Lakewood Tidbits

LRRC Holds Open House To Showcase Its Expansion

State and local officials, friends and staff, gathered on October 4 to mark the expansion of The Lakewood Resource and Referral Center (LRRC), at 212 Second Street, Suite 204. They honored Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders Deputy Director John Bartlett and Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the LRRC.

The LRRC, a federally designated 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, provides free comprehensive social services, information, referrals, counseling, community education, and assistance in navigating government and private sector programs in such areas as housing purchasing, rental counseling, health care insurance plans, nutritional supplementation programs, and home utilities payment assistance programs to Ocean County residents.

The LRRC opened its doors in 2005. The new addition of 1,400 square feet and a reorganization of existing space will better accommodate clients, with four new offices, a larger waiting area, and a more private area where case managers can address questions and concerns.

Mrs. Sarah Sternbach, executive director of the LRRC, said, “Ocean County is growing by leaps and bounds, and we are proud to be growing along with it. We worked very hard to build according to the needs of the community, helping to create a pleasant environment and an enjoyable experience for anyone who needs our help.”

Bnos Agudas Yisrael Opens a New Season

Over 170 Bnos leaders from all over Lakewood gathered on the evening of Sunday, October 7, at the Sons of Israel shul for the Bnos Agudas Yisrael opening meeting.

The program began with a guest speaker, Rabbi Yehoshua Ottensosser. Rabbi Ottensosser spoke about the chashivus of being a Bnos leader, and he inspired the girls to be successful leaders.

The girls were then introduced to the nationwide Bnos theme of the year: Ein tzayar k’Elokeinu. The focus of the year will be hashgachah pratis, how Hashem paints and knows the whole picture and how every girl makes a difference in the picture.

Bnos will hold its annual opening Song Spectacular on Sunday, October 28, in the auditorium of Lakewood High School, from 2 to 4 p.m. Each branch will have the opportunity to perform on stage, and many raffles and prizes will be distributed as well.

Hachnasas Sefer Torah In Chateau Park

Last Sunday, October 14, Bais Medrash of Chateau Park Sephard, led by Harav Moshe Shimon Wosner, held a hachnasas sefer Torah. The new sefer Torah was donated by Rabbi Yanky Klein and family in memory of their grandparents.

The kesivas osiyos with the sofer, Rabbi Moshe Berenfeld, was held in River 978 followed by dancing from the entrance of Chateau Park to the shul.

Rabbi Moish Zuckerman of Chateau Park provided the music. Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rav of Chateau Park Ashkenaz participated in the festivities as well.

Once in the shul, dancing continued, after which a seudah was held in River 978. Rav Wosner addressed the assemblage, as did Rabbi Klein and his father-in-law, Mr. Marshall Weissman, who spoke about how nice it is to be donating a sefer Torah to the soon-to-be built Chateau Park shul, which, unlike its walls or physical amenities, will last forever.

Hachnasas Sefer Torah in Rabbi Yosef Irons’ Shul

A hachnasas sefer Torah was held on Sunday, October 14, at Tiferes Eliyahu, Rabbi Yosef Irons’ shul, on Central Avenue. The sefer Torah was dedicated by Rabbi Yitzy Schwab and family l’iluy nishmas his grandmother, Rebbetzin Yenta Schwab, a”h.

The kesivas osiyos took place in the Schwab home on South Lake Drive. A procession with musical accompaniment led the sefer Torah from the house to the shul where the dancing continued.

The event was graced by the presence of the Rosh Yeshivah, Harav Yeruchim Olshin, shlita, and the Mashgiach, Harav Yehuda Jacobs.

A family seudah followed.

Harav Shimon Galei, Shlita, Addresses Coventry Kehillah

On Motzoei Shabbos, Parashas Lech Lecha, the Coventry kehillah in Lakewood held a melaveh malkah together with their Rosh Kollel, the well-known mekubal and Gaon, Harav Shimon Galei, shlita, Rosh Kollel of Kollel Keser Torah of Kiryat Sefer.

The Coventry kehillah, one of the first kehillos in Lakewood to join the Adopt-a-Kollel network, has since enjoyed a very fruitful partnership. Currently, the kehillah has some 250 members who are actively contributing to the partnership on a monthly basis.

On Shabbos Parashas Lech Lecha, the two Rabbanim of the Conventry kehillah, Harav Menachem Mintz, Rav of the Nusach Ashkenaz shul, and Harav Mordechai Horowitz, Rav of the Nusach Sephard shul, addressed their kehillos, emphasizing the zechus they had in partnering with one of the distinguished kollelim in Kiryat Sefer.

The evening was opened by Harav Eliezer Gewirtzman, posek of the Nusach Ashkenaz shul. He related how he recently went to visit the kollel in Kiryat Sefer. Unsure of its exact location, he stopped a person in the street to ask for directions.

“You want Kollel Kesser Torah? You will never get in. People are breaking the doors to get into the kollelim but enrollment is basically closed.”

Rav Gewirtzman then announced, “Rabbosai! We can all get into the kollel and be part of the kollel. This winter we will be having a yarchei kallah at our kollel where members of our kehillah will have the opportunity to learn there together with the yungeleit for an entire week!”

The highlight of the evening was the animated drashah given by Harav Shimon Galei.

Rav Shimon was very emotional when depicting the special nature of the kollel. He related that his son-in-law, who learns in a distinguished kollel for older, advanced yungeleit, commented that anyone who joins his kollel from Kollel Kesser Torah does not even need to be tested. It is well-known that all of the yungeleit in Kollel Kesser Torah reach very advanced levels of learning.

Rav Galei explained that the fact that the yungeleit engage in a taanis dibbur during seder ensures that every minute is utilized to the utmost to attain great madreigos in Torah.

He then lovingly told the Coventry kehillah, “Your support is the ultimate manifestation of kvod haTorah — of honoring the Torah. Hashem says, ‘I will honor those who honor Me.’ Your zechus is that Hashem Himself will honor you.”

Lakewood Fire Department Hosts Fire Safety and Prevention Day

On Sunday, October 21, the Lakewood Fire Department hosted Fire Safety and Prevention Day at their 800 Monmouth Avenue fire station.

Multiple fire trucks were on display, interactive fire-fighting demonstrations took place, and fire hats and safety brochures were distributed.

Many children and their parents attended and enjoyed interacting with the fire fighters, climbing on the trucks and taking part in the simulated fire-fighting demonstrations.