put in a request and most of it is not even by his request. He’s just given the task to actually produce it. There’s the team that does procurement, there’s a team that’s involved in regulatory, and the way Pepsi is set up now is that part of regulatory’s jobs, part of what they’re doing is making sure that it is compliant with kosher.

In fact… You mean that’s actually included in their responsibility? Correct. Just as they have allergen compliance and FDA compliance, all these different compliance, one of the compliance that they need to check before they run any product, because right now everything they run, we’ll get into detail of certain ones that are a little trickier, but everyone that they run, anything that’s in a Pepsi concentrate facility is kosher right now. You could have 700 ingredients, every one of them is kosher.

How many such Pepsi producing facilities are there around the United States? Okay, so now… This is the part that makes it much easier again from a Kashrus vantage point. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say the exact number, but I can tell you that a Pepsi concentrate has something called global procurement. They are concerned about always being able to deal with any issue that could come up.

So if the Strait of Hormuz is closed, they have another option. If COVID hit, they have another option. And therefore they’re really biktzei haaretz, they’re at totally different ends of the world. But they have a handful, literally five different plants that are supplying different parts.

Most of it is supplied from one or two concentrate facilities, but there are five concentrate facilities that are part of… around the world? Around the world. That provide to the smaller Pepsi facilities, would you say, or…? They are providing all the concentrate of anything in America for sure. Anything in America is provided by these concentrate facilities.

Are all Pepsi beverages under your supervision? So all the what is called the cold fill, all the regular carbonated drinks, the concentrate for all of them is kosher. Now some of them are a little trickier than others, meaning about ten fifteen years ago they started introducing certain energy drinks such as Kickstart. Now Kickstart, all the concentrate… which is a Mountain Dew brand? Mountain Dew Kickstart, yes, thank you.

Mountain Dew Kickstart is getting the concentrate from a concentrate facility. The concentrate facility is totally kosher. Anything coming out of the concentrate facility is kosher. But they have also direct drop.

Meaning what does that mean in layman’s terms? They have certain ingredients that are directly sent to the bottler or through a DC, a distribution center, which the distribution center sends it to many bottlers. When it comes to Kickstart, so Kickstart has a grape juice component. It advertises ten percent juice. Almost always when they’re advertising ten percent fruit juice, what they’re referring to is white grape juice.

White grape juice is the cheapest, sweetest juice that they use. That is being sent directly to the bottler. Now they do order kosher grape juice, but grape juice is a very sensitive product. You can’t just rely on the bottler getting it and assume that it’s okay.

And therefore we strongly recommend we would not take any responsibility and would say that you should only drink Mountain Dew Kickstart if the bottler has hashgacha. Okay, and how would you know that? Okay, so now the bottlers are at their own discretion can decide if or if not they will have hashgacha and they can decide which hashgacha. Many of them are independently owned and they can decide which hashgacha. For example, the New York area bottler is under Kaf-K.

There are another couple bottlers as well that are under Kaf-K. They, because of marketing, they put a Kaf-K on the cans, on the bottle. There are many other bottlers that also have hashgacha will only put a K because it gets too complicated, they don’t want to order a million cans with their emblem. So collectively all of them will just order with a K.

You might have one or two might be under the Star-K, you might have one or two under the CRC, you might have one or two Northeast Vaad of Philadelphia… but the K is representing all of them? And K is for any kosher. As of now, I can’t always guarantee it, as of now they always run by us who they want to use for a specific bottler and they will only use somebody that we say is reliable. Okay, got it.

As of today, as of this recording, right? This conversation, yes. And based on that, if I would see a Kickstart with a K… you’re comfortable because there’s hashgacha on the bottling facility. Correct.

So it’s interesting, you jumped right into that topic which is one of the big Pepsi questions is why certain bottles of Pepsi products have a Kaf-K, some have a K, some don’t have hashgacha on it at all. So you addressed why it may have a Kaf-K or a K because those supervising agencies are giving the hashgacha on the local bottling facility in that region. But why is there sometimes no hashgacha on a Pepsi product even though really it sounds like it would be kosher? So many of the bottlers… you are not allowed to put a hashgacha on your final product unless that final product was bottled with somebody taking responsibility that it is kosher.

We will not take responsibility on a bottler if we never walked into that bottler and if we don’t have ongoing visits into a bottler, we’re not going to take the responsibility for the bottler. In truth, I wouldn’t be concerned about the bottler without taking responsibility because they only… But that mere system, that mere system, that fear is enough to make you comfortable to drink from any Pepsi bottling facility in the United States? Yes, because for them to deviate, they would be paying so much money not to use Pepsi. Right, right.

And it will be caught. And what about besides for the concentrate, aren’t there other ingredients that they’re using that may be of concern? So right now, at a bottler, on a regular drink, let’s say Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, it’s not Sierra Mist anymore, I forgot what all the different flavors that they have, the Mug flavors, the regular Mountain Dew flavors, including all their orange blast and berry blast and all the different names that they make are just different flavors in the concentrate. All that is kosher. What goes in at the bottler level is very simple.

There’s sweetener that goes in, which Pesach presents a major issue, but during the year sweetener whether it’s corn syrup or sugar is what would be called a group one. It’s very simple.Carbonation, water, very simple. They will have sent through the DCs, they’ll send citric acid, sometimes another salt like a potassium benzoate, which are also all group ones.

Furthermore, we are on top of all the distribution centers. There are a few distribution centers in America. We regularly visit them to make sure everything that Pepsi says that they are sending to the final product is kosher. Right.

And how about the fact that it’s an independent facility, you’re not worried about shared equipment or using it for other runs and things like that? Very good question. So the assumption of most kashrus organizations in America is that that is not an issue because it’s what is called a cold fill plant. Okay. So everything there is filled cold.

You will have something that they’ll just have to dissolve a concentrate but even that is not getting hot. There’s no klirishon. Got it. So even in a scenario where they would use it, it would still be cold.

Correct. Even if they used it for something else that wasn’t kosher? And you’re saying it’s probably not even likely that they’re doing that. Right. The only thing that they use it for other than Pepsi is a number of the bottlers might bottle another national brand such as Dr. Pepper.

Okay. But it doesn’t challenge the integrity of the kashrus. Got it. And especially because nothing is hot and nothing is kavush, nothing is left in a tank for 24 hours overnight or anything like that.

Got it. And Baruch Hashem, you build up a rapport. I remember the first time we went, they’re very concerned about other people coming in just from proprietary purposes, but the first time the Badatz gives in Eretz Yisrael, and so we’re dealing with the ingredients all the time together. And I remember we went to a specific supplier, and Rabbi Binder from the Badatz and I went down to the supplier.

Rabbi Binder is brilliant and really understands the chemistry of ingredients very well. But we had to sign confidentiality agreement beforehand. By the time we left, they were nervous that he could repeat… that he’s that brilliant.

Aha, very interesting. They weren’t worried about me. That’s interesting. But I’m happy you brought up Rabbi Binder, you talk about Eretz Yisrael because that was going to be my next question.

Basically we’re comfortable with Pepsi in the United States, you’re pretty much good to go with basically everything. Except for the Kickstart which needs either a K or Kof-K. Right, which needs a specific hashgacha. What’s the story with Pepsi products outside the United States? Eretz Yisrael is great.

And that’s under the Badatz? That’s under the Badatz, yes. Okay. Is it by the way, is Pepsi in Eretz Yisrael owned by the same Pepsi corporation? It’s owned by the same corporation with a lot of overlap. Okay.

We’re on many emails together. Aha, interesting. So Eretz Yisrael you’re okay. How about if someone goes to Europe or South America or wherever it might be? Okay, so at the beginning of the conversation we spoke about what is called global procurement, which is Pepsi’s ability to supply globally.

Okay. And if this continent gets knocked off, you have this continent and so on and so forth. Global procurement provides for many many countries, including all of Europe, including Russia, including the US, Canada, Mexico, all of Central and South America and Southeast Asia. Not included is one country in South America, Venezuela.

Venezuela has its own concentrate facility. I don’t know anything about what goes on in Venezuela. Okay. Not included is China, North Korea.

India and I would be concerned probably around the number of the countries near India, whether it be Pakistan, Sri Lanka. I’m not sure whether those countries are covered by the India supplier or by global procurement. Got it. So what does that mean now that you’ve told us that, what does that mean regarding someone who’s traveling, sees a Pepsi product, can he buy it, can he use it? If you’re desperate, if it’s not a third world type of place, in all likelihood you’re okay because the Pepsi itself should certainly be made cold fill.

There’s no hot fill in that so you wouldn’t really run into a major problem anyway. I just am hesitant to make a blanket statement. Right, right. Any final thoughts on this fascinating topic? If you’re health conscious and you don’t want to drink Pepsi, drink Bubly.

Is that also Pepsi? Owned by Pepsi, okay. And that’s under your supervision as well? Most of the Bubly. All Bublyconcentrate is. Again, Bubly plants, the Bubly bottlers go on the same rule as Pepsi.

Right, same rule as we discussed prior. Rabbi Harlap, thank you for being here. It’s a tremendous zchus again, we wanted to speak to you for a while. Thank you for bringing us into the world of Pepsi and we wish you continued hatzlacha in your avodas hakodesh in carrying on the avoda that your father fulfilled so admirably, that your grandfather pioneered so many years ago in the last century and continued hatzlacha in all your avoda.

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Dear Friend,

I have had the privilege of working for the Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society (RCCS) for many years. In this capacity, I have witnessed how this wonderful organization serves as a lifesaving source of support for the most vulnerable members of our communities and their families, showering them with love and much-needed assistance in their time of need.

The work of RCCS is complex and multifaceted, yet it is all focused on one singular goal – to serve as a beacon of hope for those facing extreme medical crises. From helping patients with funding for top-of-the-line insurance coverage to assisting them in securing the best medical care that is personalized for their unique condition, to the myriad of other services offered by RCCS, the underlying mission behind it all is the outpouring of love and concern for our brethren dealing with indescribable challenges.

I am extremely grateful to all our dear friends who have stepped up in the past by generously donating to RCCS, and thereby earning an eternal share in this lifesaving work.

Today, I turn to you once again. RCCS is currently running its Annual Fundraising Campaign, and we need the support of every member of our community. As the number of patients seeking our assistance continues to grow, so too does the demand for our services.

We respectfully ask you to consider increasing your gift this year to the greatest extent possible. Your generosity will enable RCCS to continue providing hope, healing, and lifesaving assistance to those who need it most.

In this incredible merit, may you only see bracha, nachas, and hatzlacha in all your endeavors.

Please visit the campaign webpage https://www.dryveup.com/rccs to make your generous donation.

With much thanks,
Rabbi Aharon Steier
National Director of Development
Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society

At this afternoon’s Lakewood Fire District Board meeting, firefighter Justin Carlsen was recognized for his off-duty life-saving efforts while at the Asbury Park Half Marathon, where a runner collapsed at the finish line. Carlsen, alongside other bystanders, immediately began performing CPR and providing life-saving care until additional help arrived. His quick actions helped save the runner’s life, and the victim ultimately survived.

In addition to the recognition from the Fire District, Lakewood Township Committeeman and Emergency Services Liaison Meir Lichtenstein presented Carlsen with a proclamation on behalf of the Township Committee recognizing his life-saving efforts.

Additionally, four newly hired career firefighters and one volunteer firefighter were sworn in. All five are already certified firefighters.

Those who took the oath of office are:

• Binyomin M. Rottenstreich (Volunteer)
• Lambros A. Komitas
• Donald J. MacCarrick
• Patrick D. Mannion
• Scott M. Olesen

New Jersey health officials are urging residents to take precautions as another stretch of dangerous heat settles over the state, following a recent heat wave that is linked to 29 suspected heat-related deaths.

The New Jersey Department of Health said the deaths occurred during the last extreme heat event, which lasted from July 1 through July 4. Officials also reported 387 heat-related emergency department visits during that four-day period, involving people of all ages.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard E. Washington said the preliminary death toll underscores the dangers posed by prolonged periods of extreme heat.

“We cannot overstate how important it is to take extreme heat seriously, no matter how young or old, healthy or not,” Washington said in a statement. “Too many lives were lost during the most recent extreme heat weather event. We must all remain vigilant and follow heat safety precautions during periods of dangerously high temperatures.”

Health officials stressed that while certain groups face a greater risk of heat-related illness and death, extreme heat can affect anyone. Those at highest risk include older adults, infants and children, people with chronic medical conditions, individuals taking certain medications, outdoor workers, people without air conditioning, those experiencing homelessness, and people who live alone.

The department is encouraging residents to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day, and check on family members, neighbors, and others who may be vulnerable to the heat.

Officials also reminded residents never to leave children, people with disabilities, or pets in parked vehicles, where temperatures can become life-threatening within minutes.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and muscle cramps. Heatstroke, which can cause a dangerously high body temperature, confusion and loss of consciousness, is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.

Residents without access to air conditioning are encouraged to seek relief at cooling centers by calling 2-1-1.

Washington said the state continues to work with local and community partners to promote heat safety and prepare for increasingly frequent extreme weather events.

“Beyond the immediate health threat posed by dangerous heat, it’s important to remember that extreme weather tends to create additional disruptions that can have less visible but far-reaching impacts on our communities,” he said.

Burgerbarnj.com

“I just got this scam email inviting me to a dinner this shabbos at 5 pm and they want me to open it up on a computer too so they can steal all the information from it. Please publish this as a warning that noone should open this or any such email. Thanks so very much!”

Most business owners have a CPA. Far fewer are getting as much value from that relationship as they could be.

The dynamic is understandable: CPAs are busy, particularly during tax season. Clients often do not know what questions to ask. And the annual or semi-annual meeting can feel more like a transaction than a strategic conversation. You hand over documents, you get back a tax return, and you go back to running your business.

But the relationship can be significantly more valuable than that — if you approach it the right way.

Come Prepared With More Than Just Documents

The standard approach is to send over your financial records and let the CPA do their work. That is the minimum. If you want more value, come to your meetings with questions and context.

What is happening in your business this year that is different from last year? Are you planning to hire, make a significant purchase, take on a partner, or change your business structure? Are you considering a major contract that would significantly change your revenue profile?

Your CPA can only advise you on what they know. When you share more context, you create the conditions for more useful guidance. Tax planning works best when it is proactive, not reactive — and proactive requires conversation throughout the year, not just at filing time.

Ask Specifically About Tax Planning Opportunities

There is a difference between tax preparation and tax planning. Preparation is documenting what happened. Planning is structuring what will happen in a way that minimizes your liability.

Ask your CPA directly: Are there strategies I should be considering given my current situation? Are there deductions I am likely missing? Is my business structured optimally from a tax perspective? Should I be making retirement contributions, accelerating or deferring income, or timing capital expenditures in a particular way?

These conversations are most valuable when they happen mid-year, when you still have time to act. An October strategy conversation can meaningfully affect your tax bill. A February conversation cannot.

Make Sure They Have Clean Data to Work From

One of the most common complaints I hear from CPAs about small business clients is that they receive disorganized, incomplete, or inaccurate financial records at tax time. This creates extra work for the CPA — which you are paying for — and increases the risk of errors on your return.

When your books are clean, current, and well-reconciled throughout the year, your CPA can spend their time with you doing higher-value work rather than cleaning up records. You also give them the confidence that the numbers they are working from are accurate.

Treat It as an Ongoing Relationship, Not a Transaction

The business owners I see getting the most from their CPA relationships are the ones who reach out periodically throughout the year — not just when documents are due. A quick call or email when you are facing a significant financial decision can be worth far more than any single tax return.

Your CPA has a full picture of your financial history and a deep understanding of the tax implications of various choices. That knowledge is available to you year-round, not just in March. Use it.

The Broader Point

A great CPA relationship — like any great professional relationship — is collaborative and ongoing. You bring the context of your business. They bring the expertise. When those two things meet consistently and proactively, the results are almost always better than what a once-a-year transaction can produce.

If your current CPA relationship does not feel that way, it is worth having a direct conversation about what you need and whether they are set up to provide it. You deserve advisors who are genuinely invested in your success — not just your compliance.

—

About the Author:

Joe Herskowitz, EA, is the President and CEO of Lionstone Bookkeeping+, where he helps small and medium-sized businesses take control of their finances with expert bookkeeping and financial insights. With years of experience in business finance, Joe is passionate about making numbers work for business owners—not against them.

Have a bookkeeping or business finance question?

Reach out to Joe at [email protected] or call/text 732-803-7793 (no WhatsApp).

Submitted: “Be’rshus Moreinu Harav Reuven Feinstein Shlit”a, this notice was posted around the Yeshiva of Staten Island’s summer campus in Kerhonkson, NY.”

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Rebbetzin Rochel Lichtenstein A”H who was Niftar today.

Rebbetzin Lichtenstien A”H was the Rebbetzin of Nachlas Dovid Shul in Flatbush, where her husband, Rab Shmuel Tzvi Z”L led for decades.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 4:00 PM today at the Chapel, 613 Ramsey Avenue, Lakewood, with Kevurah in Lakewood.

Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes.

Feel free to share and print.

wa-1784041684661-901bmm

The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Dear Mayor Coles,

First, thank you for taking the time to respond to our questions. We also want to express our genuine appreciation for the extensive road improvements the township has undertaken over the past couple of years. The repairs were much needed and are highly valued by our community.

However, we are writing to address the collateral damage to private property that often results from these projects. Many residents, ourselves included, have been left with broken sprinkler systems, damaged mailboxes, and torn-up sod that was carelessly replaced with uneven dirt and haphazardly scattered seed.

While we have contacted the township multiple times regarding these issues and were told we have been “added to the list,” the wait has been extensive. In the meantime, our lawn—along with many of our neighbors’ lawns—remains in a state of disrepair. On a personal note, my family saved for over ten years to finally afford our landscaping. Seeing it destroyed as a byproduct of township work, with no clear timeline for restoration, is incredibly disheartening.

Is there a formal process or guarantee in place to ensure that the township repairs the property damage it creates in a timely manner?

Thank you again for your time, leadership, and assistance with this matter. We look forward to hearing from you.

Response from Mayor Coles:

Hi Gabe

I need additional information about locations and stuff. Please reach out to my office or respond to this with the addresses you are referring to

There are multiple groups doing work in town, for the towns itself, county, state and even private developers. We take damage concerns seriously and try to address them as soon as we receive them.

Ray

—————–

Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]

Open House July 20!

Don’t miss your chance to secure a high-earning future! Join a program ranked among the Best of 2026.

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✅ 98% Employment Rate
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Open House:  Monday July 20
Women: 7:00 PM
Men: 8:30 PM

In-person: 1771 Madison Ave. Executive suites.

Register to join remotely:
Women: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Qign5SWyQ4CAv-0sF1mXDw 

Men: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WNIHFeJEQ72rot4MQCZewg

For more info: 
👤 Men: 732-905-9700 x665 / [email protected]
👤 Women: 732-367-1500 / [email protected]

A months-long narcotics investigation by the Brick Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit and the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of a large quantity of methamphetamine and other evidence.

Police say that on June 29, detectives executed multiple court-authorized search warrants connected to a drug distribution investigation involving Michael Casey, of Toms River, who was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine distributor operating in Ocean County.

Casey was located and taken into custody without incident. Detectives then executed search warrants at two residences in Brick and Toms River, as well as a storage unit and three vehicles, with assistance from the Brick PD SERT Unit and Toms River ESU.

According to police, a search of the Toms River residence uncovered approximately 800 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of psilocybin mushrooms, a digital money counter, drug packaging materials, several digital scales, and $6,751 in cash.

A search of the Brick Township residence resulted in the seizure of more than one-half ounce of methamphetamine, drug packaging materials, digital scales, and $1,567 in cash. Tiffany Romano was taken into custody without incident.

Casey was charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree possession with intent to distribute five ounces or more of methamphetamine, maintaining a CDS production facility, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five ounces or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute psilocybin, money laundering, and drug paraphernalia offenses.

Romano was charged with second-degree possession with intent to distribute one-half ounce or more but less than five ounces of methamphetamine, conspiracy, money laundering, and additional drug-related offenses.

Both Casey and Romano were transported to the Ocean County Jail pending their first court appearances.

The investigation involved the Brick Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Patrol Division, and SERT Unit, Toms River Police Department ESU and Patrol Units, as well as the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force.

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A respected Talmid Chacham who dedicated his entire life to Torah and chesed has been overwhelmed by a devastating medical crisis and enormous financial burdens.

Let’s stand by him in his greatest time of need.

Every dollar makes a difference.

Those who join this campaign merit to receive the heartfelt brachos of Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel shlit”a, who blesses every donor with great yeshuos, both materially and spiritually, together with good health, long life, and abundant nachas from their children and grandchildren.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

You can download and print here.

Halachos of The Three Weeks, Nine Days, Tisha B'av Free PDF

You can download and print here.

Halachos of The Three Weeks, Nine Days, Tisha B'av Free PDF

NWS: Extreme Heat Warnings & Heat Advisories are in effect for our entire area for Wednesday.

Highs in the upper 90s to near 100° & max heat indices between 100-109° for most, including the NJ Shore.

There’s still one more day to join the massive Learning program!

The second part of the program will take place between camp and school.

One of the most revealing parts of architect Liran Shukrun’s thinking is the way he speaks about the home itself. A frum family does not always live inside the standard Israeli apartment formula. In many Torah homes, the center of gravity is different. It may be the dining room table. It may be the seforim. It may be the constant flow of children, guests, learning, meals, and Shabbos. A home like that needs scale, flexibility, and a different kind of attention.

That understanding shaped the apartments at Givat Hashalvah. The homes are large, open, and planned to adapt over time. Structural elements are kept away from the center of the living space wherever possible, allowing rooms and layouts to remain flexible as family needs change. Liran speaks about this almost as a moral responsibility: if a family is going to live here for many years, the home must be able to grow with them.

The same thinking appears in the windows and balconies. Bedrooms were planned with unusually tall openings so a person standing inside the room meets the landscape at eye level. Living rooms and bedrooms open toward the view, not through small, incidental windows, but through panoramic glass that makes the hills and courtyards part of the home experience. The balconies are large enough to live on, not just step onto, creating real space for hosting, sitting, breathing, and bringing family life outdoors.

That is what makes the planning feel so specific. Givat Hashalvah is not only responding to a market need for larger homes. It is responding to a way of life. The project understands that a home for a frum family carries learning, hosting, children, guests, privacy, flexibility, and daily rhythm all at once. The architecture was asked to respect that. And in the best parts of the plan, it does.

Explore Givat Hashalvah

The U.S. House is expected to vote this week, perhaps as soon as Tuesday, on legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, reviving a long-running effort to eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes that has drawn bipartisan support and backing from President Donald Trump.

The House vote comes after the measure cleared the House Rules Committee by a 6-4 vote and the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May on a 48-1 bipartisan vote as part of a broader transportation package.

If approved, the legislation would establish daylight saving time as the year-round national standard while allowing states to opt out by enacting legislation to remain on permanent standard time. States that currently do not observe daylight saving time, such as Hawaii and most of Arizona, would not be required to adopt it.

The legislation has 34 bipartisan House cosponsors while a companion bill has 18 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, most of whom are from coastal states with vibrant golf industries – a group which stands to benefit the most from permanent daylight time.

Trump has repeatedly endorsed ending the biannual clock changes, calling the practice inconvenient and unnecessarily expensive.

Congress has considered similar legislation before. In 2022, the Senate unanimously approved a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, but the House never brought it to a vote. Supporters say eliminating the time changes would reduce sleep disruption, workplace injuries and vehicle crashes while providing more evening daylight.

However, the proposal also has critics, notably religious groups such as Agudath Israel, who argue that changing to permanent daylight saving time would have a significant impact on Shachris times, which would occur well into the workday for a portion of winter months.

During a recent New Jersey Legislative hearing, Shlomo Schorr, legislative director for Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office, testified that permanent daylight saving time would pose significant challenges for Orthodox Jewish communities because Jewish morning prayers and certain religious rituals are tied to natural dawn and sunrise rather than the clock. During the winter months, Schorr said, morning services could not begin until about 8 or 8:30 a.m. and typically last 40 minutes to an hour, forcing many observant Jews to choose between completing their religious obligations and arriving at work on time.

Some lawmakers and sleep experts favor permanent standard time instead, arguing it better aligns with the body’s natural circadian rhythms and would prevent especially dark winter mornings for schoolchildren. An alternative proposal to make standard time permanent was not advanced for a House vote.

If the House approves the Sunshine Protection Act, the measure would still require Senate approval before it could be sent to the president for his signature.

The funeral procession for Lakewood Fire Chief Richard “Dick” Wallace passed by Engine Company #1 one final time today as firefighters gathered to pay their respects before he was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in Lakewood.

A fireman’s service was held Sunday afternoon at the funeral home in Jackson. The funeral service was held this morning, followed by the procession through Lakewood before finally arriving at the cemetery, where Chief Wallace was honored with military honors for his service in the United States Air Force.

Chief Wallace, who dedicated decades of service to the Lakewood Fire Department, was remembered by fellow firefighters, family, and friends for his commitment, leadership, and dedication throughout his many years of service.

Drone Video by Chaim Bhatia Studios for TheLakewoodScoop.com

Bethel Church Road – Scheduled Roadwork & Detours

Location: Bethel Church Road (from South New Prospect Road to the Howell Township border)

Effective Date: July 20, 2026

Construction is scheduled to begin on July 20, 2026 (weather permitting) as Jackson Township moves forward with important roadway and pedestrian safety improvements on Bethel Church Road.

Sidewalk construction and related improvements are expected to take approximately 6–8 weeks, weather permitting.

The contractor will begin at the east end of the project near the Howell Township border and progress west toward South New Prospect Road.

During this phase, motorists should expect the following traffic patterns:

Alternating Traffic

• From Claridge Drive to the Howell Township border.

Eastbound Traffic Detour

• From South New Prospect Road to Claridge Drive.
• Westbound traffic will be maintained.

Please Note: To minimize congestion and prevent backups at the South New Prospect Road intersection, these traffic patterns and detours are subject to change at the discretion of the Jackson Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit.

Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes while work is underway. An enclosed map shows the detour route available for drivers wishing to avoid the construction area.

Roadway milling and repaving will follow in the fall. During that phase of the project, both directions of traffic will be detoured overnight to allow crews to work safely and efficiently while minimizing impacts to the traveling public. The Township will provide additional updates as that work approaches.

Please follow the Jackson Township Police Department for the latest traffic advisories, road closure notices, detour information, and construction updates.

New Jersey has begun rolling out new chip-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards designed to reduce benefit theft, and Ocean County recipients can expect to begin receiving the more secure cards in about four weeks, as TLS first reported.

The state Department of Human Services announced today the first phase of the rollout will begin this summer in Cumberland, Essex and Mercer counties, where recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) will receive the new cards as part of a pilot program.

Following the roughly four-week pilot, the department plans to expand the rollout statewide, including to Ocean County.

However, under the rollout plan, any SNAP or WFNJ benefit recipient requesting a replacement EBT card will receive a chip-enabled card immediately upon request, regardless of which county they live in.

Hundreds of Lakewood families were among thousands across the state who had their benefits stolen from them in recent months.

Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha said New Jersey is among only a handful of states transitioning to chip-enabled EBT cards, a move aimed at curbing the growing problem of electronic benefit theft through card skimming.

“Under current federal law, electronically stolen benefits cannot be replaced, leaving families who experience this type of theft without recourse,” Cha said. “The new chip cards provide enhanced security to help prevent that kind of loss in the first place.”

The new cards include several updated security features, including an embedded chip, tap-to-pay capability, an expiration date and a three-digit security code. Officials said recipients should insert or tap the new cards when making purchases rather than swiping them whenever retailers have compatible payment terminals.

EBT skimming occurs when criminals install devices on payment terminals to capture card information and PIN numbers, allowing them to steal benefits from recipients’ accounts. While states were previously authorized to replace stolen SNAP benefits, that federal authority expired in December 2024.

Benefits will automatically transfer to the new cards, which recipients must activate within 90 days of receiving them. Existing cards will remain active for 60 days after the replacement cards are issued. Once activated, cardholders should destroy their old cards.

State officials are also encouraging recipients to continue locking their EBT cards when they are not in use through the ConnectEBT mobile app or the NJFamiliesFirst website, noting that chip technology adds another layer of protection but does not eliminate the need for other security measures.

Retailers that have not yet upgraded their payment terminals to accept chip-enabled EBT cards are being encouraged to contact their point-of-sale providers to update their systems before the statewide rollout is completed.

Many TLS readers have been wondering what JCP&L is doing at the substation on New Hampshire Avenue in Lakewood.

Officials tell TLS the tree clearing is to clean up some storm damage and make some upgrades to the mobile substation that is there.

The full upgrade – which is expected to boost reliability around Lakewood – is still in the planning stages, official said.

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness has opened applications today for the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which offers state security grants aimed at helping nonprofit organizations strengthen protections against potential terrorist threats.

Eligible nonprofit organizations may apply for funding from from one of two programs starting today, now through 11:59 p.m. on September 11.

The competitive program offers two types of grants. The Security Personnel program provides up to $20,000 to help organizations hire additional active law enforcement officers or registered security officers, while the Target Hardening Equipment program offers up to $100,000 for approved security improvements such as cameras, access controls, fencing and other physical security enhancements.

Shlomo Schorr, director of legislative affairs for Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey Office, welcomed the opening of the application period, saying the grants have become an important resource for faith-based and other nonprofit organizations facing heightened security concerns.

“We are grateful that the NSGP application process is now open and that this vital program was prioritized by Governor Mikie Sherrill in her Fiscal Year 2027 budget,” Shlomo Schorr, Legislative Director of Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office, stated to TLS.

“At a time when nonprofit institutions are confronting heightened threats, these grants play an essential role in safeguarding our shuls, schools, and other community organizations. Security at our institutions is not optional — it is a necessity.”

The state program is separate from the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Organizations may be eligible to apply for both programs, although each has its own funding priorities, eligibility requirements and application process.

To qualify, organizations must submit a completed application, a current vulnerability risk assessment identifying security weaknesses at their facilities, and documentation of their tax-exempt status, where applicable. The vulnerability assessment must include current photographs of the property and the locations where security improvements are proposed.

Since the program began, the state has awarded more than $38 million to more than 700 nonprofit organizations statewide. More than 500 organizations have applied during each of the past several grant cycles, reflecting growing demand for security funding.

Eligible organizations may apply for both grant categories each year, but may receive funding from only one state program per fiscal year. Preference will be given to applicants that have not received a federal or state target hardening grant during the previous two grant cycles.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of security experts, which will evaluate each proposal based on the applicant’s demonstrated threat level, identified vulnerabilities and the potential consequences of a terrorist attack.

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Make sure it’s never forgotten.

Book your Memory Session today.

https://www.ptsfilms.com/memory-sessions/

Wa.me/18482999228

Editor’s note: See last week’s response from Verizon.

To the Editor,

As bein hazmanim approaches once again, I want to raise an issue that deserves more attention from our community: the need for greater awareness and preparation around safety during this break.

For so many bochurim and yungeleit, bein hazmanim is a welcome change of pace after months of intensive sedorim. But that same shift — less structure, more travel, later nights, unfamiliar activities — is exactly what makes this period higher-risk. Every year we hear of tragedies during bein hazmanim: car accidents on long trips and drowning incidents at pools and lakes.

Sadly, this is not theoretical. Past years have brought real tragedies during bein hazmanim — losses that shook entire communities and that many of us still think about. We owe it to those neshamos, and to our own families, to do everything we can to avoid a repeat this year.

I’d like to see more organizations, rabbanim, and parents treat bein hazmanim safety as seriously as we treat safety during the zman itself. A few concrete ideas:

• Parents and Roshei Yeshiva should know where their bochurim are going — which trips, which chevra, which destinations — rather than leaving it vague. A simple conversation before bein hazmanim starts can make all the difference if something goes wrong and someone needs to be reached quickly.

• Ask what activities are actually planned. Are they doing anything higher-risk, like ATVing, off-roading, or other extreme sports? These activities have caused serious injuries and worse in past years, and too often parents only find out afterward. A little bit of upfront knowledge lets parents raise concerns or set ground rules before, not after.

• • **For younger bochurim especially, I would suggest that the Rosh Yeshiva arrange for an older bochur to supervise the trip.**Someone with a bit more experience and maturity along for the ride can make judgment calls, keep an eye on the group, and step in before a risky situation turns into a tragedy. It doesn’t need to be complicated — just one responsible presence can change the whole dynamic of a trip.
  • Safe driving reminders before bochurim hit the road for camps, trips, or visits home — especially around fatigue and late-night driving.
  • Water safety awareness, since drowning remains one of the most preventable yet recurring causes of tragedy over the summer months.

  None of this is meant to cast a shadow over what should be a refreshing and meaningful break. But a few honest conversations and some basic precautions before the zman ends could prevent heartbreak. We’ve seen what happens when we don’t take these steps seriously.

  Let’s make this bein hazmanim great again — full of simcha, achdus, and, above all, safety.

• a concerned yid

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With the summer in full swing, we are excited to remind you about a beautiful initiative, in its 3rd season: The Gitty Nosh, Le’iluy Nishmas Gitty Greenberg a”h.

This year with an extra healthy twist!

To recap for the first timers here, there is a minhag Lakewood that when kids go on trips, they absolutely must load up with a boatload of nosh. (Once upon a time the minhag was to bring a small nosh and a drink, but sometimes minhagim change with the times…)

But as life happens, there is often a kid that either left their nosh behind, parents were dealing with a situation and unable to get a nosh, or only brought one sweet while everyone else brought ten.

This is where the Gitty Nosh comes in. When shopping for your child’s trip nosh, grab an extra treat (not too expensive) to send along as a Gitty Nosh and explain to your kids to look out for someone that doesn’t have, or that has less. You can tell them to look around and try to notice if someone looks sad or like something is bothering them and to offer them the nosh. You can teach them to offer it in a way that they feel good about taking it too. (Always make sure to check hechsher and allergy before offering). You can also tell them that its ok if everyone had and they didnt need to use it. They can bring it yome and keep it in a special place for the next trip and be proud that they looked out for others kids feelings.

We have received incredible feedback from this initiative BH.
We have also received many requests to start a healthy nosh initiative as well.

This year, we decided to make Healthy Snacks Great Again. (HSGA?) 😀

Many kids will start with an 🙄 but it’s already starting to take off. You can pack those cool snack boxes with cut up carrots, celery, pickles, and a mini dip. Grapes, crackers, pretzels… or make them a salad in a cup.

The ideas are endless, and it can be pretty cool with many kids copying the idea and wanting to share too!

So send those healthy snacks and send a healthy Gitty Nosh too while you’re at it.

May it be a zechus for Gittel a”h bas R’ Shraga Meir Hakohen

(If you would like to be an ambassador to push these initiatives out and share/reminders others, please text or WhatsApp only Mrs Devorah Wahl 646-229-9753).

Lakewood Township is pleased to announce that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be hosting in-person interviews in Lakewood for its popular Global Entry Program on Tuesday, August 18th. The interviews will take place in the Lakewood Municipal Building during the morning hours. This is the first time that such interviews will be held in Ocean County; and among the only times it has ever been held in New Jersey outside Newark Liberty International Airport.

A limited number of interview slots available at this event will be selected via lottery, to CBP pre-approved Lakewood residents only. In order to qualify for a potential slot, applicants must receive initial CBP conditional approval for Global Entry – and apply for a slot – by July 31st.

To apply for the “Global Entry Lottery,” please email [email protected] and provide the following information, in full, for each applicant:

• Name
• Address
• Date of Birth
• Email Address
• Global Entry conditional approval PASSID. (This can be found in your Global Entry Program account profile and/or email communications.)

“I would like to thank the CBP – and other government officials and community leaders – for working together to make this unique opportunity a reality in Lakewood,” says Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein. “We look forward to enabling local residents to join Global Entry in a convenient manner; with the potential for additional local events in the future as well.”

How to apply for Conditional Approval:

Applications for Global Entry Program conditional approval can be submitted online at https://globalentry.gov/, which is the only official government site for applications. (CBP strongly discourages the use of third-party sites). It is important that all questions are answered accurately. Submitting any inaccurate information – even minor or inadvertently – can disqualify an applicant from consideration for the program.

As slots at the Lakewood event are very limited, conditional approval does not guarantee an interview slot. However, it can always be used to secure an interview at the CBP’s year-round interview location at Newark Liberty International Airport as well.

Applying for the Global Entry Program costs $120 per adult; and several credit card companies provide customers with credits towards the application fee.

Global Entry is free for children under the age of 18. A parent or legal guardian must already be an active Global Entry member or have a pending application in order to apply for a child. Children are not automatically covered by a parent or legal guardian’s membership. Every traveler, regardless of age, must have their own separate account and approved background check.

Global Entry Program Benefits:

Travelers who are approved for the Global Entry Program typically enjoy substantially shorter wait times at passport control at dozens of airports in the United States, as well as at CBP Pre-Clearance stations at select airports outside the United States. Once fully approved in Global Entry, members are also automatically enrolled into TSA PreCheck for expedited domestic airport security at no additional cost.

To join via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/645572066

 929-205-6099  ID: 645572066

I would like to share a personal experience in the hope that it may help someone else.

A few months ago, after being married for a couple of years, I went to speak with a Rav regarding a Shalom Bayis matter. Baruch Hashem, everything is okay today, but at the time I was looking for guidance on an issue that I felt was important.

Instead of leaving with clarity and reassurance, I left feeling deeply uncomfortable and honestly disgusted. During the conversation, I was asked questions that I felt had nothing to do with the issue I had come to discuss and that I found deeply personal and completely inappropriate. I walked out feeling shaken and regretting that I had gone.

I’m not writing this to attack anyone or to create controversy. My purpose is simply to encourage others to do their homework before seeking guidance from someone. Ask trusted friends, family members, or Rabbanim for recommendations. A little research beforehand can make a tremendous difference.

I also learned another important lesson. If someone – whether it’s a Rav, therapist, counselor, or any other professional – asks questions that make you genuinely uncomfortable or that don’t seem appropriate, don’t ignore that feeling. Don’t let anyone talk you out of your instincts. You always have the right to say you’re not comfortable, end the conversation, and seek guidance elsewhere.

There are many outstanding Rabbanim and professionals who help people with sensitivity, wisdom, and respect. Unfortunately, not every experience is a positive one. I wish I had been more careful before opening up about something so personal.

If this letter encourages even one person to do a little more research before seeking advice – or gives someone the confidence to trust their instincts when something doesn’t feel right – then sharing my experience will have been worthwhile.

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

A fire in Howell this afternoon destroyed a two-car garage on Locust Avenue.

Firefighters were dispatched just after 1 p.m. and found heavy smoke and fire upon arrival.

Mutual aid from Lakewood, Jackson, and Wall responded to the scene, along with tankers from all Howell fire departments.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Howell Fire Bureau.

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Submitted: Over the past couple of years we have B”H seen much To’eles in having a way for people to coordinate Minyanim before and during their bein hazmanim summer vacation.

This year we again expanded the chats for more popular frum destinations.

The chats are all free, and easily accessible to non-smartphone users.

All you need to do is use the links below:

Northwest: Washington State, Oregon, Northern California: https://groupme.com/join_group/114542689/KWhogYih

Southwest: Utah and Arizona: https://groupme.com/join_group/114426569/Y9a0ePPq

Colorado: https://groupme.com/join_group/114427210/gzqERJLS

Canadian Rockies: https://groupme.com/join_group/114542482/GBPEAdqA

Alaska: https://groupme.com/join_group/114427244/LHRTknTf

Southeast: Florida, Alabama, and Georgia: https://groupme.com/join_group/114542509/ADJ6v6FB

Northeast: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts

https://groupme.com/join_group/114427000/5a0cVbMr

Great Smoky Mountains: https://groupme.com/join_group/114370289/3SnlUrUR

Yellowstone: https://groupme.com/join_group/115273726/DfLk1KoD

Whole USA: General chat for discussion about Minyanim for the entire United States

https://groupme.com/join_group/114426630/m2rdHU0f

You can also text MINYAN to 8483664089 for a complete list of chats and instructions on how to join.

Tizku Lemitzvos!

A mother of six is courageously battling cancer. While she fights for her life, her husband is doing everything he can to care for her and their young children. Your donation helps provide meals, childcare, transportation, and the everyday support this family urgently needs. Please help them through this impossible time. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

The program directors tell TLS that chocolates and prizes they had purchased for the second half of the program (between camp and school) have already nearly been depleted due to the overwhelming number of children who attended!

They will be stocking up more today for the remainder of this first half, which runs through Tuesday!

Those who wish to help cover the costs and earn the Zchus of Learning from Tinokos Shel Bais Rabbon, can do so here!

(This $ will go directly toward the program!)

A new fundraising campaign has been launched for the expansion of Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos, offering an exclusive Golden Shmirah Coin to the first 1,000 donors who contribute $1,000 toward the establishment of a new kollel in Beit Shemesh.

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Only 1,000 of the commemorative coins have been minted and will be distributed exclusively to the first 1,000 qualifying donors!

Each coin will be Gebenched personally by the Posek Hador, Harav Moshe Shternbuch, who has pledged his full support to the new kollel. The campaign states that those who contribute to Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos will merit enduring blessing and prosperity.

The campaign – under the direct auspices of Rav Moshe Sternbuch’s family – stated:

“Those who donate to Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos will receive ashirus that will flow for generations.”

– The Posek Hador, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita

This is an exclusive opportunity for a very limited time to get the Posek Hador’s Shmirah Coin for parnassah. A promise of prosperity, personally guaranteed by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch shlita. His golden coin, for wealth that will pass down for generations.

Only 1000 golden coins have been minted, for the first 1000 donors who donate $1000 for the Posek Hador’s new kollel in Beit Shemesh, a branch of the illustrious Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos.

Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos is a prestigious network of kollelim with locations throughout Erez Yisroel. The apple of the Posek Hador’s eye, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch shlita pours his kochos, his heart and soul into guiding every aspect of the kollelim. This is the premier center of Torah where future gedolei hador are born, cultivated and guided.

By supporting the new branch of Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos, you are supporting the next great leaders of Klal Yisroel – with a guarantee to support your family with ease, abundance and prosperity.

With the economy in a precarious state, nothing is certain except for one thing: Give for the Torah and the Torah repays you beyond measure.

Donate today to receive your golden Shmirah coin from the Posek Hador, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita, for ashirus, for health, for hatzlacha, and for nachas.

The greatest riches await those who don’t wait to support the Torah and the next gedolei hador.

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ONLY 1,000 WERE MINTED! GRAB THIS OPPORTUNITY NOW WHILE YOU CAN – IT WILL LAST GENERATIONS!

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U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican lawmaker from South Carolina and one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress, has died at the age of 71 following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”

In a statement released early Sunday, Graham’s office said, “On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness. Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”

The veteran senator had been in Ukraine just one day before his passing.

First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, Graham became one of the most influential Republican voices on foreign policy. Although he was initially critical of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, he later became one of Trump’s staunchest supporters and closest allies in Congress. He was also a steadfast supporter of Israel, consistently advocating for strong U.S.-Israel relations and backing military aid and security cooperation.

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Reb Yechiel Drillman Z”L, who was Niftar Erev Shabbos following an illness. He was in his 70s.

Reb Drillman served as a beloved rebbe in Edison for decades, leaving behind thousands of talmidim in Lakewood and around the world.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at the yeshiva, located at 1 Plainfield Avenue in Edison, New Jersey.

UPDATE: Levaya Dial-in number:
(605) 313-9669
Access code: 5143860
Press the # sign after entering your access code

UPDATE: Kevurah in Lakewood will take place approximately 3:00 PM at the Brook Road Chelkah, corner of Brook and E. 7th.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Hi Mr. Mayor,

The area we live in, Linden Ave off Ocean, has had way too many blackouts in the 10 years we’ve been here.

For some reason, any time there is a blackout, we are affected. It is unaccepted for anyone’s to have blackouts in the year 2026. I’m not sure if there is any way to do anything about it, but we can’t handle it anymore.

Who can be approached in JCPL to ensure it doesn’t keep on happening? Is it First Energy, the parent company that is in charge?

Yesterday, we had a blackout for 2 1/2 hours! Two weeks ago, we also did. The little kids are scared, it inconveniences everyone, making supper is impossible at times, and foods get spoiled. How can we hold JCPL responsible for the numerous times this happens? We are charged exorbitant rates but they don’t seem to be delivering.

A frustrated Ridge resident

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon

I completely understand

We have had numerous meetings with JCPL, the BPU and our state legislators to get JCPL to live up to their mandate to supply safe interrupted power to our residents and businesses

They are committed to upgrading their infrastructure in town. The highest piece is the substation off New Hampshire. That will hopefully be done on the coming year

Thanks

Ray

Question:

Dear Mayor:

Thank you for always taking the time to answer the community and forwarding the concerns of the community to their proper places.

I’m writing this in response to the cancellation of the long anticipated amazing 4th of July fireworks show that has been cancelled for tonight 7/5/26. How come Lakewood always cancels the event more than 12 hrs before the event? While other surrounding towns cancel much closer in time if they have to?

We’ve seen this by the Memorial Day parade where Lakewood canceled while all surrounding towns continued on with it!

We’ve seen this other years where the mayor has blamed it on the weather while elsewhere the show went on. As a resident of the community. This is extremely upsetting. Especially knowing what these shows cost us tax payers. Does the township get full reimbursement for every cancelled show? Are the township members pocketing this money because no one is thinking about it? The members of this town have questions. Where is all this money going? We hope it’s not getting lost.

Thank you for doing your best. Looking forward to to hearing back from you!

Response from Mayor Coles:

The last thing I wanted to do was cancel tonight’s celebration. I remember the great times we all had back in 1976 (I know I’m dating myself!) celebrating the 200th. I’ve been looking forward to adding a drone show to our celebrations for several years. I am as disappointed as anyone that we won’t be celebrating America’s birthday together tonight.

It’s important to remember that decisions need to be made up to 12 hours in advance. We need to have our crews make the lake area ready for drone and fireworks crews. Once the fireworks start getting set up, they are ours, whether the go off or not

I just spoke to someone about this a little while ago. He said the forecast said we should be able to do it. I wasn’t trying to be funny but I told him another word for forecast is guess.

The intensity of the storms the last 2 days took many of us by surprise. We finally have power and internet back at my house after 2 days. We had it back for a little while yesterday, but the storms came in around 10:00 PM and then it was gone again

The conditions that allowed those storms to occur are still present today. The decision to postpone was made in part to protect those who had to set everything up and to make sure that those who came to enjoy it could get home safely without having to brave another potential downpour.

At the end of the day it is our responsibility to keep people safe. Sometimes we end up looking bad when the expected storm doesn’t come. On the off chance that it does I want to be able to sleep at night knowing we kept people safe.

I’m sorry for your disappointment but I look forward to sharing the event with you and the rest of our great town later this summer

Ray

(Editor’s note: The letter came in prior to the rescheduling.)

—————–

Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]

I recently discovered something that I thought was worth sharing with the community.

For quite some time, I’ve been renting a storage unit. One day, while mentioning it in conversation, someone casually asked me, “Did you put up a mezuzah?”

To be honest, it had never even crossed my mind.

I immediately called my sofer, who provided me with a mezuzah, and I put it up right away.

Storage units can be an excellent solution for families who need extra space but don’t have room at home. They are often affordable, convenient, and located close by. I highly recommend them for anyone who needs additional storage.

The purpose of this letter, however, is simply to raise awareness. If you currently rent a storage unit—or are planning to rent one—please reach out to your rov or sofer to inquire whether your particular unit requires a mezuzah and what the proper halachah is for your situation.

This is not necessarily a question unique to storage units, but may also apply to anything that could be categorized as a beis ha’otzar. It’s always worthwhile to ask.

Hopefully, this reminder will help someone else, just as it helped me.

Wishing everyone much hatzlachah and brachah.

Amen.

(Editor’s Note: The above was published for informational purposes. Speak to your Rav to inquire about your particular situation.)

A reader’s response:

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

Two people needed it to be extricated from a vehicle following an overturn accident on Rt 70 this afternoon (Saturday).

The accident happened approximately 5:30 PM on Rt. 70 in Manchester.

Information on the extent of injuries was not immediately available.

Nearly 4,000 children attended the first day of this season’s City-Wide Learning Program between, breaking all previous records! (See photos below of some of participating Shuls on Friday).

The program runs through Tuesday, and will continue between camp and school.

Before Camp Schedule

• Friday, July 10
• Sunday, July 12
• Monday, July 13
• Tuesday, July 14

After Camp Schedule

• Wednesday, August 12
• Thursday, August 13
• Friday, August 14
• Sunday, August 16
• Monday, August 17
• Tuesday, August 18

Participating locations include Albert Shul, Arlington Shul, Ateres Yeshaya, Bais Dovid, Bais Medrash D’Manchester, Bais Medrash Kol Yaakov, Bais Medrash of Kelmwoods, Bais Medrash of Woodlane, Bais Shabsi, Bais Medrash Pine Lake Park, Brookwood 3, Bunker Hill, Cedarwood Hills, Chanichei Hayeshivos, Chesterfield Commons, Eitz Chaim Brookwood 4, Elmwood Village, Harmony Farms, Hearthstone Shul, Heichal Yehuda Tzvi, Khal D’Brookwood, Khal Glen Arden, Lakewood Commons, Lutzk, Ohel Shulamit, Ohr Yaakov, Ohr Yoel Meir – Williams Street, Old Shul, Prospect Park, Prospect Vines Shul, Sterling Forest Shul, Tiferes Pinchos, Westgate Shul, Zichron Meir and Zichron Pinchas.

The program is open to boys entering 2nd through 9th grade. Boys entering 2nd through 4th grade are welcome to attend with a parent or other adult, while boys entering 5th through 9th grade should bring their chavrusa and seforim. Each location is supervised by a rebbe.

Participants will also have the chance to earn a variety of incentives throughout the program, including City-Wide basketballs, daily raffles and treats, Sky Zone tickets, and pizza vouchers for boys entering 5th through 9th grade.

(To take part in the Zechus of thousands of children learning Torah, click here.)

Khal DBrookwood

Westgate Shul

Arlington

Bais Shabsi

Lakewood Commons

It was a year ago when I went to a medical facility for a standard colonoscopy.

I was taken aback when the doctor grimly told me and my husband that something suspicious had been found on my rectal wall.

“I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “It doesn’t look good.”

Immediately, he sent us for a bunch of tests and x-rays. It goes without saying that my entire world turned upside down that day. I was a young mother with children waiting for me at home. I had a life to get back to. But, in the blink of an eye, this new reality had now become my life.

A slew of appointments were scheduled for the next few days. We had our hands full with the practical aspects of what we were dealing with, while we simultaneously had to find a way to get into the right emotional state for the battle we were facing.

The next day, my husband got a call from RCCS with an offer of much-needed assistance. Our case manager took charge on the spot. She got everything organized and began working on plans for us, coming up with ideas we could never even have thought of.

Her professionalism, care, concern, and expertise were all on clear display from the moment she contacted us. We got the feeling right away that Hashem had sent us an amazing shliach to fight on our behalf.

She brought up the idea of NGS (genomic) testing, and sent a phlebotomist to our home to take the necessary bloodwork to determine what course of action might be beneficial. A year later, I can say that I am still benefiting from that information which RCCS got so quickly.

I started chemotherapy within two weeks. RCCS stayed on top of the treatment and consulted with expert oncologists to make sure it was the proper standard of care. I actually had a very uncommon form of cancer and RCCS wanted to ensure that the treatment I was getting was the top standard for this exact form of the disease.

Throughout my six months of chemotherapy, I spoke to the case manager almost daily. Her help went far beyond the medical aspects. For example, she got me into a support group made up of people going through similar treatments. Additionally, RCCS was always looking to encourage and support my entire family, sending Chanuka gifts for the children, candy platters for holidays, offering Shabbos getaways, etc.

After six months of chemotherapy, I got great results. It looked like everything was going well until a month later, when my bloodwork started climbing up. This is an early indicator that something was coming back.

Of course, this got us very frightened. RCCS advised us that now was the time to move on to a specialist at NYU. We quickly found out that he is an amazing doctor who takes a personal interest in his patients’ welfare. We are convinced that he gave us even more special attention because of his relationship with RCCS. He really went above and beyond, even looking outside his own hospital for the best options.

The doctor suggested a new drug that seemed promising; however, it was not approved by the FDA specifically for the rare type of cancer that I had. RCCS told us that they would push as hard as they could to get us approved and to get our insurance to cover it, and to help us cover the massive costs if all else failed.

Ultimately, something even more promising came up. RCCS had been looking into various clinical trials that might work for me, and she found one in a hospital in Virginia that looked good. Within a day, RCCS got me an appointment.

I have now been part of this clinical trial for four months and I’m seeing amazing results. I am thankful to Hashem for sending us RCCS and the right doctor to guide me on this path.

I have never seen anything like RCCS. Just getting an appointment with many doctors often seems impossible. But RCCS is somehow able to push through anything. They have taken a huge burden of worry off the backs of me and my husband. If a doctor tells us that it will be two weeks before we can get an appointment for imaging, we don’t worry. We just call RCCS, and they somehow manage to get us an appointment for tomorrow.

Boruch Hashem, I am on the road to recovery, and I will always be grateful for the role that RCCS played in all that I’ve been through.

The RCCS annual Lakewood campaign is currently underway. Please grab a share in this incredible mitzvah by donating generously at  929-822-6729 or click HERE

For more information or assistance from RCCS, please call 718-722-2002 or visit www.rccscancer.org.

Jackson will begin the installation of a traffic circle at North Hope Chapel Road and New Central Avenue on Monday, officials tell TLS.

The Jackson MUA work is being performed by Earle and is expected to last approximately two-three weeks. The roadway will be closed Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The detour will route traffic through Lakewood and is expected to cause some heavy congestion at times on Gudz Road and Miller Road.

Jackson will begin the installation of a traffic circle at North Hope Chapel Road and New Central Avenue on Monday, officials tell TLS.

The Jackson MUA work is being performed by Earle and is expected to last approximately two-three weeks. The roadway will be closed Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The detour will route traffic through Lakewood and is expected to cause some heavy congestion at times on Gudz Road and Miller Road.

Governor Mikie Sherrill today announced the launch of SimpleFile, a free online tool designed to help thousands of lower-income New Jersey families quickly apply for the state’s refundable Child Tax Credit.

The new, mobile-friendly website was developed through a partnership between the New Jersey Innovation Authority, the New Jersey Department of the Treasury’s Division of Taxation, and Code for America. It is intended to help eligible families who may not be required to file taxes claim tax credits they are entitled to receive.

According to the state, eligible residents who had a child age 5 or younger in 2025 can complete the application in approximately 15 minutes. The website is available in both English and Spanish.

“Helping more New Jersey families benefit from our state’s Child Tax Credit is one of the most direct ways we can make life more affordable, because every dollar matters for parents who need childcare, groceries, clothes, and other essentials,” Governor Sherrill said. “While the federal government strips free tax filing away from families across the country, New Jersey is doing the opposite. We fought to expand our state’s Child Tax Credit in this year’s budget, and children across New Jersey will benefit from that increase starting next year. SimpleFile makes sure families can access the credit they qualify for today and turns a budget win into real money in the hands of our families.”

The announcement comes as the state’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget expands the maximum Child Tax Credit from up to $1,000 this year to as much as $1,250 next year. More than 200,000 New Jersey families currently claim the credit annually, and officials say SimpleFile is aimed at reaching thousands more who qualify but have not yet filed.

State officials also noted that the launch follows the recent distribution of Summer EBT benefits to more than 681,000 eligible children across New Jersey.

The website was introduced after the federal government announced plans to end the IRS Direct File program, a free tax filing service previously available to millions of Americans. State officials said the new platform is intended to provide an accessible alternative for eligible New Jersey families seeking to claim state tax benefits.

Eligible residents can determine whether they qualify and apply through the state’s new SimpleFile website.

Gun-rights advocates are again asking a federal appeals court to strike down New Jersey’s ban on carrying firearms in many public locations, arguing that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions invalidating similar restrictions in Hawaii should likewise apply in New Jersey.

In a supplemental brief filed this week with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, attorneys representing the plaintiffs in Koons v. Platkin contend the Supreme Court’s decisions reinforce their argument that New Jersey’s restrictions on carrying firearms in so-called “sensitive places” violate the Second Amendment.

The filing asks the appeals court to consider the Supreme Court’s latest guidance as it weighs the long-running legal challenge to New Jersey’s firearm carry law, enacted in 2022 in response to the high court’s landmark decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.

The challenge centers on a law signed by then-Governor Phil Murphy that dramatically expanded the list of locations where licensed gun owners are prohibited from carrying firearms. The measure designated dozens of “sensitive places,” including parks, beaches, entertainment venues, libraries, casinos, bars, museums, zoos, and many other public spaces.

The law also restricts firearms on private property open to the public unless a property owner expressly permits them.

That provision has drawn renewed scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s June decision in Wolford v. Lopez, which struck down a Hawaii law requiring businesses to affirmatively allow firearms before licensed gun owners could carry them onto private property open to the public.

In that 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court held Hawaii’s law was inconsistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation, the constitutional standard announced in Bruen. Gun-rights advocates argue New Jersey’s private-property provision is materially indistinguishable.

The litigation over New Jersey’s law has stretched nearly four years and has produced a series of conflicting rulings. Federal district courts initially blocked enforcement of several provisions before the Third Circuit allowed much of the law to take effect while the appeal proceeds.

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has defended the law as a constitutional public safety measure designed to protect residents while respecting the Second Amendment. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Wolford, Davenport criticized the ruling as “the Supreme Court’s latest dangerous blow to public safety.”

The Third Circuit, which initially heard arguments in February, has not indicated when it will rule on the appeal. Its eventual decision is expected to have significant implications not only for New Jersey’s firearm regulations but also for similar laws enacted by several other states following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision.

“PSA, anyone going to Trader Joe’s before Shabbos, the refrigerators are down and super limited flower supply.”

The City-Wide Learning Program is returning for its 12th year, once again giving boys across Lakewood the opportunity to continue their Torah learning during the weeks between the end of school and the start of camp, as well as after camp concludes.

Organizers say more than 3,000 boys are expected to participate this summer, making it one of the community’s largest seasonal learning initiatives.

The program will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at dozens of participating shuls throughout Lakewood.

Before Camp Schedule

• Friday, July 10
• Sunday, July 12
• Monday, July 13
• Tuesday, July 14

After Camp Schedule

• Wednesday, August 12
• Thursday, August 13
• Friday, August 14
• Sunday, August 16
• Monday, August 17
• Tuesday, August 18

Participating locations include Albert Shul, Arlington Shul, Ateres Yeshaya, Bais Dovid, Bais Medrash D’Manchester, Bais Medrash Kol Yaakov, Bais Medrash of Kelmwoods, Bais Medrash of Woodlane, Bais Shabsi, Bais Medrash Pine Lake Park, Brookwood 3, Bunker Hill, Cedarwood Hills, Chanichei Hayeshivos, Chesterfield Commons, Eitz Chaim Brookwood 4, Elmwood Village, Harmony Farms, Hearthstone Shul, Heichal Yehuda Tzvi, Khal D’Brookwood, Khal Glen Arden, Lakewood Commons, Lutzk, Ohel Shulamit, Ohr Yaakov, Ohr Yoel Meir – Williams Street, Old Shul, Prospect Park, Prospect Vines Shul, Sterling Forest Shul, Tiferes Pinchos, Westgate Shul, Zichron Meir and Zichron Pinchas.

The program is open to boys entering 2nd through 9th grade. Boys entering 2nd through 4th grade are welcome to attend with a parent or other adult, while boys entering 5th through 9th grade should bring their chavrusa and seforim. Each location is supervised by a rebbe.

Participants will also have the chance to earn a variety of incentives throughout the program, including City-Wide basketballs, daily raffles and treats, Sky Zone tickets, and pizza vouchers for boys entering 5th through 9th grade.

For additional information or sponsorship opportunities, call or text 732-814-2591.

In this episode, Rabbi Reinman discusses the establishment of the Hasmonean Dynasty and its descent into corruption, strife, betrayal and fratricide.

Shimon proved to be an astute leader. After winning independence for Judea with his diplomatic maneuvering, he sent an enormous gold medal to Rome as a gift to ensure Judea’s status as a protected Roman ally. He besieged the Akra fortress in Jerusalem until its Greek garrison was forced to leave, then he leveled it to the ground. He also captured the pagan stronghold of Gazara and destroyed all its idols. Internally, he broke the power of the Hellenized Jews and consolidated the hold of the Hasidim at all levels of the government.

At long last, the chaotic horrors of war receded into memory. Peace and harmony descended on the land of Judea. Old men once again sat together in the street and chatted about pleasant matters. All the people sat under their own vines and fig trees, and there was none to make them afraid. Fathers once again circumcised their sons, studied Torah with them as they grew older and saw them reach adulthood without being sent off to fight on the battlefields.

Shimon’s thoughts turned to improving the economy. He captured the port of Joppa, giving the land-locked Judea access to the sea, and he developed it into a harbor for international trade. This allowed Judean agricultural products to reach the Mediterranean markets and brought in foreign currency and consumer goods. He also increased internal security by clearing the bandits and highwaymen who had taken over the roads during the years of strife and chaos. Farmers could now tend to their crops instead of standing guard over their fields. The hallowed earth yielded its abundance, and the Jewish people became prosperous.

Furthermore, Shimon used the increased revenue to fortify the major population centers of Judea. He also undertook a major renovation of the Bais Hamikdash, which had been stripped of its valuables and battered by decades of war. Hundreds of craftsmen labored to repair the breaches and to replicate the golden Menorah, Shulchan and Mizbeiach Hazahav of the Heichal; the Aron had been secreted long before during the time of the First Bais Hamikdash. These massive projects also drove the economy and contributed greatly to the growing prosperity.

At this point, Shimon stood at a crossroads. According to Jewish law and tradition, dating back to Yaakov’s deathbed testament to his sons which blessed them and defined their roles, only descendants of the tribe of Yehudah could be anointed to serve as Jewish kings. “The royal scepter shall not depart from Yehudah.” Hashem had entrusted this scepter to Dovid Hamelech and his descendants forever. The Hasmoneans were Kohanim descended from the Shevet Levi and therefore disqualified …

Read full chapter and earlier chapters at www.rabbireinman.com.

Over the past few couple of weeks, there has been plenty of discussion on TLS about groceries, restaurants, and food options in Lakewood. While reading through the comments and conversations, one question kept coming to mind:

Are there simply too many eateries in Lakewood?

It seems that every other week another food establishment, or specialty food concept is opening its doors. Many of them are beautifully designed, professionally run, and offer quality food and consumers certainly enjoy having choices.

But at what point does a market become oversaturated?

Lakewood and the surrounding area already boast dozens upon dozens of eateries. Some cater to families, others to the upscale crowd, and many try to distinguish themselves with a unique menu item, décor, or theme. Yet when you look closely, many are variations of concepts that already exist.

It raises an important question for aspiring entrepreneurs: Does every new business need to be another food establishment?

Lakewood is a growing community with countless needs beyond dining. There are opportunities in services, entertainment, recreation, technology, healthcare support, home improvement, education, and many other fields. Perhaps some of the energy, investment, and creativity currently being directed toward opening the next restaurant could be used to fill gaps in other areas of community life.

Of course, the free market ultimately decides. If new eateries continue opening and succeeding, that suggests there is demand. If they struggle, the market will eventually correct itself. Nobody can fault someone for pursuing a business opportunity they believe in.

Still, it is fair to ask whether we have reached a point where entrepreneurs are increasingly competing for the same customers rather than identifying new needs and creating something different.

What do you think? Is Lakewood’s growing restaurant scene a sign of a thriving community with endless demand and choice? Or have we reached the stage where enough is enough, and future business owners should begin looking beyond food concepts for their next venture?

I would be interested in hearing the community’s thoughts.

A recently-relocated TR resident.

Doppelt The three weeks - mourning or joy 26 f2

The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Hi Mr. Mayor. Thank you for all that you do for our town. I was wondering if there is any way to fix the following issue.

Sometimes when our garbage is picked up, the full cans will be knocked over by the mechanism from the truck meant to be picking them up. When that happens, the operator of the truck will leave them as is, and they’ll stay there, necessitating someone else to pick up the fallen can, with anything else that has fallen out of it and a phone call to the department of public works that the can wasn’t picked up. Then a truck has to be sent out again to pick up the garbage. Would it be possible that if that happens, the operator should be responsible to right the can and pick it up on the spot?

Thank you

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon

I spoke with Director Roux. He indicated he will have a meeting with the drivers and let them know to pick up any cans that fall over

Thanks,

Ray

Question:

Dear Mayor,

Thank you for this forum, for giving a space for the community to bring up concerns.

There is work at the intersection of Hillside blvd and New Central ave, and a traffic light and digital crosswalks were put in place. However there were 2 sets of crosswalk lights put in front of a driveway. Is this a necessary expense?

In addition, when the roadwork started at that intersection the lines were faintly painted with no signage to alert drivers to the changes in the layout and lane placement. Some of the lines were painted over, but some remain faint and it is still a hazard for drivers and pedestrians.

Can feedback be passed to whoever is behind the construction that signage alerting drivers to changing road layout and lane placement is key to avoiding accidents and near misses and maintaining public safety?

Thank you.

A Lakewood resident

Response from Mayor Coles:

Thanks. I have forwarded your email to our engineers and asked them to look into each of these concerns.

Take care,

Ray

Question:

Dear Mayor Coles,

I am writing to inquire if there are plans to improve the publicity and clarity of the L bus routes to help residents better utilize the service.

Additionally, it would be very beneficial to implement a mobile app or a dedicated phone line to track the shuttle in real time. We often wait at stops only to realize the bus has already passed, and a tracking system would help prevent these delays.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

Gidon

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning

We are cutlery investigating partnering with a company that will implement many of the changes you suggest as well as increase the service area.

Thanks

Ray

—————–

Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]

Accident happened approximately 6:15 PM.

No serious injuries are being reported.

Expect extensive delays for the cleanup and repair repairs.