Uproar in Lakewood: Rabbonim Warn Community Of Disturbing Incidents Posing A Danger To The Kehila

November 27, 2024 | כ"ו חשון התשפ"ה

chat 14 Comments

print

PINNED - Lakewood Rabbonim, Askanim, Community Leaders, activists and school principals sounded the alarm following recent inappropriate incidents of Jewish girls being victimized by car service drivers in Lakewood

by FrumNews.com

Lakewood, NJ – Today, a community-wide advisory alert has been issued warning Yidden in Lakewood and the surrounding townships of Toms River, Jackson, Howell, Brick and Manchester in New Jersey with Frum residents, as Rabbonim, Askanim, Community Leaders, activists and school principals sounded the alarm about the physical, emotional and spiritual dangers of car services and taxis following recent tragic reports of frum Jewish girls being victimized by car service drivers in Lakewood.

Lakewood Community leadership is urging families to take immediate precaution to protect their daughters and spouses (and even young boys) when using local taxis/car services in and near the Kehila.

Community Rabbonim have stated this week that no frum girl or woman should ever enter a local taxi alone with a male driver, regardless of familiarity with the car service company. Instead, Rabbonim stressed that woman and girls should only ride in groups or request a female driver.

These episodes have played out over the last couple of years, especially as the community has expanded to quieter areas, and the use of car service transportation by women and children has gone up.

In a statement to FrumNews.com, a community member involved in this awareness initiative said: “Not following these guidelines has already destroyed our girls, destroyed relationships, and destroyed families. How many Yiddishe neshumas need to be hurt before we wake up?”

According to Lakewood community activists, in addition to disturbing cases involving woman and children, there has been many confirmed incidents of car service drivers selling drugs to vulnerable yeshiva bochurim.

Last year, in the Jewish community of Monsey and Rockland County, NY, following countless extremely disturbing incidents, which included uncomfortable comments, harassment, inappropriate attempted assaults and an violent inappropriate assault which brought this issue to the fore.

In 2023, Monsey/Rockland County Rabbonim, Dayonim and Daas Torah, temporarily banned the use of non-Jewish owned and operated car service companies, calling on the Jewish community to boycott local non-Jewish car service companies, which nearly drove them out of business.

The boycott was only lifted once the local car service companies complied with the Rabbonims guidelines and provided proof of the following new regulations for all their vehicles:

1. Installation of interior dash cameras and to allow Rockland Safety/Security organizations to access the footage when needed.
2. Installation of plexiglass dividers between the driver and passenger seats.
3. Prohibition of any tinted windows to allow clear and full visibility into the vehicle.
4. Displaying taxi registration tags on the vehicles for easy identification.

While these features have slightly raised the price of car services in Rockland County, it is a price worth taking, ensuring the safety of the Jewish community.

Additionally, local Rockland County elected officials, began strictly enforcing compliance from car service companies, for enhanced criminal background checks and U.S. drivers license on all drivers, amid evidence that previously some of the unvetted drivers were undocumented migrants.

Since these alarming reports have come to light after a recent incident. Lakewood leadership, Rabbonim and askanim will likely require all local taxi companies to comply with similar strict requirements within the following days—or face the possibility of a full-out community-wide boycott.

Frustrated and concerned residents in Lakewood are also calling on car service companies to make an effort to hire more female drivers.

An Open Letter To Our Community from the Menaheles of 5 local girls schools including Bais Yaakov, Shiras Devorah, Meon, Ateres Nechama and Bais Shaindel

The initiative and awareness campaign “Lakewood Be Aware! Don’t Look Back With Regret.” Is endorsed by many of Lakewood’s most prominent Rabbonim, including Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen shlita, Rabbi Uri Deutsch shlita, Rabbi Chaim Mayer Roth shlita, Rabbi Avraham Spitzer shlita, Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Frand shlita, and Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Hershkowitz shlita.

Share this community-wide alert and article with your family and friends to raise much needed awareness to this important issue!