Lakewood resembles a pre-World War II European village in many respects, boasting many gemachs – special charitable institutions that supply everything from coffee urns and dinette sets to wedding gowns – that flourish here.
Beginning this winter, Lakewood Shabbos Project and Mesivta of Eatontown launched an initiative whereby boys could sign up to observe Shabbos for four consecutive weeks and those who succeeded would get to spend a Shabboson in Orlando with their mentors.
1. It’s a small town
Lakewood welcomes beggars as part of its culture, rather than criminalizing or telling them to move along. There are dozens of gemachs (chesed agencies) which cater to the local poor; their charity services range from coffee urns and bridal gowns, all the way through helping people pay their medical-insurance premiums or providing hospitality for families visiting hospitalized relatives.
Although most of the town’s 106,300 residents are Jewish, none of its four synagogues is restricted by affiliation to anyone in the community. Furthermore, this town is also popular as a getaway and weekend destination – its clean streets and welcoming atmosphere make it dog-friendly while many residents spend their weekends strolling through town or taking in scenic views.
But the most striking change to this once-sleepy Jersey town in recent years has been its demographic transformation. Since the founding of Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva in the mid-20th century, Orthodox Jews have settled here en masse, nearly doubling its population and fuelling its business boom – an outcome unforeseeable just ten or twenty years ago and creating an unparalleled quality of life in this once-sleepy Jewish resort town.
2. It’s a kosher town
Lakewood may have become a medium-size city, yet still retains the feel of a pre-World War II European village. Lakewood’s Jewish population thrives thanks to kosher restaurants and markets, religious elementary and secondary schools, haberdashery shops and dressmaking services – and has steadily increased since 2000. At least half its residents identify as Jewish.
Lakewood stands out as an oasis for beggars; their presence is recognized and they’re allowed to remain. This is thanks to Jewish law which requires us to give charity. Lakewood residents are known to show great generosity; Nostalgia Deli serves kashrus-certified traditional Jewish deli fare such as blintzes, kugel, and brisket as well as an assortment of lox and bagels!
After an inspiring trip to Tzefat with help from Lakewood rebbe’im and askanim, several young students went back home inspired. With help from Mesivta of Eatontown’s Shabbos Project mentors and Lakewood Shabbos Project leaders, Lakewood Shabbos Project introduced an initiative in which boys would sign up to keep Shabbos for four weeks; those who completed this challenge were invited to an unforgettable gala Shabbaton in Orlando Florida together with their rebbe’im and mentors.
3. It’s a family town
Lakewood’s Orthodox Jewish population experienced dramatic growth during the 1990s due to a rising trend of young men opting for religious study instead of higher education. One of America’s largest yeshivas, Beth Medrash Govoha is located here and boasts nearly as large a student body as Harvard College!
Lakewood’s growth has brought together millionaires and common folk alike. Millionaires, in particular, have come flocking to Lakewood thanks to its relatively affordable cost of living compared with other ultra-orthodox communities; additionally, developers build homes specifically tailored for Lakewood’s frum community; these properties often boast double sinks and enough bedrooms for large families.
Another draw for those to choose Lakewood as their residence is its closeness to Eretz Yisrael. A number of wealthy Orthodox Americans have made Lakewood home, enjoying being close to kosher food, shuls and other halachic needs while taking pleasure from this suburban oasis just minutes from New York City.
Elimelech Ehrlich is typical of Lakewood. At 51 years old from Jerusalem, he enjoys spending his time scouring yeshivas, condo complexes where American students studying in Israel have settled and dining rooms of local rich men (ashirim). With his signature loud voice and Yinglish patter he makes conversation with students while raising funds for weddings, expenses or any other purpose that arise.
4. It’s a safe town
Lakewood stands out as one of America’s safest towns thanks to its community that prioritizes kindness. With streets that are impeccably clean and well-lit, making Lakewood ideal for families, its residents support each other in strong numbers, and AreaVibes reports Lakewood as one of the safest locations nationwide.
Lakewood’s Jewish population doubled over the last two decades due to Beth Medrash Govoha Yeshiva, one of the nation’s premier Orthodox institutions for men. Attracted by its distinctively yeshivish and conservative atmosphere, Beth Medrash Govoha attracts young men from diverse religious backgrounds – providing Lakewood with an ideal environment for Orthodox Jews looking for education and learning opportunities.
Yeshivish communities can be expensive places to live; however, Lakewood’s frum neighborhoods can be affordable options for young couples and growing families. While other towns such as Toms River and Jackson have higher housing costs, Lakewood boasts very affordable rental pricing with prices being roughly half that of Monsey and Brooklyn.
Lakewood remains an affordable destination, but can still present challenges for religious families living there. Its outdated infrastructure often leads to traffic jams – although savvy residents know how to mitigate the issue by finding alternate routes or back ways.
