For months after September 11, there was a bottle of Coke in my car that I could not bring myself to touch. People riding with me asked why I didn’t throw it away. I told them I couldn’t. It was the last thing I had from my friend.

I met him in 2001 at a business conference in New York, one of those events that runs over several weeks. At one of the breaks a young man came over and started talking with me. He could see I was an Orthodox Jew. Within minutes we discovered we were both from France, and we clicked immediately. He was observant himself, but in the way of many French Jews: nothing outward at the office, no yarmulke at work, but he went to shul to pray. He was so happy to have found an Orthodox Jewish friend in New York.

He had recently moved to America to build a new life. He didn’t have a car yet, so I drove him home after the sessions. Our friendship grew through those drives.

He had just started working at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center. His wife was expecting their first child. They knew it was a boy, and we had already planned that I would perform his bris. He was so excited. They were building a future in America and preparing to become parents.

The last time I saw him was the night of September 10, 2001, driving him home. He left that bottle of Coke in my car.

The next morning, as the attacks unfolded, I knew immediately where he worked. I called his phone over and over. No answer. Then I called his wife. She was crying. He had managed to reach her from inside the building. There was heavy smoke, he told her. He was trapped with several others, and they were trying to find a way out. That was the last time she heard his voice.

Cantor Fitzgerald occupied floors 101 through 105 of the North Tower. It lost 658 people that day, more than any other company. My friend never came home.

In the days that followed, the chevra kadisha organizations were working to identify Jewish victims, so that they could be brought to a proper Jewish burial. Tzitzis could identify a man as a Jew. I was trying to help his wife through that process, and there was a question I could barely bring myself to ask her: had he been wearing tzitzis that morning?

He almost never wore them to work, she told me. But on that particular morning, he had them on.

Her answer has never left me. I cannot explain why that day was different. And as far as I know, he was never identified.

His wife went back to Paris, to her parents I believe, and we lost touch. Their son turns 25 this year. I never learned whether his bris ever happened.

Another man from France comes to mind when I think about those tzitzis. He was a successful Wall Street executive, originally from Paris, who had grown up with almost no Jewish education. He knew very little about Yiddishkeit, but he had always known he was Jewish.

Later in life, he began exploring his Jewish roots. When he learned that a Jewish male is meant to have a bris milah, he insisted on doing it immediately. I performed his adult bris.

I give adults reconnecting with Judaism several traditional items, including tzitzis, a siddur and a Chumash. This man was rushing straight back to his Manhattan office. He put the tzitzis on over his clothes.

I gently suggested that he might want to wear them under his shirt while walking through midtown. He answered immediately: “No. I’m proud to be Jewish. I want everyone to see that I’m Jewish.”

Two men from France. One had almost nothing of Judaism growing up and wanted the whole world to see his tzitzis. The other lived his Judaism quietly, the French way, nothing showing at the office, and wore his tzitzis, for a reason I will never know, on the last morning of his life.

People ask me what forty years as a mohel has taught me about the Jewish soul. I think of these two men. A person can carry his Jewishness where no one sees it, and it is there all the same. On the hardest day this city has ever known, it showed itself.

Rabbi Nechemia Markovits, M.B., is a certified mohel in Brooklyn, New York, and has served families since 1986.

Dear Editor:

I am writing because I am truly broken and hurt for the tragedies that happened this year all over, not only lakewood, five towns, monsey – every Jewish community was affected…….

I would like to share my personal story with you. Twenty four years ago my son died on the delivery table in a cord accident. Needless to say that my life has changed instantly and will never go back to the way it was. In addition, recently, I saw the beautiful story of Shalom for Charlotte which broke every human heart. The family managed to find Hashem and spread light – when darkness was around them. There is something beautiful that comes out of humility and there is nothing more humbling than losing a child/sibling.

When I hear of alienation – I also always hear the words – time to heal – not ready etc. Everyone knows its just words to rationalize the desires of the ego and to go down a path created by the evil inclination. Good luck to all of you who do this to your parents or others who are complicit in helping these children make poor choices.

What happened to me and others who lost young ones – we can never know what caused this tragedy. However, for sure, I have become more sensitive to alienation inasmuch as my son needed to be buried as it is a commandment in the torah while other children bury their parents alive obviously it is no mitzva – quite the contrary – despite what other therapists or rabbanim say.

Keep in mind, life is short, if you hurt someone, wait – its not the end of the story. Look no further than the torah, the stories of the torah show us what Carma is and it is called midda kneged midda. Never wonder why things are great even though there is deception and fraud lying right next to you. Hashem does not forget any deed.

I close with a blessing that people should ask themselves every day as many times as they can, “Is Hashem happy with my choices.” Those who have alienated their parents obviously know the answer is a big NO. But their fragile ego is stubborn.

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

CLICK HERE!!

Annual Maamad Hashava by Neki Kapayim!

Forgotten Debt? Damaged A Car? Return An Item??

Clean hands for the Yemei Hadin!!

CLICK HERE!!

CLICK HERE!!

Annual Maamad Hashava by Neki Kapayim!

Forgotten Debt? Damaged A Car? Return An Item??

Clean hands for the Yemei Hadin!!

CLICK HERE!!

CLICK HERE!!

Annual Maamad Hashava by Neki Kapayim!

Forgotten Debt? Damaged A Car? Return An Item??

Clean hands for the Yemei Hadin!!

CLICK HERE!!

CLICK HERE!!

Annual Maamad Hashava by Neki Kapayim!

Forgotten Debt? Damaged A Car? Return An Item??

Clean hands for the Yemei Hadin!!

CLICK HERE!!

Erev Rosh Hashanah 5787

As we stand on the cusp of a new year, we look back with profound gratitude to Hakadosh Baruch Hu—and to His emissaries, our partners and supporters— for another year of extraordinary growth, accomplishment, and kavod haTorah in the Kollelim Shas Yidden.

134 Gaonim. One Shas.

This past year once again brought the remarkable sight that has become synonymous with Shas Yidden: 134 avreichim geonim gathering together for a public farher on Kol HaShas Kulo—the entire Shas.

The farher, held at Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim in Yerushalayim, took place alongside a siyum on Shas by each of the participating avreichim. Gedolei Torah “strolled” through Shas with question after question, and the answers came with astonishing speed, clarity, and precision.

Questions ranged across the entire Shas, touching on the Chachmei Yisrael and the Tzedokim, darkei shalom, dreams mentioned throughout Shas, forgotten Torah that Abaye reminded Rav Yosef of, and countless other topics. The rapid-fire responses demonstrated not merely knowledge, but a remarkable bekius, depth, and command of the vast expanses of Torah.

“I Have Never Seen Talmidei Chachomim Such as These”

Hagaon Rav Reuven Elbaz, Rosh Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim, was visibly moved by the scene. Seeing 132 true gaonim together, he remarked that he was nearly convinced that the berachah of “Baruch Shecholak Meichachmaso Lirei’av” should be recited.

Hagaon Rav Menachem Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Nesiv Hada’as, testified that despite having spent years among the greatest batei midrash and alongside outstanding talmidei chachomim, he had “never seen Talmidei Chachomim such as these.”

A Torah Revolution Across the World

Today, seven Kollelim Shas Yidden—in Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Beitar, Kiryat Sefer, London, and Flatbush—are cultivating a generation of lomdei Shas whose accomplishments are inspiring the entire Torah world.

In Flatbush alone, the Kollel continues its demanding daily regimen of nine blatt of Gemara, studied five times each together with Rashi and Tosfos, in addition to Yerushalmi, monthly written examinations, and rigorous farheren.

The impact reaches far beyond the Kollelim. Those who witness these farheren are inspired to take on new shiurim, deepen their own limud haTorah, and raise their aspirations for what can be accomplished through unwavering dedication to Torah.

As we enter the new year, we extend our deepest hakaras hatov to each and every supporter who makes this Torah empire possible.

May the zechus of supporting such unparalleled yegias haTorah and Torah mastery stand by you and your families for a year of brachah, hatzlachah, yeshuos, and kol tuv—a year in which all your tefillos are accepted b’rachamim u’v’ratzon, and you are blessed with birkas Hashem b’ruchniyus u’v’gashmiyus.

Kesivah v’chasimah tovah,

A Gut Gebentsht Yor,
and with heartfelt gratitude,
Kollel Shas Yidden

ShasYiden.com

I have thought about this for a long time, and I finally feel that I need to share it.

I believe there is one change that could alleviate so many of the challenges Lakewood families are currently facing. Obviously, no solution is perfect, and there is always a cost-benefit analysis involved. But I genuinely believe we have reached a point where this has become an urgent communal need:

Every elementary school should have a nursery and kindergarten program beginning at age three, with bussing provided.

I realize that many schools currently do have preschool classes. However, those programs are generally very limited and available primarily to families who already have siblings enrolled in the school. What I am suggesting is something much broader: that preschool beginning at age three become a standard part of the elementary school system, with sufficient capacity so that it is a realistic option for the broader parent body—not a limited privilege available to a select number of families.

As a mother of several married children, B”H, I watch what my children and so many other young families go through every day—the endless carpools, the stress each year of finding and getting accepted to a morah, the increasingly exorbitant preschool fees, and now, in many cases, no playgroup on Fridays. The amount of pressure this places on parents should not be underestimated.

For many years, there was an understandable concern about protecting the parnassah of kollel families who relied on running playgroups. But the home-preschool model has changed dramatically. We are seeing very young and inexperienced morahs charging rates that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago, while wonderful, experienced morahs who have been doing this for years are put in an impossible position. What was once a beautiful and mutually beneficial system is becoming increasingly difficult for families to sustain.

If every elementary school incorporated a formal preschool program beginning at age three, school acceptance would simply happen two years earlier. Instead of parents spending those years worrying about finding a morah, securing a spot, paying ever-increasing private fees, and arranging multiple daily carpools, their children would already be part of a school system.

The impact would be enormous. Bussing three- and four-year-olds would take an extraordinary number of cars off Lakewood’s roads during the busiest hours. It would reduce traffic congestion while simultaneously removing one of the greatest daily stresses facing young families.

This isn’t simply about convenience. Carpooling multiple young children every morning and afternoon affects parents’ work schedules, family schedules, finances, and quality of life. Multiply that by thousands of families, and it becomes a communal issue.

I truly believe the time for this idea has come. Beginning school at age three, with organized bussing, could completely change the landscape of Lakewood and dramatically improve the daily lives of thousands of families.

It deserves serious consideration.

Anonymous

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

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 Sir:

Thank you for all the good work that you do for us.

I would like to bring attention to The Lake and its walking path that offers much pleasure to all those who make use of it. I live near there and have observed a recent phenomena.

It appears that there is a group of vagrants that have made their presence on a bench at the lake with their shopping carts, and noise making it uncomfortable for families and children.
The fact that they use the area for their bodily functions creates a hazard both physically and emotionally for our families that are disturbed by these
actions.

Everybody can enjoy the lake but no one should be permitted to create a hazardous and scary presence at the lake.

It would also help if the lights worked on the path.

thanking you in advance.

Response from Mayor Coles:

I asked the police department to investigate this.

Ray

—————–

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

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

Leading Gedolei Yisrael are calling upon Klal Yisrael to partner with Vaad Harabanim in supporting widows, orphans and struggling families throughout Eretz Yisrael. They are asking each person to contribute $600, or $50 a month for 12 months. May this tremendous zechus bring donors and their families health, parnassah, nachas and great yeshuos.

SPECIAL GIFTS: $360+ — Beautiful silver knife, a well-known segulah for abundant parnassah | $600+ — Special Shtar Chaim signed by the Gedolim + the silver knife

DONATE HERE – CLICK HERE.

SHTAR CHAIM SIGNED BY:

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita
Rav Dov Landau shlita
Rav Elimelech Biderman shlita
Rav Dovid Cohen shlita
Rav Reuven Elbaz shlita
The Rachmastrivka Rebbe shlita

No injuries being reported.

New Jersey American Water customers will begin seeing higher water and wastewater rates beginning September 15 following approval by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

The approved rate increase will generate approximately $68 million in additional annual revenue for the company and will support more than $1.4 billion in continued upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure across the state.

For the average residential water customer using approximately 5,700 gallons per month, the increase will amount to about $4 per month. Residential wastewater customers will also see an average increase of approximately $4 per month.

Customers receiving both water and wastewater service will see their bills increase by nearly $8 per month on average.

However, eligible water customers will receive a separate $9.88 monthly credit for 12 months through a newly approved PFAS Litigation Universal Surcredit, known as PLUS.

According to the company, the credit will more than offset the average water rate increase for eligible customers, resulting in an average net reduction of nearly $6 per month for water customers during the 12-month period. Customers receiving both water and wastewater service could see an average net reduction of nearly $2 per month during that time.

The PLUS credit is funded through more than $79 million in PFAS litigation settlement proceeds and interest, which will be returned directly to eligible customers. The credit will appear as “PLUS” on qualifying customers’ bills beginning in September.

The newly approved rates will also support the replacement or rehabilitation of nearly 120 miles of aging water mains, continued lead service line replacement and treatment upgrades related to PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

Actual bill impacts will vary depending on water usage, service type and service area.

New Jersey American Water says customers will receive additional information about the new rates in upcoming bill communications.

An orphaned yeshiva bachur stands alone in the world. His challenges are immense.

While every other bachur goes home to a father’s embrace, to a mother’s warmth – he goes home to emptiness. His heart bleeds as he sits and learns, moser nefesh for Torah while carrying a pain no one else can see.

We cannot leave him alone!

Our dear friend Harav Dovid Glick and his partners are doing the unthinkable – giving 620 yesomim everything they need to learn Torah with simcha and menuchas hanefesh.

But the burden is crushing. The cost is astronomical. They cannot do it without you.

THE GEDOLEI HADOR HAVE DECLARED: THIS IS YOUR INSURANCE POLICY FOR A GOOD YEAR!

We all want the same thing: A good year ahead. Health. Parnassah. Shidduchim. Nachas.

Right now, at this exact moment, the Gedolim and Tzaddikim are stepping forward with a promise:

Midda Keneged Middah. You take care of His orphans – and Hakadosh Baruch Hu will take care of YOUR year. CLICK HERE.

And at the height of the Yemei HaDin, the Amudei HaTefillah of our generation – Harav Galai, Harav Yitzchok Kolodetsky and the Gaon and Posek Hador, Harav Moshe Shternbuch – will take the name of whoever donates $377—the exact gematria of שנה טובה (Shana Tova)—and daven for you – for a good year, a Gmar Chasima Tova, for salvations that are beyond the natural order, health, parnassah, and nachas for you and your entire family.

Don’t miss this guarantee! Click now, submit your names for tefillah, and enter Rosh Hashanah knowing that the אבי היתומים (father of orphans) is on your side.

ADD YOUR NAME HERE.

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Shimon Simchowitz Z”L, formerly of Lakewood (Gudz/New Central area), who had recently been residing in Eretz Yisroel. He was Niftar yesterday.

The Levaya took place in Eretz Yisroel.

The Niftar’s daughters, Sara Golvan, Devorah Kaufman and Laya, as well as his brother, Leibel Simchowitz, are currently sitting Shiva at 1884 New Central Avenue in Lakewood.

Mrs. Simchowitz and the Niftar’s sons, Moshe Yehuda and Avromi Simchowitz, will be returning from Eretz Yisroel on Thursday morning and will join the family sitting Shiva in Lakewood.

The Aveilim will get up from Shiva on Friday afternoon.

Mincha at the Bais Avel is at 7:00 PM, and Maariv is at 10:30 PM.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

In a joint announcement, a group comprised of the largest Orthodox Jewish advocacy groups in the country announced their support for a newly launched national scholarship organization that they say will help yeshivos and families take advantage of a new federal tax credit for private-school scholarships.

Agudath Israel of America and Torah U’Mesorah announced their endorsement of the Opportunity Fund for Jewish Education, saying a single national Scholarship Granting Organization will be best positioned to maximize the amount of funding available to yeshivos and provide tuition relief to families.

The decision follows months of discussions between the organizations, including deliberations by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and the Vaad Roshei Hayeshivos, according to the announcement, with one overriding question in mind: What approach will maximize the benefit of this tax credit for our yeshivos, our families, and the future of chinuch?

The conclusion was that the strongest course is to work through a single Scholarship Granting Organization with the scale, reach, and infrastructure necessary to bring the greatest possible number of dollars to our mosdos.

Accordingly, Agudath Israel of America and Torah Umesorah are proud to endorse the Opportunity Fund for Jewish Education, a new national Scholarship Granting Organization launched by the Orthodox Union and Teach Coalition, Jewish Federations of North America, and Prizmah.

The Opportunity Fund pairs national strength with local connection. Its reach can open participation across the country, while its structure allows communities, parents, alumni, and supporters to stand behind the schools and yeshivos they know and care about.

What This Means for Our Families and Yeshivos:

Beginning January 1, 2027, eligible taxpayers can contribute to the Opportunity Fund for Jewish Education and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700. In participating states, those contributions can fund scholarships at yeshivos, bringing meaningful tuition relief to families.

Local dollars stay local. Contributors can designate their contributions to participating yeshivos and schools, and communities can mobilize their parents, alumni, and supporters to direct new resources to their mosdos.

A unified platform strengthens that designation: it broadens awareness, reaches contributors our institutions could not reach on their own, and ensures that yeshivos in communities of every size can benefit.

Importantly, 100% of every dollar designated to a school will go directly toward scholarships for its students, with none used to cover the Fund’s administrative or operating costs.

The Fund’s scale and partnerships uniquely position it to raise separate philanthropic support for those costs.

We believe that, b’ezras Hashem, this effort can bring meaningful new resources to our mosdos and real tuition relief to families throughout the country.

However, the law also required that each individual state opt in to the program.

Residents in states that do not opt in would still be allowed to donate to scholarship organizations in other states that did opt in, potentially setting up a scenario where tens of millions of dollars can flow out of state, benefiting another state’s economy.

Their strength. Their emunah. The way they chose Shalom through unimaginable pain.

But what if we didn’t let that inspiration end?

Charlotte had a journal OF ALL THE GOOD Hashem sent her.

Now, Hodu Lashem × Shalom 4 Charlotte want all of us to keep it going.

Think of ONE good thing Hashem sent you today.

✍️ KEEP CHARLOTTE’S JOURNAL GROWING →

Start Thanking Hashem

https://api.jewishadgroup.com/t1o13c

Hodu Lashem × Shalom 4 Charlotte

Viewer Discretion Advised

A deer ran through an office door in Lakewood today, making quite a mess.

The deer – which was still alive when officers arrived – was put down.

As Lakewood prepares for Yom Tov, dozens of local Kollel families are facing a very different kind of Tishrei — wondering how they will cover even the basic expenses for their families.

For Keren Zichron Tzipora (KZT), the calls have been coming nonstop. The organization exists with one mission: to financially support and uplift Lakewood’s devoted Yungeleit and their families, with a simple message: “We are honored to support your Torah.”

For some families, the clothing gift cards provided by KZT will mean the only new clothing their children receive all year. Baruch Hashem, 20 families were assisted this past week alone — but dozens more are still waiting.

With Erev Yom Kippur quickly approaching, KZT is turning to the Lakewood community to help close the gap.

$500 can sponsor a Kollel family’s Yom Tov, but every amount can make a meaningful difference.

As the Yom HaDin approaches, it is an opportunity to bring tremendous relief to a local family — and enter the new year with the zechus of supporting Torah right here at home.

Who will tip the scales this Tishrei? 

Please Donate Here

Other ways to partner:
Call 24/7: 732-702-8100

Zelle / Venmo / Paypal: [email protected]

Mail a check to:
Keren Zichron Tzipora
1511 Newport Drive
Lakewood, NJ 08701

All donations are tax-deductible. Tax ID 87-3452793

Thank you for standing with our Yungeleit. Wishing you a Kesiva V’chasima Tova.

Noam – The Talk of the Town

Wherever I go, whoever I speak to… it keeps coming up.

“Noam. Did you see it?”
“We just got it.”
“My sister has one, she’s obsessed.”
“They say it’s a game changer.”

**NOAMWATER.COM
**

At first, I didn’t pay much attention. A new water machine? Nu nu. But then I saw it. In my neighbor’s kitchen. Then in my sister’s. Then at my cousin’s house in Williamsburg. Suddenly it was everywhere.

Now I Get the Hype

It’s not just that the water is filtered
Or that it’s always cold
Or that the hot water is ready for tea or coffee in a second

It’s the fact that it feels like it belongs in a frum kitchen

No timers
No “set it up before Shabbos”
No forgetting
The machine just knows and switches to Shabbos mode by itself

It Fits Right In

Noam doesn’t take over the kitchen, but it makes its presence known in the best way. It’s clean, compact enough for any counter, and adds a modern, organized feel to the space. The design is thoughtful and built for real homes

The Feature That Could Save Lives

Ask any Hatzolah member, and they’ll tell you. Too many calls. Too many burned hands. Too many accidents from urns and Shabbos kettles

With Noam, the hot water is protected. A built-in child safety lock makes sure no little hands can get hurt. It’s not a luxury. It’s not a detail. It’s peace of mind for every parent

Shabbos Mode. CRC. No Questions Asked

When it comes to technology on Shabbos, Noam checks all the boxes. With built-in Shabbos mode and a full CRC certification, it’s ready for the most mehudar homes — no explaining needed

It’s One of Those Things You Wonder How You Lived Without 

**NOAMWATER.COM
**

You don’t have to run to the grocery because you forgot to buy water bottles. You don’t have to boil, wait, or refill. You just press a button. Done

 And the best part? No one’s fighting anymore
The kids drink more water
Shabbos prep is calmer
And when guests come, it’s ready

 Noam is Everywhere, For a Reason

 It’s not a trend
It’s not a gimmick

It’s just smart

And once it’s in your home, you’ll see exactly what everyone’s talking about.

To hear more or to order, call 347-503-3082 or NOAMWATER.COM

Every ben Torah wants to feel that his learning stays with him — that the sugyos he learns become clear enough to use in real life.

Now back for its third year, with hundreds of proud participants, many of whom have continued on for additional years, Chavra D’Hilchisa is offering that opportunity once again with its upcoming Hilchos Basar B’Chalav track, led by Rav Shaya Wenger.

This is a serious, structured limud halacha program designed for bnei Torah who want to master a practical area of halacha with clarity, guidance, and achrayus.

Basar B’Chalav shaylos come up in every Torah home. A milchig spoon in a fleishig pot. A hot dairy dish stirred with the wrong utensil. Questions of ta’am, shishim, ben yomo, kashering, and whether the food or keilim may still be used.

Don’t you want to know what to do? Don’t you want the confidence to understand the shailah and have clarity in your own home?

Chavra D’Hilchisa gives serious lomdim a complete framework to get there. Participants follow a guided schedule, learn with professionally prepared mareh mekomos and materials, receive ongoing support from Rabbanim, and have the opportunity to take bechinos — building toward real mastery of the sugyos and a genuine sense of accomplishment in just one year.

This is the time of year when a person chooses the limud that will shape his year. Joining Chavra D’Hilchisa means choosing structure and the satisfaction of walking away with something concrete.

Additional Chavra D’Hilchisa tracks are also available this year, including Hilchos Mikvaos with Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, Choshen Mishpat with Rav Zev Cohen, Hilchos Shabbos B’Iyun with Rabbi Simcha Bunim Londenski, Hilchos Niddah with Rabbi Shmuel Dov Bernath, and more.

To discuss which course is right for you and to sign up today, visit chavra.net, call 929-691-9486, or email [email protected].

New Jersey has been ranked the second-happiest state in the country, according to a new WalletHub study, placing the Garden State near the top of a national list measuring residents’ overall well-being.

New Jersey moved up from fourth place in WalletHub’s previous ranking, putting it behind only Hawaii in the 2026 study. Maryland ranked third, followed by Nebraska and Connecticut.

WalletHub compared all 50 states using dozens of measures across categories including emotional and physical well-being, work environment and community and environment.

New Jersey’s strong showing was driven in part by its performance in measures related to childhood experiences and overall well-being. According to WalletHub, New Jersey had the lowest share of residents reporting traumatic events during childhood and ranked fifth nationally on another key measure used in the study.

The study’s findings highlight several areas where New Jersey performs particularly well despite the state’s relatively high cost of living and other economic pressures.

WalletHub’s rankings are based on factors that go beyond income and economic conditions, incorporating measures intended to capture residents’ quality of life and personal well-being.

New Jersey residents also scored highly when it comes to marriage. The Garden State has the second-lowest separation and divorce rate in the country, with roughly 17% of marriages ending in separation or divorce, according to the study.

The state also performed well on measures of financial well-being.

New Jersey has the second-highest share of households earning more than $75,000 annually. It also has the seventh-lowest food insecurity rate in the country, a measure WalletHub said reflects progress in addressing poverty.

Hawaii took the top spot in the latest ranking, while Maryland, Nebraska and Connecticut rounded out the top five.

At the opposite end of the list, West Virginia was ranked the least-happy state, followed by Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Alaska.

The WalletHub ranking comes amid ongoing debates over quality of life in New Jersey, where residents contend with high housing costs and taxes but also benefit from relatively strong household incomes, access to employment opportunities and proximity to major metropolitan areas.

The study does not attempt to measure whether residents are literally happy at every moment, but instead uses a collection of statistical indicators as a proxy for overall happiness and well-being.

Neighboring New York was 11th and Pennsylvania was 25.

Are you happy here in New Jersey?

gilyon english

You can download it here.

With approximately 40 destinations, daily service from New York to Israel six days a week,
and new routes stretching from Morocco to the Far East, the Israeli carrier is giving travelers more options.

Arkia is becoming an increasingly significant presence in Israel’s international aviation
market, giving travelers more choice as it expands its network, increases frequencies on
major routes and pushes farther into long-haul travel.

The carrier now flies to approximately 40 international destinations across North America,
Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean, with a network that includes longtime favorites
alongside destinations such as New York, Bangkok, Phuket, Hanoi, Paris, London, Rome and
Amsterdam. And the map continues to expand.

In August, Arkia is resuming direct service to Marrakech after a three-year hiatus, while
Tokyo is set to join the airline’s Far East network in October with twice-weekly nonstop
service.

For American travelers, one of the most significant developments is Arkia’s New York–Israel
service. This is not a seasonal route or an occasional addition to the schedule. Arkia operates regular, year-round nonstop flights from JFK to Tel Aviv every day except Shabbat, with two flights departing New York on Sundays.

That steady schedule makes Arkia a genuine alternative for travelers flying from the United
States to Israel. During periods of particularly high demand, the airline also adds capacity. In August and September, for example, the New York route is being served by larger aircraft, including Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and, beginning in September, an Airbus A330-300 offering both Business and Economy Class.

That additional capacity matters in a market where periods of high demand can quickly
translate into limited availability and higher fares. An additional Israeli carrier operating
regular long-haul service gives passengers greater flexibility when comparing schedules,
prices and levels of service.

For travelers to Israel, there is another important advantage to having more than one Israeli airline operating a substantial international network: continuity. Regional tensions over the past several years have repeatedly led foreign airlines to suspend service to Israel,
sometimes for extended periods, while Israeli carriers have continued operating or have
been among the first to restore service when Israeli airspace reopened. Even at the time of
writing, some major international carriers have yet to fully resume their Israel schedules.

For Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz, that makes a strong Israeli aviation industry more than simply a question of competition. “Only Israeli airlines maintain the routes in moments of crisis,” he has said. “A country like ours, an island state, cannot exist without Israeli aviation.”
Alongside its steady year-round service, Arkia adjusts capacity to reflect actual travel
demand. During the summer months, the Jewish holidays and other peak travel periods, the airline can increase frequencies or add seats on high-demand routes, giving travelers
additional options precisely when availability is often tightest.

At the same time, Arkia has been broadening the product it offers. Business Class, already
part of its long-haul offering to New York and the Far East, has also been introduced on
selected European flights, beginning with Paris.

The passenger experience is another part of that effort. On every flight between New York
and Tel Aviv, passengers are served two hot, fully kosher meals, and baggage is included in
the price of the ticket. Arkia’s cabin crews are also specially trained to accommodate a wide
range of travelers, with an emphasis on cultural sensitivity and awareness of different
passenger needs. That can mean understanding the requirements of families with young
children, older travelers, religious passengers, business travelers and international tourists.
Arkia has also made its year-round New York service more useful to passengers throughout
North America. Through an interline agreement with JetBlue, travelers can fly from cities
across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean to JFK on JetBlue and connect
there to an Arkia flight to Israel. The agreement effectively extends Arkia’s reach far beyondNew York, giving many more passengers access to its nonstop service to Israel.

At this evening’s Board of Fire Commissioners meeting, the board recognized Captain Robert J. Leon Sr., who is retiring after serving the Lakewood community for more than 34 years.

Captain Leon began his service as a volunteer firefighter in 1992, serving until 2015. He also worked as a part-time firefighter for the district from 1997 until 2002, when he was hired full-time.

Speaking with TLS, Captain Leon said he was honored to have had the opportunity to serve the residents of Lakewood for so many years.

“I hope I leave the fire department in better hands today than when I first joined,” Leon said. “If I could go back in time, I would do it all over again. It has been the greatest job in the world, and it has been an honor to serve the residents of Lakewood Township.”

Additionally, at the meeting, three career firefighters who recently graduated from the fire academy were sworn in.

An orphaned yeshiva bachur stands alone in the world. His challenges are immense.

While every other bachur goes home to a father’s embrace, to a mother’s warmth – he goes home to emptiness. His heart bleeds as he sits and learns, moser nefesh for Torah while carrying a pain no one else can see.

We cannot leave him alone!

Our dear friend Harav Dovid Glick and his partners are doing the unthinkable – giving 620 yesomim everything they need to learn Torah with simcha and menuchas hanefesh.

But the burden is crushing. The cost is astronomical. They cannot do it without you.

THE GEDOLEI HADOR HAVE DECLARED: THIS IS YOUR INSURANCE POLICY FOR A GOOD YEAR!

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Midda Keneged Middah. You take care of His orphans – and Hakadosh Baruch Hu will take care of YOUR year. CLICK HERE.

And at the height of the Yemei HaDin, the Amudei HaTefillah of our generation – Harav Galai, Harav Yitzchok Kolodetsky and the Gaon and Posek Hador, Harav Moshe Shternbuch – will take the name of whoever donates $377—the exact gematria of שנה טובה (Shana Tova)—and daven for you – for a good year, a Gmar Chasima Tova, for salvations that are beyond the natural order, health, parnassah, and nachas for you and your entire family.

Don’t miss this guarantee! Click now, submit your names for tefillah, and enter Rosh Hashanah knowing that the אבי היתומים (father of orphans) is on your side.

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A Brick man was arrested today after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop near Brick Memorial High School and leading officers on a pursuit.

At approximately 7 a.m., a Brick police officer was conducting traffic enforcement on Lanes Mill Road near Brick Memorial High School when he observed a vehicle stopped on the shoulder while dropping off students.

The officer approached the vehicle and directed the driver, identified as 38-year-old Corey Goodwin of Brick, to move from the shoulder. During the interaction, the officer observed that Goodwin was not wearing a seatbelt and directed him to pull into the Boland Field parking lot so the motor vehicle stop could be conducted safely.

Goodwin initially appeared to comply, activating his turn signal, but instead accelerated northbound on Lanes Mill Road at a high rate of speed. Police said he crossed onto the wrong side of the roadway and passed other vehicles, nearly striking two uniformed school crossing guards who had stopped traffic in both directions.

The officer returned to his marked patrol vehicle and pursued Goodwin. During the pursuit, another officer, who was conducting radar enforcement nearby, clocked Goodwin’s vehicle traveling at 73 mph.

Goodwin eventually stopped at a residence on Lanes Mill Road and fled on foot. Officers pursued him through neighboring backyards in the area of Sawmill Road and Creek Road. Police said Goodwin crossed a creek near Creek Road and continued toward Greenwood Loop Road, where responding officers located and apprehended him.

Goodwin was transported to Brick Township Police Headquarters and charged with Eluding, Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, Hindering Apprehension, and Obstructing the Administration of Law.

A records check also revealed that Goodwin had two outstanding warrants for his arrest.

He was additionally issued multiple motor vehicle summonses, including Reckless Driving, Passing in a No-Passing Zone, Failure to Obey Police Directing Traffic, Failure to Comply with a Police Officer’s Direction, and Failure to Stop for a Crossing Guard’s Whistle, along with several other violations.

Goodwin was subsequently transported to and lodged in the Ocean County Jail.

The incident occurred as Brick Township police officers were actively enforcing traffic laws in and around school zones to protect students, crossing guards, school personnel, and motorists.

The department noted that the incident also follows a recent fatal crash in the area involving a bicyclist. While the incidents are unrelated, police said the recent loss of life serves as a solemn reminder of the potentially devastating consequences of unsafe driving.

The Brick Police Department urged all motorists to exercise caution, remain alert, obey posted traffic laws, and follow the directions of police officers and school crossing guards, particularly during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal when pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic is at its highest.

September 9, 2026- BOE Special Meeting Public Announcement- In Person
September 23, 2026- BOE Meeting Public Announcement- In Person

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Rabbi Moshe Petegorsky Z”L, originally from Chicago, who was Niftar this afternoon at the age of 86.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place tonight at 9:30 PM at 613 Ramsey Avenue.

The Shiva will be held at 173A Boxwood Drive in Lakewood.

Rabbi Petegorsky Z”L is survived by his wife, Mrs. Edith Petegorsky, his sons, Rabbi Aryeh Petegorsky, Rabbi Shalom Petegorsky, Rabbi Shimmy Petegorsky and Rabbi Gavi Petegorsky, and his daughters, Mrs. Elisheva Merzel, Mrs. Penina Pechman and Mrs. Tehila Weldler.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

Many local families are in desperate need of a Sukkah, and simply cannot afford it.

If you have an old one that’s not being used, consider donating it today and grab yourself some Zchusim ahead of the Yomim Noraim!

https://www.sukkahexchange.org/

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (“Orthodox Union”)—the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization—filed a friend-of-the-court brief in Daniel Grand v. City of University Heights, Ohio, a case addressing whether local governments can use land-use regulations to restrict religious practice while denying plaintiffs their right to sue until they exhaust the local zoning process.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the fall. The brief can be read here. The brief was drafted in partnership with the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

The case centers on Daniel Grand, an Orthodox Jew in University Heights, Ohio. As an Orthodox Jew, Grand is supposed to pray with a minyan—a gathering of ten men—and cannot drive to synagogue on the Sabbath. As such, he invited nearby Jews to gather at his home Saturday morning for prayer services.

The city of University Heights issued a cease-and-desist order, deeming the gathering a “place of religious assembly,” illegal without a city-issued permit. When Grand filed suit arguing a violation of his religious liberty, the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit said the case was not “ripe” because Grand had withdrawn his permit application before the city reached a final decision.

In its amicus brief, the Orthodox Union argues that the city’s zoning ordinance restricts religious practice, which is often centered around the home and time-bound. For Jews, the ruling threatens government interference with important home-based observances including “sitting shiva” after the death of a loved one or celebrating the Passover Seder.

The Sixth Circuit’s opinion creates an unfair Catch-22 in which a city can restrict a person’s religious practice, while simultaneously denying his right to challenge that restriction in court.

“Our Constitution enshrines the right to religious liberty in the First Amendment, but a right you cannot enforce is no right at all,” Executive Director Nathan Diament said. “The Sixth Circuit’s opinion gives a blank check to cities to restrict religious practice because it takes away a person’s right to challenge those restrictions in court. It also creates a perverse incentive for cities to encourage bureaucratic delays without consequence.

The Orthodox Union has been fighting religious discrimination in municipal land-use regulations for more than 25 years,” Diament continued. “We have made great progress, but that progress is the result of constant vigilance and an individual’s constitutional right to seek judicial review when government crosses a line. The Supreme Court should overturn the Sixth Circuit’s opinion and uphold that right.”

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New Jersey residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be eligible for higher maximum monthly benefits beginning October 1, as the federal government increases the monthly allotments in New Jersey and nearly every other state.

The increase is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual cost-of-living adjustment for SNAP, the federal food assistance program that helps low-income households pay for groceries.

Under the new 2027 SNAP allotments, a household of one will be eligible for a maximum monthly benefit of $306, an increase of $8. A two-person household will have a maximum of $562, up $16, while a three-person household will see its maximum increase by $23 to $808.

The maximum benefit for a four-person household will rise by $29 to $1,023 per month.

The new maximum amounts are:

One person: $306, up $8
Two people: $562, up $16
Three people: $808, up $23
Four people: $1,023, up $29
Five people: $1,217, up $34
Six people: $1,463, up $42
Seven people: $1,616, up $45
Eight people: $1,841, up $52

Households with nine to 17 members will receive an additional $225 per month for each additional person. The maximum monthly benefit for a household of 18 or more people will be $3,887.

The maximum benefit, however, is not necessarily the amount every SNAP recipient will receive. Actual benefits depend on factors including household income, size and certain allowable expenses.

SNAP benefits are now distributed through electronic benefit transfer cards and can be used to purchase eligible food items at participating retailers.

As the year comes to a close, come close.

Join thousands of women for a powerful evening of strength, clarity, and inspiration as we prepare to stand before our Father, our King.

Wednesday, September 9 | Kesser Moshe Yehudah | 7:30pm

Click HERE to register!

To the Editor,

Yom Tov season is upon us, and the pace of life takes another step up. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkos come with enormous beauty and enormous expense. Before we all get swept into our own preparations, I’d like to bring two things to people’s attention.

The first is money.

For families already under pressure, every grocery bill and every clothing store receipt this time of year adds to a weight that’s already there. A father or mother who is stretched thin can feel like something unbearable is being put on them, and it doesn’t let up until after Simchas Torah.

If you’re in a position to help someone, whether it’s a brother, a sister, a parent, a child, a cousin, or a neighbor, consider doing it.

And if you’re not sure how to give without embarrassing the person, that isn’t a reason to hold back. Give it to a Rov, or to someone who knows them, and let it get there that way. You can also just hand it over and say, “I have extra. Use it, or pass it on to someone who can.” Not knowing the mechanics shouldn’t stop anybody from giving.

One more thing on this. Do it now. Money that comes today saves a person weeks of lying awake. The same money the day before Yom Tov saves them one night.

The second is invitations.

There are people in every community with nowhere to be. Singles, divorced, widowed, people whose family lives far away, people who aren’t in touch with their family at all. Yom Tov is coming and they have no answer to a basic question, which is where will I eat and where will I sleep.

If you can host someone, invite them early and invite them specifically. “You’re always welcome by us” is kind, but it doesn’t settle anything. The person is still checking the calendar and still doing the math in their head. An invitation with an actual meal and an actual day attached to it puts that to rest.

You can’t guarantee that every Yom Tov meal will be pleasant for every guest. But you can spare someone the weeks of not knowing, and that alone is worth doing.

Neither of these things takes much. Both are worth a great deal more now than they’ll be worth in three weeks.

Kesiva V’Chasima Tova to the entire klal yistoel

M.D

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

Lakewood firefighters are on scene of an active gas leakon Paris Avenue after a construction crew reportedly struck a gas line.

The incident happened at approximately 11:30 AM.

Natural gas was seen shooting from the damaged line, prompting an emergency response.

How did Shabbos mode come to be—and what problems was it actually designed to solve? Rabbi Shmuel Katz, Rabbinic Coordinator at the cRc, joins R’ Yitzy Hisiger for a fascinating look at the history, halachic challenges, and ingenious solutions behind the Shabbos modes in today’s appliances.

View it in its entirety at: https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/a-mode-of-its-own

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

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

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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

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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

Click here to Join a LTK WhatsApp Group

Transcription

Hello everyone and welcome back to Let’s Talk Kashrus,presented by the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Today I amjoined by Rabbi Shmuel Katz, Rabbinic Coordinator at theChicago Rabbinical Council. Thank you, Rabbi Katz, forjoining us once again. Thank you.

The last time we met, we spoke about the concept of Shabbos_mode, and you gave us a beautiful primer about the workingsof Shabbos mode, halachically, practically. What I’d like todiscuss with you today briefly are some of the issues that_Shabbos mode came to address. I think it would be interestingto go back historically to when the original oven shailos_arose. What were the issues that were discussed by the_poskim, and how did Shabbos mode address those issues? So_Shabbos_ modes were started only in the last 30 years, but the_shailos_ have been about 100 years old.

And the shailos, the tshuvas really started with the thermostatson fridges. This was an electronic appliance, and peoplediscovered that it had a thermostat, which meant when thetemperature in the fridge gets too high, it turns the fridge backon to cool it back down. So people opened the fridge, the coldair would come in, it would make it warm and it would causeit to go on. And the poskim discussed: Can you cause thefridge to go on on Shabbos when you open the door? Can youopen the door and allow it to happen? An oven’s was the samething.

It had a thermostat. You open the oven door, the cold airwould go in, it would cause the temperature to drop, the firewould then go back on to do it. Ovens as well, if you open theoven door, even if the flame is on, the fire would stay on forlonger because now it needs to stay on for longer, like being_mosef shemen_, which is a problem on Shabbos. Is that mosefshemen? And is your action of opening the oven door directlycausing this? So Rabbi Shlomo Zalman has many tshuvas, andis probably the original of the heterim to open the fridge on_Shabbos_ even when the compressor’s not on.

So some solved this by just waiting for the fridge to turn on.Only when the compressor was on and it was rattling, wouldyou open the fridge door because then you’re not causing it togo on, it’s already on. And the same thing with ovens, wouldonly open the oven door when the fire was on. This is whatbecame…

there were people who were being meikel and wouldn’t worryabout this shaila because of their rabbonim, and the ones whowere machmir were very often just waiting for the compressorto go on or the fridge to go on. And that was the original_Shabbos_ mode. You just spoke to your rabbi, you knew howto use it in a way that’s appropriate for Shabbos. And thenabout 25, 30 years ago, the appliance manufacturers weretapping into this and working with, and the Star-K was a realpioneer in Shabbos modes to solve Shabbos problems.

Originally at that point, they were focused more on more newproblems, not related to the old ones. So some new ovens,after 12 hours they would turn off. Who leaves their oven ontwenty-four, for 12 hours? After 12 hours it would go off, andthat would be a problem for Shabbos or Yom Tov for sure ifyou needed to keep it on. Another very practical thing, butpeople would like their oven to go off Friday night, set thetimer so it turns off Friday night after your food’s done.

So ovens come with a time-bake feature where you can set atimer, but almost all ovens they beep and they continuouslybeep after the timer ends, which would be very annoying on_Shabbos_ to have the timer beeping the rest of Shabbos, and_Shabbos_ mode would disable that. So there was a couple ofthose practical types of things that the Shabbos mode wassolving. Then lights became common, and Shabbos modevery often were also able to solve the light. Fridges also the_Shabbos_ mode came to solve a bunch of problems.

One of the probably biggest problems, besides for the light,those don’t turn off after 12 hours like ovens do, but there’s adefrost in the back of the fridge. It builds up ice, or frost-freeare fridges. In the old days you had to manually defrost yourfridge. Ours are frost-free, gratefully we’re not dealing withthe ice build-up.

But the way it does is it turns it off and it puts a heating,there’s a heating element in there and it gets red hot. Itactually, which we, which is esh. There’s fire in there. Soeventually there’s a fire going to go on in the back of yourfridge, a halachic fire for Shabbos purposes, that’s going tomelt the ice off.

So the question was what triggered that to go on and off? Soin more recent models, again, recently not in the last fewyears but in the past decades, they’ve put those on, they wantto do it efficiently, so they started doing it by how often thecompressor runs. After a certain amount of time thecompressor’s running and the fridge is cooling, it assumesthere’s a build-up and it will go into defrost mode. Anotherthing they would do is count how many times you open thedoor, because humidity affects how much humidity’s in thefridge is going to affect it, and that’s going to also depend howmany times you open the door and let in ambient air into thefridge. So it counts those door switches.

So eventually you’d open the door a few times, let’s say it’severy tenth door opening, you’ve that tenth one, you’veopened it and it said let’s turn on the defrost, and that’sactually a de’oraysa shaila because it’s an actual fire going onin there. So the Shabbos modes almost universally solve thatby Putting it on a fixed timer. It goes on every so oftenautomatically, unrelated to how often the compressor’srunning and how many times the door’s been opened. It’s beenable to solve some of those as well.

It’ll disable Shabbos modes will disable the buttons so almostall the buttons won’t work on your fridges and on your ovenor at least when you push them nothing will happen, nothingwill be visible from it. So they’ve come to solve a lot of minorissues and then some practical issues and then some _halachic_issues as well. The Shabbos modes have become very helpfulfor. Got it.

Any other issues that you wanted to discuss as far as the_Shabbos_ mode addressing? We discussed thermostats, youdiscussed the the defrost right. So the door switches is alsosomething we discussed in the last episode. We discussed lasttime yeah. The door switch and what the door switch does.

But just to go back to the pre-Shabbos mode days of thethermostat to discuss that for a minute. Rav Shlomo Zalmanwas talking about in his teshuvas. He’s talking about a veryold thermostat that they would use then which had a capsuleof gas of liquid. If it got too warm it would expand into gasand would blow up a what was called a bellows which isessentially a balloon.

And that balloon would physically push a button to contactand turn the oven on or turn the fridge on and then it wouldcool, it would go back into liquid, it would shrink and then thecontacts would come off and that’s how the compressor wentoff. So this was a very physical physical manual of sortsanalog version of a thermostat. Thermostats have come havechanged quite a bit. Our current thermostats in ovens andfridges have no moving parts.

There’s just a little bit of metal in there. The computer’ssending an electrical signal through what is a thermistor andit’s and measures the resistance of the electric through it andthat resistance changes based on temperatures. It’s veryminute. It changes very slightly but these are super sensitiveand they can pick up the slightest changes in temperature bysending electricity through a piece of metal and seeing how itcomes out the other end.

They can detect it so it’s it’s an entirely different thermostatthan Rav Shlomo Zalman was ever talking about which doeshave halachic ramifications and the poskim and the certifiersof Shabbos modes work very closely with to figure out. So_Rav_ Shlomo Zalman was was meikel in certain scenarios.There were machmirim but since then the Shabbos modeshave said hey we can actually solve we might be able to solvethe thermostat problem as well. So besides for making it aslike an old thermostat or at least as good as the one thatShlomo Zalman was being mattir, they said we can solve itentirely and various attempts have been made at figuring outhow to solve this.

Some some super creative. Some people were just puttingtheir fridges on timers. You put your fridge on a timer it thewhole fridge goes off every 15 minutes for five minutes andwhile it’s off you quickly open it and close it and you takewhatever you want out. It’s not very good for the new fridges.

The new fridges have a computer in there and they have verystrict cheshbonos on how they operate and when they do so itfor the new fridges. Would it be good for it to be going on andoff randomly? It’s terrible for the fridge. The new the newfancy fridges it’s completely terrible for but this is whatpeople were doing. The old fridges could handle it becausethat’s kind of how they were built anyways.

They were just unplugging and plugging themselves in withthe bellows. But the new fridges they can’t they’re not built forit so you’re really going to reduce the life of your fridge if youdo something like that. Even taping down your door switchthe whole week is bad for the fridge because they they builtthe fridge to be to rely on that feedback for various functionsand and the experts say it’ll reduce the life of your fridge ifyou keep it taped down the whole week. It may not even coolproperly because it’s it relies that when it’s the door’s open itwill know it.

So over Shabbos it’ll be okay but over to do it the whole weekand just leave it like that permanently on the newer fridgesthey say will reduce the lifespan of your fridge. So the theways to solve the thermostat we started with putting it on atimer some people were doing and then the agencies gotinvolved and they were able to work with the work with themand and come up with creative solutions. So some of themhave where they put it instead of constantly taking thetemperature and knowing and then immediately acting uponwhenever there’s a change in temperature to turn the theappliance on or off it goes it’s set to go on at fixed intervals.It’ll take a reading right before it goes on to see if it’s off abase if it’s out of the window but instead of an immediateevery every few minutes it’ll take one it’ll be set to go on andthen it’ll just take a baseline reading to see if it’s off base andneeds to skip that one.

That’s how some solved it. The new Shabbos mode they dosomething very fascinating. They take the ambient airtemperature. Instead of taking the temperature in the oventhey’ll take the temperature outside the oven and they’ll knowbased on the temperature outside the oven how often the fireinside needs to go on or off.

Interesting. Another another solution some came up with wasto let the oven remember from during the the fridge rememberfrom during the week. We know that in your house this is howoften the fridge the compressor needs to go on to keep youritems cool because we’ve measured it the whole week. So it’sgonna vary from house to house and appliance to applianceand use person to person depending on how you use it.

So it depends on the person, your usage of it, depends on theenvironment around it, depends on the ambient temperature inthe room, the humidity, all things, so if you just measure thatduring the week you can now know pretty well how oftenyou’re gonna need to go on and you just skip the thermostatentirely and on Shabbos only use go based on a fixed timecycle that you’ve determined by using the week beforehand.So there’ve been some creative ways that the Shabbos modeshave been able to solve the thermostat shaylah and make theovens and fridges even better than they were when the tshuvos_were started to be written about a hundred years ago and those_tshuvos when they were struggling with the thermostat BaruchHashem they’ve some of them have been able to solve it in away that’s way better than we’ve had in the past but again thisvaries from model to model, it varies from certifier to certifierand type of Shabbos mode to type of Shabbos mode it’s gonnavary. So to know what you actually if you’ve always been_machmir_ on the thermostat shaylah you’re gonna want toknow how your current one works very specifically with yourspecific model to make sure that it’s changed enough for youto change the way what you’ve been doing in your house untilnow. Got it.

Okay, so you know the bottom line is if you have whateverappliances in your house you have to make sure that you’refollowing the proper protocol and people who are buyingappliances in addition to finding out the features, the model,the price you have to find out the halachic ramifications andcomponents and get proper guidance so that it addresses someof the issues that you spoke about today that Shabbos modewere designed was designed to solve. Yeah. Right, and I wantto add that it is very important if you have an appliance inyour house to find out how it works but it’s also crucial ifyou’re going to buy an appliance understand how you want touse it and figure out if this is what you want to do with it andwhat the right model for you is. If you don’t intend to ever_kasher_ it for Pesach then don’t worry about kashering it for_Pesach_ when purchasing your model.

But if you do you may want to know that in advance. Here’sanother example on ranges. Induction burners are verypopular right now. A lot of houses they’re neat, they’re sleek,they might even be safer because they don’t get hot.

But if you have non-Jewish domestic help they’re terriblebecause you can’t turn the fire on and let them put a pot on thestove anymore as Ashkenazim because there’s no fire there. Soif you have non-Jewish you don’t want to buy an inductionburner if you have because then you have to actually put thepot on the stove for them. You can’t just turn the fire on andlet them go induction burner. So it’s worth pre-purchase walkin don’t buy the sleekest model and then afterwards call your_rav_ and say how do I use this on Shabbos? Figure out howyou want to use it and then go buy a model that fits yourneeds in the best halachic way possible that matches yourneeds as well.

Excellent. Rabbi Katz thank you this has been a tremendouslesson in the workings of our home appliances and we greatlyappreciate your expertise. Thank you. Thank you.

Lakewood Police are searching for a reportedly armed man who was spotted in the area of Clover and Laurel Streets this morning.

As first reported on TLS Communities, the individual was reportedly seen at approximately 9:00 AM, prompting a large response from Lakewood Police officers and detectives, some of whom were armed with long guns.

It is currently unknown whether the individual is wanted in connection with any other crimes.

As the investigation continues, police have shut down Clover Street between Route 88 and Cedar Bridge Avenue.

This is a developing story, and TLS will provide updates as they become available.

UPDATE: 10:30 AM: Statement from the LPD: “Lakewood Police officers responded to the area of Laurel and Clover following a report of an individual who may have been armed.

As officers searched the area, a nearby school was placed on lockdown out of an abundance of caution. An individual was subsequently located in connection with the incident, and no weapon was observed or located.

At this time, there is no known threat to the public and no indication of an ongoing threat in the area.

Officers will remain in the area as they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the initial report. Residents may notice a continued police presence as a precaution.

Additional information will be provided as appropriate.”

Their strength. Their emunah. The way they chose Shalom through unimaginable pain.

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NSK Rosh Hashana Bedikas Tolaim Guide 5787
NSK Rosh Hashana Bedikas Tolaim Guide-5787- 1 page

Noam – The Talk of the Town

Wherever I go, whoever I speak to… it keeps coming up.

“Noam. Did you see it?”
“We just got it.”
“My sister has one, she’s obsessed.”
“They say it’s a game changer.”

**NOAMWATER.COM
**

At first, I didn’t pay much attention. A new water machine? Nu nu. But then I saw it. In my neighbor’s kitchen. Then in my sister’s. Then at my cousin’s house in Williamsburg. Suddenly it was everywhere.

Now I Get the Hype

It’s not just that the water is filtered
Or that it’s always cold
Or that the hot water is ready for tea or coffee in a second

It’s the fact that it feels like it belongs in a frum kitchen

No timers
No “set it up before Shabbos”
No forgetting
The machine just knows and switches to Shabbos mode by itself

It Fits Right In

Noam doesn’t take over the kitchen, but it makes its presence known in the best way. It’s clean, compact enough for any counter, and adds a modern, organized feel to the space. The design is thoughtful and built for real homes

The Feature That Could Save Lives

Ask any Hatzolah member, and they’ll tell you. Too many calls. Too many burned hands. Too many accidents from urns and Shabbos kettles

With Noam, the hot water is protected. A built-in child safety lock makes sure no little hands can get hurt. It’s not a luxury. It’s not a detail. It’s peace of mind for every parent

Shabbos Mode. CRC. No Questions Asked

When it comes to technology on Shabbos, Noam checks all the boxes. With built-in Shabbos mode and a full CRC certification, it’s ready for the most mehudar homes — no explaining needed

It’s One of Those Things You Wonder How You Lived Without 

**NOAMWATER.COM
**

You don’t have to run to the grocery because you forgot to buy water bottles. You don’t have to boil, wait, or refill. You just press a button. Done

 And the best part? No one’s fighting anymore
The kids drink more water
Shabbos prep is calmer
And when guests come, it’s ready

 Noam is Everywhere, For a Reason

 It’s not a trend
It’s not a gimmick

It’s just smart

And once it’s in your home, you’ll see exactly what everyone’s talking about.

To hear more or to order, call 347-503-3082 or NOAMWATER.COM

Due to the situation on the ground we have notified
The Agudah is running its once-a-year Charidy campaign over the next 48 hours. We need everyone who supports our mission to help us reach our goal so that we can continue doing for Klal Yisroel, 

CLICK HERE TO JOIN CAMPAIGN

Some see the glass half full

and celebrate how far they’ve come.

At Agudah, we see the half

that still needs filling.

Because 50% of a problem solved

means 50% still needs solving.

So we don’t stop.

We don’t settle.

WE KEEP DOING.

Until the job is done.

50% DOWN.

50% TO GO

Agudah is there, working for Klal Yisroel.

Meeting. Talking. Writing. Advocating.

Bringing our community’s needs to Albany, Washington, and wherever else they must be heard.

But Agudah can’t do it alone.

We need you to do your part.

Together, we can do this,  for our communities, our kinderlach, our Klal Yisroel

CLICK HERE TO JOIN CAMPAIGN

A truck knocked out an electrical box at the intersection of River Avenue and Prospect Street in Lakewood this evening.

The accident happened shortly before 8:00 p.m., knocking out power to traffic lights in the area.

Drivers are urged to use caution and treat any non-functioning traffic lights as a four-way stop until the issue is repaired.

Leading Gedolei Yisrael are calling upon Klal Yisrael to partner with Vaad Harabanim in supporting widows, orphans and struggling families throughout Eretz Yisrael. They are asking each person to contribute $600, or $50 a month for 12 months. May this tremendous zechus bring donors and their families health, parnassah, nachas and great yeshuos.

SPECIAL GIFTS: $360+ — Beautiful silver knife, a well-known segulah for abundant parnassah | $600+ — Special Shtar Chaim signed by the Gedolim + the silver knife

DONATE HERE – CLICK HERE.

SHTAR CHAIM SIGNED BY:

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlita
Rav Dov Landau shlita
Rav Elimelech Biderman shlita
Rav Dovid Cohen shlita
Rav Reuven Elbaz shlita
The Rachmastrivka Rebbe shlita

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Rebbetzin Sara Bressler A”H, the wife of יבלחט”א Reb Chaim Bressler, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Scranton. She was 87 years old.

Together with her husband, Rebbetzin Bressler played an instrumental role in building the Scranton Yeshiva more than six decades ago, helping establish what has grown into the thriving Makom Torah it is today.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place tonight at 10:00 PM at the chapel.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

Levaya of Rebbitzen Sarah Bressler

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86226137649?pwd=wr6XHAIVwH4TZi7GFDv7OJ2lsACIXG.1
Passcode:622300

A new initiative is seeking to connect families willing to open their homes for Shabbos with Minyan Shelanu boys or girls who are in need of a place to stay.

The Minyan Shelanu Home for Shabbos program is building a trusted network of families who can host when the need arises, with no weekly commitment required.

Families interested in participating can fill out a short form and, once approved, will be added to the hosting network. When a need arises, it will be posted to the Shabbos group, allowing families to host whenever it works for them.

Those interested in joining the Shabbos host network can click here.

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:

Thank you for the recent upgrades to the Ocean County Park. We’re truly enjoying it and it’s so nice not to have to leave Lakewood to find a decent park. I was wondering if it would be possible to put a portapotty near the playground. I find it very difficult to have to take all my young kids with me across the entire field to use the bathrooms, all while pushing a stroller across the lawn. On some occasions, I have had to do it more than once while there. It would make a big difference to many families.

Thank you

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon

I have contacted the County and asked them to look into this.

Ray

—————–

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

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

The Lake Carasaljo Pedestrian Bridge has been temporarily repaired and reopened while the Township awaits replacement parts.

Officials previously said the bridge was vandalized, although no further information regarding the vandalism has been released.

The bridge stretches across Lake Carasaljo between north and south lake.

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

The Agudah is running its once-a-year Charidy campaign over the next 48 hours. We need everyone who supports our mission to help us reach our goal so that we can continue doing for Klal Yisroel,

One more train to Albany.
One more flight to Washington.
One more hallway in City Hall.

Standing before the podium wondering if anyone is listening, and speaking anyway. Fighting battles most people will never know were fought.
The goalposts keep moving.
The noise gets louder.

The resistance gets stronger.

But so does the need.

When the doing gets tough, the tough keep doing.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN CAMPAIGN

Behind every headline are months, sometimes years, of relentless effort.
Behind every “overnight victory” are dedicated askonim and a full team, pouring in sweat and tears.

We safeguard our freedoms.
We uphold Torah values.
We support our schools, our shuls, our communities.

And it happens everywhere, every single day. From bussing in Florida to special-ed funding in New York; from end-of-life care in Iowa to security in California; from zoning challenges in Blooming Grove to combating antisemitism in D.C. Whatever Klal Yisroel needs, Agudah is there.

Agudah is there, working for Klal Yisroel.
Meeting. Talking. Writing. Advocating.
Bringing our community’s needs to Albany, Washington, and wherever else they must be heard.

But Agudah can’t do it alone.
We need you to do your part.
Together, we can do this, for our communities, our kinderlach, our Klal Yisroel

CLICK HERE TO JOIN CAMPAIGN

Can’t make it to us?

We’ll bring it to you – orders usually out the door in about 15 minutes!

Order on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/NXYME3DPOGT3K1

Or online: www.Burgerbarnj.com

An accident involving a school bus is causing significant traffic delays in the Hearthstone neighborhood this morning.

The accident happed around 9:20 AM on Claire Drive.

No serious injuries are being reported at this time.

Avoid the area.

There is an addiction growing around us that we are barely talking about.

It is gambling addiction.

It is one of the most dangerous and overlooked addictions affecting our community today.

With the explosion of mobile sports betting, online casinos, gaming, and prediction markets, gambling is no longer something that requires walking into a casino or even leaving your home. It can happen silently, privately, and around the clock—behind a phone screen or computer. It is increasingly accessible to teenagers, young adults, and young men.

I know this because I lived it.

What makes gambling addiction so frightening is how easy it can be to hide.

An alcoholic may eventually come home drunk. Someone struggling with drugs may show physical or behavioral signs that others recognize. But a gambling addict can walk into shul, go to work, sit at the supper table, smile at his family, and carry on what appears to be a completely normal life while something inside him is slowly eating him alive.

The losses don’t necessarily show on the outside.

The panic doesn’t show.

The shame doesn’t show.

The fear doesn’t show.

The gambling addict can be fighting an enormous battle entirely alone.

And then there is the terrible cycle that gambling creates.

You lose money, and you tell yourself you’ll win it back.

You lose again, and you tell yourself that the next bet will fix everything.

You tell yourself, “I’m not really addicted.”

“I can stop whenever I want.”

“I haven’t touched my retirement account.”

“I haven’t lost money that I absolutely needed.”

“It’s not that bad.”

But that is how it begins.

Every serious gambling problem starts somewhere.

You don’t have to lose your house to have a gambling problem. You don’t have to empty your 401(k). You don’t have to lose a life-changing amount of money. You don’t have to reach what you consider “rock bottom” before you are allowed to ask for help.

If gambling is controlling you, it’s already time to take action.

And there is another aspect of gambling addiction that makes it uniquely devastating: the hopelessness.

An addict may think, “When I finally stop, everyone will find out what I did. The money is gone. I can’t get it back. I’ve embarrassed myself. I’ve hurt my family. How can I possibly recover from this?”

That shame and guilt can become unbearable.

But there is something a gambling addict needs to understand:

You can recover.

You may not be able to recover the money you lost. You may not be able to erase every mistake. But you can recover your life.

You can stop the bleeding.

You can tell someone.

You can get help.

You can rebuild.

And you don’t have to do it alone.

Maybe you’re a bochur who is betting some of the money you made during bein hazmanim.

Maybe you’re a young professional who tells himself he is only betting his bonuses.

Maybe you’re a young father who thinks, “It’s only a few bets here and there.”

Maybe nobody knows.

Maybe you have become very good at making sure nobody knows.

You know who you are.

And I’m not writing this to judge you. I’m writing this because I know what it feels like.

The hardest part of any addiction is often admitting that you have a problem. Human beings are incredibly good at making excuses for ourselves and convincing ourselves that we are still in control.

But if you’re constantly thinking about gambling, chasing losses, hiding your gambling, lying about how much you’ve lost, borrowing money to gamble, or believing that one big win will solve your problems, please don’t wait until things get worse.

There are resources available. There are people who understand this. There are professionals and organizations that can help you confidentially and without judgment.

Make the call. Send the text. Write the email. Take that first step.

You don’t have to wait for rock bottom.

In fact, please don’t.

Because rock bottom is a lonely place—and one of the most frightening things about gambling addiction is that you can reach it while the people around you have absolutely no idea what is happening.

If you are struggling, please reach out.

I am willing to help connect people anonymously and confidentially with organizations and individuals who can provide assistance.

You can email [email protected].

You don’t have to tell everyone.

You don’t have to have all the answers.

You just have to take the first step.

Don’t let this consume you. You still have control. Use it.

Every addiction starts somewhere. And every recovery starts somewhere too.

Let yours start with one phone call, one text, or one email.

You will never regret asking for help.

Sincerely,
A fellow community member who has lived it

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

For years, survivors carry the same questions.

Where do I go?

Where are people who understand?

Where do I belong?

Where does healing begin?

For many, the answer isn’t easy to find.

Then they find Ray of Hope.

They meet women who understand what they’ve been through. They join a support group. They build genuine friendships. They discover a community where no explanation is needed, because everyone simply gets it.

And somewhere along the way, they find their here.

Ray of Hope supports survivors of sexual abuse with compassion, community, and care. From one-on-one support to group healing experiences, our programs reach across the globe to provide dignity, strength, and connection. 

With your help, more survivors can find their here.

Help us raise $3.2 million on September 6-8.

Click HERE to donate!

One person was seriously injured in an accident in Lakewood this evening.

The accident, which involved two vehicles – including one stolen vehicle – occured at the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and Pine Street just after 8:30pm.

One driver appeared to have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, witnesses on scene told TLS.

The cause of accident remains under investigation.

To join via Zoom:

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

 929-205-6099  ID: 645572066

With Rosh Hashanah menu planning getting serious, we got curious about something: Are people still looking for the same foods they always have, or has the way we cook started to change?

Kosher.com looked at searches performed on the site from January through August 20 of this year and compared them with the same period in 2025.

The part we were interested in wasn’t just which kugel won. We were trying to see what people want from their kitchens and menus right now, and how it might be changing from the past.

Searches related to one-pot, one-pan and sheet-pan cooking, doubled year over year.

Searches for slow cooker and crockpot recipes rose nearly a third.

And searches related to make-ahead and freezer cooking also increased.

There are still plenty of people making the challah, the kugel, the chicken, the meat, the sides, the desserts, and then somehow starting all over again for the next meal. They would just rather not dirty every pot in the kitchen to do it.

The data suggests that the familiar foods themselves are still very much around. Searches for noodle, lokshen and lukshen kugel were essentially unchanged from last year, while challah searches were up about 7%.

So it seems to be less about replacing the traditional table, and more about finding easier ways to get it there.

That also fits with something Kosher.com has been seeing around Rosh Hashanah specifically: cooks are increasingly looking for ways to work the simanim directly into the meal.

Instead of putting every symbolic food on the table as a separate thing, apples, dates, pomegranates, carrots, leeks, squash and honey are showing up inside salads, sides, chicken, meat, and desserts.

The goal is still a Yom Tov table that feels special. People are simply getting a little more strategic about how many separate dishes it takes to create one.

For anyone currently staring down their own Rosh Hashanah cooking list, that desire for less potchke probably sounds familiar.

There are still plenty of things worth making from scratch and plenty of recipes worth pulling out every single year. The trick is figuring out where to put the effort, and where to make life easier.

Kosher.com’s 2026 Rosh Hashanah cookbook is one place to start, with ideas for appetizers, mains, sides, challah and dessert. We handpicked the recipes, keeping in mind trends we’ve seen from our readers about what we think they will like most. Everything is elegant and Yom Tov-worthy, but still approachable.

Get our free Rosh Hashanah cookbook here: https://kosher.kit.com/rosh-hashanah-cookbook-2026

If all the traditional recipes are staying on the menu, finding a few smarter ways to get there sounds like a trend worth keeping.

Data is based on searches performed by users on Kosher.com from January 1 through August 20, 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.

Sponsored by Kosher.com

When it comes to an esrog, everybody’s got their thing. Some guy wants a Chazon Ish. Some guy’s holding out for a Teimani. Somebody’s asking about the pitom, somebody wants it greener, somebody’s got a whole opinion about the gartel that most people don’t even understand. It’s personal.

Most people walking into a store are picking from whatever’s sitting on the table in front of them. That’s it. That’s the selection. EsrogShopper.com does it completely differently. You tell them exactly what you’re looking for, and someone who actually knows esrogim goes and searches for it. Not close enough. Not pretty good. The one you actually had in mind. They’re going through over ten thousand esrogim to find it, and every set comes rabbinically certified and checked.

If you want an esrog that somebody actually shopped for, instead of one you just settled on, check out EsrogShopper.com, or give them a call at 732-246-6300.

Hiddur. Delivered.

Yeshiva Heichal Hatalmud celebrated a major milestone today with the Hanochas Even Hapina for its future campus on Bellevue Avenue, off Cross Street, marking an exciting new chapter in the growth of the Yeshiva.

The gathering was addressed by HaRav Elya Brudny Shlita, together with the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Moshe Weiss Shlita.

The new campus represents a significant step forward for Yeshiva Heichal Hatalmud as it continues to grow and expand in Lakewood.

Ozempic seems to be very popular. Someone told me it’s wonderful. Someone told me I should avoid it. What do you think?

By Aharon Elkayam, M.S.

Aharon’s new series, “Health FAQs,” answers common questions about popular and practical health topics — giving you honest answers rooted in science, and committed to natural, sustainable solutions that work in tune with how your body is designed to function.

Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs are all the rage worldwide, promoted as a breakthrough solution to obesity. They suppress appetite and produce significant weight loss, which understandably makes them attractive to people who have struggled for years.

It seems like people have finally found a “silver bullet” for our obesity problems, in a shot.

But before using one, it’s important to understand what these medications actually do — and what they don’t.

The most important thing to understand is that Ozempic does not heal the root causes of obesity.

It doesn’t help you eat a healthier diet. It doesn’t repair a damaged relationship with food. It doesn’t build muscle or encourage exercise.

It primarily works by interfering with normal appetite and digestion so that you eat less.

Sounds great, right? For some people, in the short term, it certainly can be. But eventually you have to face reality: forcing the body to consume less food isn’t the same thing as restoring health.

How does Ozempic work?

Ozempic contains semaglutide, a drug that mimics a hormone called GLP-1. It sends strong fullness signals to the brain, reduces hunger, and slows the movement of food out of the stomach. In other words, it suppresses your desire to eat.

This can be effective for cutting calories, but hunger isn’t merely an inconvenience or a character flaw. Think of it this way: if you felt lonely, would you want to numb that ache with a pill instead of reaching out to a friend? Maybe for a little while — but not for the rest of your life.

Hunger works the same way. Like loneliness, which pushes you toward connection with people who care about you, hunger pushes you toward the foods that keep you alive and nourished. When a drug powerfully overrides that system for a long period, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that problems follow.

People on these drugs sometimes become so uninterested in food that they struggle to eat balanced meals or get enough nutrients. Some feel full after a few bites. Others become nauseated at the thought of eating.

What are the side effects?

Beyond the underlying problem with using these drugs as a health strategy, it’s also worth knowing that, like all medications, they come with side effects — which is probably why you know someone who started one and then had to stop.

The most commonly reported issues with GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, reflux, and a persistent feeling of fullness. Not exactly the same side-effect profile as starting the Mediterranean diet.

These effects aren’t random — they trace directly back to the drug’s mechanism, since Ozempic deliberately slows digestion and alters appetite. More serious complications can include dehydration, kidney injury, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, and excessive slowing of stomach emptying.

Does the weight loss include muscle?

When people lose weight quickly while eating very little, the body doesn’t burn only fat — it can also break down muscle and other lean tissue. This isn’t a minor concern with GLP-1 drugs.

In a body-composition substudy of the pivotal STEP 1 trial, patients on semaglutide lost about 15% of their body weight — and roughly 40% of that loss was lean mass rather than fat. That’s a notably larger lean-mass share than typically seen with diet-alone weight loss, where the rule of thumb is usually closer to a quarter.

Some more recent studies have found smaller lean-mass losses, especially when patients get enough protein and stay active, but the pattern shows up consistently enough that endocrinologists now flag it as a real risk, particularly for women and older adults.

Muscle is essential for far more than appearance. It supports metabolism, protects the bones and joints, helps regulate blood sugar, and allows people to remain active and independent as they age.

This is particularly concerning for older adults, who may already be losing muscle naturally. A person may celebrate a lower number on the scale while unknowingly becoming weaker.

Manufacturers and weight-loss clinics tend to emphasize total pounds lost. A more meaningful question is how much fat was lost, how much muscle was preserved, and whether the person actually became healthier and stronger.

What happens when you stop taking it?

For many users, hunger returns, and weight begins to come back.

This shouldn’t be surprising. The medication didn’t necessarily change the diet, food environment, emotional triggers, or lifestyle that existed before treatment — it temporarily suppressed the biological drive to eat. Once that suppression is removed, the original pressures often remain.

What the research is saying is that for most people, GLP-1 drugs work only as long as they keep taking them. That turns what’s often marketed as a short-term fix into a long-term, possibly lifelong, commitment.

That raises real practical questions: What happens if insurance stops paying? What happens if side effects worsen? What happens if the medication becomes unavailable?

Is maintaining a healthy weight impossible without an injection?

And underneath all of that: what happens when the health problems caused by a poor diet catch up with you regardless?

The take-home: a treatment that works only as long as it’s continuously taken shouldn’t be confused with a cure. It may be a reasonable short-term tool in extreme situations, but it isn’t a cure.

But isn’t obesity a medical condition?

Obesity is associated with serious health risks, but that doesn’t mean the first or best response should always be pharmaceutical.

Much of modern obesity is driven by an abnormal food environment — often called the “Standard American Diet,” or SAD. People are surrounded by heavily processed products engineered to be intensely rewarding, easy to consume, and hard to stop eating.

These foods are calorie-dense while being low in fiber, water, and natural bulk. They can overwhelm the body’s normal appetite-regulation mechanisms.

Many people simply haven’t been taught how to eat well or how to change their habits. Ozempic lets them keep eating the same foods while using medication to suppress their desire to eat them.

It’s also worth saying plainly: the companies selling these drugs profit when people stay on them for life, not when people learn to need them less. That’s just how the incentives are built.

Most of us know, deep down, that eating badly while suppressing the resulting hunger with a drug isn’t sustainable. We wouldn’t take this approach to personal finances or raising children — in neither case would you reach for a pill to manage the stress instead of addressing what’s actually going on. You’d get the finances, or the kid, on the right track.

What happens when someone takes Ozempic and still eats badly?

For most people, Ozempic just means eating smaller portions of fast food, sweets, processed meat, and refined snacks — and, unsurprisingly, they lose weight, because total calorie intake has fallen.

But weight loss alone does not equal good health.

Ozempic can’t provide fiber. It can’t nourish the gut microbiome. It can’t replace vegetables, fruit, beans, intact whole grains, and other nutrient-dense whole foods. And it can’t undo the effects of a diet high in saturated fat, sodium, and ultra-processed ingredients on heart health simply by shrinking portion sizes.

Eating less junk food may help you lose weight, but it isn’t the same as learning to eat a healthy diet.

What is the better approach?

The long-term goal should be to restore normal appetite regulation rather than chemically silence it.

A diet built around whole, minimally processed plant foods lets people eat satisfying portions while naturally consuming fewer calories. Foods rich in fiber and water create fullness without the extreme calorie density found in oils, cheese, sweets, and processed snacks.

A complete approach should also include regular movement, resistance exercise, adequate sleep, stress reduction, and support for emotional eating when it’s part of the picture.

People are capable of making this change. Assuming they cannot—and that obesity is simply a genetic or medical condition requiring a chemical crutch, rather than a problem that can often be addressed through education and a return to the whole foods our ancestors ate—sells them short.

Ozempic may make people thinner while they take it. But it does not make them healthy, strong, well-nourished, and capable of maintaining that health without a lifelong dependence on appetite-suppressing medication.

Aharon Elkayam, M.S., is a practitioner trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine and functional medicine, with clinical internships in the U.S., Taipei, and Beijing. He has spent over a decade in clinical practice as an acupuncturist, herbalist, and functional medicine practitioner, with more than 10,000 patient visits, and now focuses on guiding people in improving their diet as a health coach. He can be reached at [email protected] or visit his website at aharonelkayam.com.

Health FAQs:

Ozempic seems to be very popular. Someone told me it’s wonderful. Someone told me I should avoid it. What do you think?

By Aharon Elkayam, M.S.

Aharon’s new series, “Health FAQs,” answers common questions about popular and practical health topics — giving you honest answers rooted in science, and committed to natural, sustainable solutions that work in tune with how your body is designed to function.

Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs are all the rage worldwide, promoted as a breakthrough solution to obesity. They suppress appetite and produce significant weight loss, which understandably makes them attractive to people who have struggled for years.

It seems like people have finally found a “silver bullet” for our obesity problems, in a shot.

But before using one, it’s important to understand what these medications actually do — and what they don’t.

The most important thing to understand is that Ozempic does not heal the root causes of obesity.

It doesn’t help you eat a healthier diet. It doesn’t repair a damaged relationship with food. It doesn’t build muscle or encourage exercise.

It primarily works by interfering with normal appetite and digestion so that you eat less.

Sounds great, right? For some people, in the short term, it certainly can be. But eventually you have to face reality: forcing the body to consume less food isn’t the same thing as restoring health.

How does Ozempic work?

Ozempic contains semaglutide, a drug that mimics a hormone called GLP-1. It sends strong fullness signals to the brain, reduces hunger, and slows the movement of food out of the stomach. In other words, it suppresses your desire to eat.

This can be effective for cutting calories, but hunger isn’t merely an inconvenience or a character flaw. Think of it this way: if you felt lonely, would you want to numb that ache with a pill instead of reaching out to a friend? Maybe for a little while — but not for the rest of your life.

Hunger works the same way. Like loneliness, which pushes you toward connection with people who care about you, hunger pushes you toward the foods that keep you alive and nourished. When a drug powerfully overrides that system for a long period, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that problems follow.

People on these drugs sometimes become so uninterested in food that they struggle to eat balanced meals or get enough nutrients. Some feel full after a few bites. Others become nauseated at the thought of eating.

What are the side effects?

Beyond the underlying problem with using these drugs as a health strategy, it’s also worth knowing that, like all medications, they come with side effects — which is probably why you know someone who started one and then had to stop.

The most commonly reported issues with GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, reflux, and a persistent feeling of fullness. Not exactly the same side-effect profile as starting the Mediterranean diet.

These effects aren’t random — they trace directly back to the drug’s mechanism, since Ozempic deliberately slows digestion and alters appetite. More serious complications can include dehydration, kidney injury, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, and excessive slowing of stomach emptying.

Does the weight loss include muscle?

When people lose weight quickly while eating very little, the body doesn’t burn only fat — it can also break down muscle and other lean tissue. This isn’t a minor concern with GLP-1 drugs.

In a body-composition substudy of the pivotal STEP 1 trial, patients on semaglutide lost about 15% of their body weight — and roughly 40% of that loss was lean mass rather than fat. That’s a notably larger lean-mass share than typically seen with diet-alone weight loss, where the rule of thumb is usually closer to a quarter.

Some more recent studies have found smaller lean-mass losses, especially when patients get enough protein and stay active, but the pattern shows up consistently enough that endocrinologists now flag it as a real risk, particularly for women and older adults.

Muscle is essential for far more than appearance. It supports metabolism, protects the bones and joints, helps regulate blood sugar, and allows people to remain active and independent as they age.

This is particularly concerning for older adults, who may already be losing muscle naturally. A person may celebrate a lower number on the scale while unknowingly becoming weaker.

Manufacturers and weight-loss clinics tend to emphasize total pounds lost. A more meaningful question is how much fat was lost, how much muscle was preserved, and whether the person actually became healthier and stronger.

What happens when you stop taking it?

For many users, hunger returns, and weight begins to come back.

This shouldn’t be surprising. The medication didn’t necessarily change the diet, food environment, emotional triggers, or lifestyle that existed before treatment — it temporarily suppressed the biological drive to eat. Once that suppression is removed, the original pressures often remain.

What the research is saying is that for most people, GLP-1 drugs work only as long as they keep taking them. That turns what’s often marketed as a short-term fix into a long-term, possibly lifelong, commitment.

That raises real practical questions: What happens if insurance stops paying? What happens if side effects worsen? What happens if the medication becomes unavailable?

Is maintaining a healthy weight impossible without an injection?

And underneath all of that: what happens when the health problems caused by a poor diet catch up with you regardless?

The take-home: a treatment that works only as long as it’s continuously taken shouldn’t be confused with a cure. It may be a reasonable short-term tool in extreme situations, but it isn’t a cure.

But isn’t obesity a medical condition?

Obesity is associated with serious health risks, but that doesn’t mean the first or best response should always be pharmaceutical.

Much of modern obesity is driven by an abnormal food environment — often called the “Standard American Diet,” or SAD. People are surrounded by heavily processed products engineered to be intensely rewarding, easy to consume, and hard to stop eating.

These foods are calorie-dense while being low in fiber, water, and natural bulk. They can overwhelm the body’s normal appetite-regulation mechanisms.

Many people simply haven’t been taught how to eat well or how to change their habits. Ozempic lets them keep eating the same foods while using medication to suppress their desire to eat them.

It’s also worth saying plainly: the companies selling these drugs profit when people stay on them for life, not when people learn to need them less. That’s just how the incentives are built.

Most of us know, deep down, that eating badly while suppressing the resulting hunger with a drug isn’t sustainable. We wouldn’t take this approach to personal finances or raising children — in neither case would you reach for a pill to manage the stress instead of addressing what’s actually going on. You’d get the finances, or the kid, on the right track.

What happens when someone takes Ozempic and still eats badly?

For most people, Ozempic just means eating smaller portions of fast food, sweets, processed meat, and refined snacks — and, unsurprisingly, they lose weight, because total calorie intake has fallen.

But weight loss alone does not equal good health.

Ozempic can’t provide fiber. It can’t nourish the gut microbiome. It can’t replace vegetables, fruit, beans, intact whole grains, and other nutrient-dense whole foods. And it can’t undo the effects of a diet high in saturated fat, sodium, and ultra-processed ingredients on heart health simply by shrinking portion sizes.

Eating less junk food may help you lose weight, but it isn’t the same as learning to eat a healthy diet.

What is the better approach?

The long-term goal should be to restore normal appetite regulation rather than chemically silence it.

A diet built around whole, minimally processed plant foods lets people eat satisfying portions while naturally consuming fewer calories. Foods rich in fiber and water create fullness without the extreme calorie density found in oils, cheese, sweets, and processed snacks.

A complete approach should also include regular movement, resistance exercise, adequate sleep, stress reduction, and support for emotional eating when it’s part of the picture.

People are capable of making this change. Assuming they cannot—and that obesity is simply a genetic or medical condition requiring a chemical crutch, rather than a problem that can often be addressed through education and a return to the whole foods our ancestors ate—sells them short.

Ozempic may make people thinner while they take it. But it does not make them healthy, strong, well-nourished, and capable of maintaining that health without a lifelong dependence on appetite-suppressing medication.

Aharon Elkayam, M.S., is a practitioner trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine and functional medicine, with clinical internships in the U.S., Taipei, and Beijing. He has spent over a decade in clinical practice as an acupuncturist, herbalist, and functional medicine practitioner, with more than 10,000 patient visits, and now focuses on guiding people in improving their diet as a health coach. He can be reached at [email protected] or visit his website at aharonelkayam.com.

In observance of Labor Day, Township offices will be closed Monday. Federal and State agencies are also closed. Courts – both local and State – are closed.

In Lakewood, there will be no official trash pickup on Monday. Monday’s garbage and recycling will be picked up on Tuesday. Tuesday’s garbage and recycling will be picked up on Wednesday. There will be no bulk collection this week.

Traffic enforcement will be stepped up for the holiday weekend.

Dearest Lakewood High School Principals,

As I sit in school I listen.

I listen to my teachers talk about בין אדם לחבירו.

I Listen to my teachers talk about treating others with respect.

I listen to my teachers talk about how we should get to know someone before judging.

As I sit in school I hear,

Stories about girls who reach out to help a fellow classmate.

Stories about people who expand their circle.

Stories about girls who look out for another girl.

As I sit in school I get inspired.

Inspired to include.

Inspired to look out.

Inspired to connect.

But then I stop and think.

Think of the girls who didnt get into school.

They call.

They ask.

They beg.

But you all say no!

Why?

Because they dont’t fit “in the box.”

Too different…

Too dumb…

Too out of it…

As I sit in school I wonder. ..

I wonder how it is that the same place that is teaching me to accept. is not accepting.

I wonder how it is that the same place that tells me not to judge is judging.

I wonder how it is that the same place that is building, is destroying!!

Signed,

A tenth grader

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

Today marks the 93rd Yahrtzeit of the Chofetz Chaim, Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan ZT”L.

This rare footage was released in 2015, stunning the Jewish world with the first known live footage of the Gadol – filmed during the first Knessia Gedolah in 1923.

Get the daily Vayemaen videos here:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/G9lwNeKw2cAFXU5RuOzxZt

$4,000,000.

It’s too much for thousands of families to carry.

And too much for Tomchei to carry alone.

Tomchei carries it for them. Lakewood carries it with us.

Please donate now!

Click HERE to donate!

Or call: 732.978.9901

Imagine a world without Hatzolah.

Your two-year-old isn’t breathing.

The room freezes. Someone grabs him. Someone else starts crying hysterically.

Your heart is pounding so hard you can hear it. Your hands won’t stop shaking. Your mind goes blank. 

“Call someone!” Who?

“Tell someone to come!” Who?

“Get help!” From where?

For one terrifying moment, there isn’t an answer.

Thankfully, our community has one. 

The answer has been and always will be Hatzolah of Central Jersey. 

You don’t think about Hatzolah until you need them.

You simply know they’ll be there.

Give $1 a day. Keep Hatzolah on the way.

Click HERE to become a Hatzolah Partner!

Most of the remaining 21 Lakewood primary girls who were still not placed in schools have now been placed, Askonim told TLS on Motzei Shabbos.

Last week, TLS exclusively reported that there was talk amongst the Roshei Yeshiva and Askonim to keep girls elementary schools shut unless the students were placed.

B”H, the schools took the announcement very seriously, and significant movement and progress has since been made.

According to Askonim involved in the process, the number of girls who remained without placements had previously stood at approximately 60. Through extensive efforts by Askonim working directly with the schools, that number was reduced to 21.

As of the latest update, approximately six girls remain without school placements, marking major progress in the effort to ensure that every girl has a place in a school.

These are the correct ads.

A new proposal being considered by the Trump administration could provide a major change to the federal child-care system, potentially allowing married families with a stay-at-home parent to receive federal child-care assistance.

The proposal, which is reportedly being pushed in part by Vice President JD Vance, would direct child-care funds to certain married stay-at-home parents.

If approved, the proposal could have particular significance for communities such as Lakewood, where many families choose to have one parent remain home to care for their children while the other parent works.

The change could be made without approval from Congress.

Under the current system, federal child-care assistance is generally designed to help eligible families pay for outside child-care arrangements, with most of the money distributed to states, which in turn distribute it to parents, usually in the form of vouchers or direct deposits to child care providers. Parents who provide the care themselves typically do not receive a comparable subsidy.

Under the draft new rule, parents who stay home with their children could benefit from the program, which typically provides about $9,000 per child each year.

The proposed policy would represent a different approach, potentially recognizing the value of parents providing care directly in their own homes, and would effectively create a government incentive for parents to stay home with their children.

The details of the proposal have not yet been finalized, and it remains unclear how much assistance families could receive, what income requirements would apply or precisely how the program would be administered.

The proposal comes as Washington continues to grapple with the nation’s child-care crisis. Child-care costs have risen sharply in many parts of the country, while families also face shortages of available providers.

For families who choose to have a parent remain home, the proposal could provide a significant financial benefit. Such families often forgo one potential income in order for a parent to provide full-time care for the children, while also not qualifying for child-care assistance because they do not pay an outside provider.

A policy that allows assistance to follow the family, rather than being limited to payments for outside providers, could therefore represent a substantial change for many families in Lakewood and similar communities nationwide.

The administration has not yet announced a final policy, and additional details are expected before any changes are implemented. If it is finalized, it could go into effect as soon as next year.

As Lakewood prepares for Yom Tov, dozens of local Kollel families are facing a very different kind of Tishrei — wondering how they will cover even the basic expenses for their families.

For Keren Zichron Tzipora (KZT), the calls have been coming nonstop. The organization exists with one mission: to financially support and uplift Lakewood’s devoted Yungeleit and their families, with a simple message: “We are honored to support your Torah.”

For some families, the clothing gift cards provided by KZT will mean the only new clothing their children receive all year. Baruch Hashem, 20 families were assisted this past week alone — but dozens more are still waiting.

With Erev Yom Kippur quickly approaching, KZT is turning to the Lakewood community to help close the gap.

$500 can sponsor a Kollel family’s Yom Tov, but every amount can make a meaningful difference.

As the Yom HaDin approaches, it is an opportunity to bring tremendous relief to a local family — and enter the new year with the zechus of supporting Torah right here at home.

Who will tip the scales this Tishrei? 

Please Donate Here

Other ways to partner:
Call 24/7: 732-702-8100

Zelle / Venmo / Paypal: [email protected]

Mail a check to:
Keren Zichron Tzipora
1511 Newport Drive
Lakewood, NJ 08701

All donations are tax-deductible. Tax ID 87-3452793

Thank you for standing with our Yungeleit. Wishing you a Kesiva V’chasima Tova.

Yitzy Waldner: Chana, the mother of the great Shmuel Hanavi, came to the Mishkan in Shiloh with a broken, hopeful heart. She poured out her soul before Hashem, ואשפוך את נפשי לפני ה׳ asking for the gift of a child who would grow to bring the word of Hashem into the world.

Her tefillah became the model for all of us. From Chana, we learn how to daven—not with noise or volume, but with sincerity, intention, and a heart that is truly present before Hashem. חנה מדברת על לבה

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we read the Haftorah of Shmuel, which includes Tefillas Chana. For those waiting for the gift of children, it is a particularly powerful and auspicious (מסוגל) time to cry out to hashem during the reading hoftorah as chana did.

Yes, I have seen such a yeshuah in my own family.

But Chana’s tefillah belongs to all of us. Whatever we are carrying, whatever we are hoping for, whatever we need from Hashem—there is something in her tefillah that speaks to every heart.

I hope this song inspires us to daven a little deeper, to open our hearts a little wider, and to remember the incredible power of a sincere tefillah.

May all of our tefillos be accepted, like Chana’s, and may we be zocheh to a kesivah v’chasimah tovah and the Geulah Shleimah, b’karov. אמן ואמן

Thank you hashem the giver of life and everything in it for enabling me to bring this song to the world and to continue to compose songs for your cherished nation עם ישראל ….קטונתי מכל החסדים may we all merit to see your kindness continuously

A special thank you to my dear friend shulem Lemmer the golden voice of klal yisroel thank you for elevating this track everything you sing becomes better hopefully your addition to the track will inspire many thousands around the world to daven with a more open heart like chana 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Yitzy

Stock up with incredible savings on thousands of Fall/ Winter items from the leading names in modest Women’s, teens, and children’s clothing.

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Sunday, September 6- Monday, September 7 | 11am- 8pm

Tiferes Devorah L’Kallah

It’s her moment.

The moment she’s dreamed about for years.

The music begins. The doors open.

Her parents walk alongside her as she takes those

first tentative steps toward a beautiful future.

But before the kallah walks down the chuppah aisle, she walks down another aisle.

An aisle lined with dishes and linens. Pots and appliances.

Towels and tableware. Sheitels and sheva brachos outfits.

An aisle where an empty apartment transforms into a home.

For many kallahs and their families, the financial burden of a wedding is simply too great to carry alone.

At TDL, we lead kallahs through the showroom aisle, so they can walk down the chuppah aisle with nothing weighing on their hearts but joy.

Bonus Giveaway Ends Sunday 11pm! A luxurious bedding ensemble can soon be yours.

Purchase $75+ worth of tickets and you’ll automatically be entered
into the bonus drawing. You can be one of two winners to take home
a beautiful guest bedroom ensemble. Package includes 1 set of Luxury
Linen, 2 Blankets and 4 pillows (Retail Value $850). The more tickets you
purchase, the more entries you’ll receive.
Take advantage before it ends.

$75 = 1 entry

$100 = 2 entries

$150 = 5 entries

$200 = 10 entries

$360 = 20 entries

LFD: When we arrive at a fire, our hoselines provide the critical water supply firefighters need to put out the fire and attack the flames to protect lives and property.

We are reporting a recent incident where a private vehicle drove over a active fire hose, causing it to fail and disrupting water flow. This put our crews in immediate danger.

Driving over a fire hose can cause catastrophic failure, interrupt vital firefighting operations, and create an even larger emergency.

If you see a fire hose across the roadway, ALWAYS STOP and follow the directions of emergency personnel. Do not, under any circumstances, drive over hose.

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:

Good afternoon Mayor Coles,

Thank you for all you do for our township.

I just wanted to know when the bridge at Lake Shenandoah will be reopened.

The lake has been refilled, and by all appearances the work looks to be fully completed.

Thank you,

An avid exerciser.

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon

We are waiting for a replacement part to arrive. Hopefully by next week week.

Ray

—————–

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

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

This message was just received by many local residents, though they don’t know what MML is, as it’s not from their kids’ school.

TLS also reached out to bus companies for clarification.

UPDATE: It’s Machon Matel Leah, however, it appears to have been sent out in error to random parents who don’t have children in that school. The message itself, though, appears to be legitimate.

The school also sent out the following update: 

“MML: B”H busses 4,6 and 9 have showed up. All girls on those routes will have homebound transportation.”

It’s hard to describe what happened at The Elul Experience on Wednesday night. You really had to be there.

Mordechai Ben David and Yaakov Shwekey, two artists who have each spent decades filling arenas and creating music that has become part of Jewish life, came together as co-headliners Wednesday night for The Elul Experience. It was a pairing of two of Jewish music’s biggest voices in a production built around the music, emotion and spirit of Elul, and from the moment the night began, it was clear this was going to be far beyond another concert.

The evening opened with Yanky Lemmer, whose unmistakable voice immediately set the tone for the night. With the power, warmth and depth that have made him one of the most distinctive chazzanim today, Lemmer drew the audience in from the first note and opened the evening on exactly the right note.

Mordechai Ben David showed once again why there is simply no one like MBD. Decades of songs that everyone in the room knew by heart, the humor and spontaneity that are uniquely his, and an ability to move thousands from laughter to emotion to dancing within minutes. Generations have grown up on his music, and Wednesday night brought all of that together on one stage.

Yaakov Shwekey was every bit the powerhouse audiences have come to expect. His voice, range and energy filled the room as he moved through hit after hit, with the crowd right there with him on every word. He can take a room from an intimate, emotional moment to thousands of people on their feet, and throughout the night he did exactly that.

And when MBD and Shwekey shared the stage, the chemistry was immediate and completely natural. They joked, played off each other, sang together and clearly enjoyed every minute of it. Seeing two artists of their stature, each with his own sound, personality and decades of music, come together so naturally became one of the defining parts of the night.

And the crowd matched them at every turn. The energy and participation were unlike anything Jewish music has seen before. Thousands sang at full volume, danced, cheered and at times simply took over the music. There was a constant back and forth between the stage and the audience, and instead of slowing down as the night went on, the room somehow kept getting louder.

Led by Maestro Mendy Hershkowitz, the Mendy Hershkowitz Band, together with the inimitable Yoely Horowitz and the Shira Choir, took on a massive musical program spanning decades and delivered at every turn. The arrangements gave new life to familiar songs while preserving what people have always loved about them, and the band and choir moved effortlessly through the many magnificent and unexpected musical moments of the night.

From the moment the idea for The Elul Experience was conceived, Apex Creatives knew they wanted it to be exactly that: completely Elul, and a transformative experience from beginning to end. Every part of the evening was carefully curated with that vision in mind, from the music and programming to the staging, visuals, lighting and sound. Nothing was incidental, and no detail was overlooked. From top to bottom, every element was produced at the highest level, coming together to create an experience that was as powerful in its message and emotion as it was in its scale.

When the final song ended, the audience made it very clear that they weren’t finished. People stayed on their feet calling for more, waiting for another song and simply not wanting to leave. The messages began coming in almost immediately and haven’t stopped, with people talking about the performances, the music, the production and what it felt like to be in that room.

Some nights are announced and you wonder whether they’ll live up to the hype. Others end with people asking when the next one is.

After The Elul Experience, it was made clear yet again: when Apex Creatives puts its name on a production, you want to be in the room.

*For those who missed it, or simply want to experience it again, the full replay of The Elul Experience is available for the next 48 hours only.*
https://mostlymusic.com/products/the-elul-experience

MULTIPLE VIDEOS: Clips of the Elul Experience Featuring MBD & Shwekey

Minor injuries reported.

Ocean County law enforcement agencies will participate in a coordinated, high-visibility traffic enforcement effort Friday aimed at reducing dangerous driving and preventing crashes as New Jersey approaches the end of the busy summer travel season.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and local law enforcement agencies will participate in the statewide Goal: Zero traffic enforcement detail throughout the day and night on Friday, September 4, the Friday before Labor Day weekend.

As of September 3, 357 people have died on New Jersey roadways this year, including 26 in Ocean County, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The enforcement effort comes as motorists prepare for one of the busiest travel periods of the summer, when increased traffic, holiday celebrations, pedestrian activity and impaired driving can contribute to a higher risk of serious crashes.

The detail also marks the conclusion of the so-called “106 Deadliest Days” between Memorial Day and Labor Day, a period traditionally associated with increased traffic fatalities.

The Goal: Zero campaign was launched in 2024 after Holmdel Township Patrolman Matt Menosky brought together law enforcement agencies from 36 municipalities to focus on dangerous driving behaviors.

Ocean County officials are urging motorists to take extra precautions over the holiday weekend, including obeying speed limits, remaining attentive behind the wheel and never driving while impaired.

The coordinated enforcement effort will target dangerous driving behaviors and will be conducted by participating law enforcement agencies throughout Ocean County on Friday.

New Jersey law enforcement officials and Jewish community representatives gathered for a special High Holiday briefing focused on security and preparedness ahead of the upcoming Yamim Noraim.

The briefing was put together by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, New Jersey State Police, and the Jewish Troopers Association.

Speakers included New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, NJSP Superintendent Jeanne Hengemuhle, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Roddy, and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Hauck.

Also participating were Jewish Troopers Association President Lt. Marc Zislin, NJSP Chaplain Rabbi Yosef Carlebach, and NJSP Chaplain Rabbi Yossi Hershkowitz.

The gathering provided an opportunity for law enforcement officials and Jewish community representatives to discuss security and preparedness ahead of the upcoming High Holiday season.

At its September 3rd Meeting, the Lakewood Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution that renames Division Street in Downtown Lakewood as “Chief Richard C. Wallace Way,” in honor of the late Lakewood Fire Department (LFD) Chief Richard C. “Dick” Wallace, who passed away in July.

Lakewood Fire Station 1 – housing Engine Company No. 1 – is located at the intersection of Division Street and Monmouth Avenue. This is where Chief Wallace – an honorable U.S. Air Force veteran – began his career with the LFD in 1963; in what would become his lifelong dedication.

Chief Wallace started as a volunteer and later became one of the LFD’s first career firefighters. He rose through the ranks to become Chief of Department from 1988 to 1990; and remained a member of the Fire Department until his passing. He was a Life Member of the NJSFA, the Lakewood Fireman’s Exempt Association, and served with the State Forest Fire Service from 1963 to 2011 – where he rose through the ranks to become District Warden.

“It is the Committee’s honor to dedicate a street as a permanent tribute to Chief Wallace,” says Committeeman and Emergency Services Liaison Meir Lichtenstein. “I’ve had the privilege to see Chief Wallace in action on various occasions; and saw firsthand his genuine dedication to Lakewood and saving lives. True to his character, Chief Wallace chose to remain an active member of Lakewood’s first responder community for life; and we all owe him an immense debt of gratitude for his service.”

This Motzai Shabbos, Parshas Netzavim-Vayeilech, Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, Rosh Yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood, will deliver a special sichah before Selichos at Yeshiva Gedolah of South Lakewood.

The yeshiva, led by its Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yosef Dovid Korbman, is located at 715 Marlin Avenue, off Oak Street.

The sichah is scheduled to begin at 12:10 a.m., followed by Selichos at 12:50 a.m.

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office has added a new tool to its water safety arsenal aimed at helping rescue people in distress on the water.

On behalf of Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, the Sheriff’s Office has introduced the U SAFE remote-controlled rescue lifebuoy, a self-propelled flotation device designed to quickly reach someone who is struggling in the water.

The remotely operated device can be deployed in situations where a lifeguard is not present or when immediate physical entry into the water by a rescuer may not be possible. The U SAFE can travel out to the person in distress and provide flotation support while responders work to safely bring them to shore or to a rescue vessel.

Officials say the technology provides responders with another option during water emergencies, allowing them to get flotation assistance to a person in the water quickly while reducing the need for an immediate physical entry by the rescuer.

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office says it will continue investing in new equipment and training designed to protect residents and visitors throughout Ocean County.

With several prominent Rabbonim meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House today, we’re asking TLS readers:

If you had the opportunity to sit down with President Trump for a few minutes, what would YOU speak to him about?

Would you raise an issue affecting the Lakewood community? Education? Antisemitism? Israel? The economy? Religious freedom? Or perhaps something completely different?

What would be the one message or request you would want President Trump to hear from you?

Drop your answers in the comments.

Reb Malkiel Kotler of Beth Medrash Govoha was among a small group of Rebbes and leaders who are set to meet today with President Donald Trump at the White House.

The gathering, set to take place around 1:30 PM in the Oval Office, was arranged as a pre-Rosh Hashanah visit.

White House Jewish liaison Martin Marks had worked for months to organize the meeting.

Officials described it as an opportunity for the president to extend New Year greetings to representatives of major Hasidic and yeshiva communities.

In addition to Reb Malkiel — the only Litvish rosh yeshiva invited — those on the guest list included both Satmar Rebbes, Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum of Kiryas Joel and Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum of Williamsburg, the Bobov Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, and a representative of the Skverer Rebbe. The Skverer Rebbe himself canceled personal attendance; his older son took his place.

The format called for brief individual conversations with the president, some lasting only a few minutes, with a possible group discussion afterward. The attendees traveled to Washington by private jet.

The stated purpose was Rosh Hashanah greetings and an expression of appreciation for the administration’s support of Orthodox Jewish institutions.

(Photos provided to TLS by Klal Media)

[COMMUNICATED] A family paying $250 a session once a week is spending roughly $13,000 a year on therapy. Twice a week, that’s about $26,000. So families stretch appointments further apart, switch to a therapist they don’t really connect with, or stop treatment altogether right when it was starting to help.

Here is what a lot of people don’t realize: being told “your therapist is out of network” is not necessarily the end of the road.

When in-network care isn’t really available

Health plans are generally subject to network-access requirements and plan-specific procedures. When appropriate in-network care isn’t reasonably available, there is usually more than one route to pursue — different plans and situations call for different approaches, and federal mental health parity protections sit behind them.

Figuring out which route fits your plan and your circumstances is the work. That’s what we do. You don’t need to know the terminology or the process; we’ll review your situation and tell you which option looks most promising, if any does.

You may be a good candidate if…

• You’re paying privately for an out-of-network therapist.
• Your plan’s directory doesn’t list appropriate therapists who are actually available.
• You called multiple in-network providers and couldn’t get an appointment.
• Your child needs a specific type of therapy or therapist that isn’t realistically available in-network.
• Your insurance denied or underpaid your out-of-network therapy claims.
• You were simply told “your therapist is out of network” and assumed that settled it.

What this covers

This service is for outpatient talk therapy — psychotherapy and counseling only. It does not cover ABA, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, or other therapy types.

Which plans work best

Commercial plans are often the best candidates for review — employer-sponsored, privately purchased, and marketplace plans such as Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, Oscar, and Horizon BCBS. These generally carry the fullest set of procedures and the strongest appeal rights, including independent external review.

NJ FamilyCare plans can sometimes work, with one significant condition. An out-of-network arrangement may be possible, but only if your therapist agrees to accept the Medicaid rate as payment in full. Those rates are well below commercial rates, and balance billing is not permitted, so the therapist cannot bill you the difference. Some providers agree in order to keep a family in treatment; many will not. If yours won’t, there is no path forward on that plan, and we’ll tell you that up front.

Who we are

Access to Coverage is an administrative reimbursement advocacy company based in Lakewood, New Jersey. We’ve been doing this for over two years and have secured hundreds of approvals for families in that time. We work with families nationwide, and the entire process runs online — no office visit, no appointment to schedule.

We handle the paperwork, the research, and the follow-up: reviewing your plan documents, checking whether the in-network providers your carrier lists are genuinely available and clinically appropriate, documenting every outreach attempt, assembling the request or appeal, and staying on the carrier until we get an answer.

Not sure if you qualify? Start with a free eligibility review.

Send us your insurance information and a few details about your situation. We’ll tell you whether it appears worth pursuing — at no cost and no obligation.

If you decide to move forward, there is an application fee. That is the only money you have at risk. Our service fee is a flat amount charged only when your request is approved — never a percentage of what you recover. The full fee schedule is listed clearly on our website before you apply, so there are no surprises.

This is worth pursuing whether or not your plan has out-of-network benefits.

If your plan does have out-of-network benefits, you’re likely paying a separate out-of-network deductible — often several times higher than the in-network one — and once you meet it, the plan reimburses only a percentage of an “allowed amount” that is usually well below what your therapist actually charges. When a request is approved, the claim is processed at the in-network level instead: the lower deductible, the better reimbursement rate, and payment measured against the agreed rate rather than a reduced allowed amount. The difference is often substantial.

If your plan has no out-of-network benefits, an approved request may be the only route to any payment at all toward sessions you’re currently covering entirely on your own.

Either way, it’s worth finding out where you stand.

Website: accesstocoverage.com

WhatsApp: Click Here

Call or text: (732) 475-2111

Email: [email protected]

Access to Coverage is an administrative reimbursement advocacy company. We are not a medical provider, law firm, or insurance company, and we do not provide legal or medical advice. Fees are flat amounts and are never a percentage of any sum recovered; results are not guaranteed and eligibility varies by plan. Access to Coverage is not affiliated with or endorsed by any insurance carrier. All plan names are trademarks of their respective owners.