Extensive preparations are underway for next week’s Keren Olam HaTorah gathering in Lakewood, where organizers are expecting attendance to exceed 30,000 people.
An organizer involved with the planning told TLS that a tremendous emphasis is being placed on accommodating the anticipated crowds while ensuring the safety and comfort of all attendees. Enhanced fencing, crowd-control measures, and other safety-related infrastructure are being implemented as part of the extensive preparations.
The event is being designed to accommodate men, women, and children, with special screens planned throughout the venue to allow attendees in various sections to participate in the program.
Eli Friedman of EF Productions is coordinating the event in conjunction with Township agencies and local organizations. Organizers say numerous entities are working hand-in-hand to ensure the gathering is both safe and inspirational for the thousands expected to attend.
Meanwhile, Township officials, law enforcement, emergency responders, and event planners continue to finalize logistical details, including street closures, traffic management plans, and designated parking arrangements for the many buses expected to transport yeshiva students to the event.
Additional details regarding road closures, transportation plans, and attendance guidelines are expected to be released as the event approaches.
Not in any way chas v’sholom saying anything negative about this unprecedented show of both kovod Hatorah and being נושא עול with acheinu bnei yisroel who are facing unprecedented hardships. But I can’t help but think about our very own friends and neighbors and perhaps our own family members. There are so many families in our very own kehilas both kollel yungerleit and families of working men that are struggling and suffering beyond comprehension and yet (not saying there are not different organizations and yechidim that help) but on the whole these families have nowhere to turn. Can’t help but think, what if we made such a mass event here in Lakewood to help our very own… to get all of these families back on better footing, who knows how many marriages could be saved, how many children could do better in school and yeshiva and have a better chance at life and yes possibly how many lives could be saved..
I’m just saying what I think and I wonder how many others have the same feeling…
lakewood gives lakewood families way more than this per year
now if u include (and of course one should) parents and inlaws helping married children its 20x the whole keren
lastly localy its much more effiecient to collect for a specific family rather than pool donations
Great question
Good point.
The Gedolim are here to support a way of life which they feel is under attack, its not about money per se.
Their poverty in Israel is way worse. How many kollel people in lakewood have meat shabbos only. How many have kids sharing beds.10 kids in a two bedroom basement. Yes the People in lakewood struggle. It’s not the same. No wic or food stamps etc
Always felt this, and don’t really want to bring up a topic that keeps getting discussed, and if your not in a mood of a rant about this, skip, but thanks for saying what the silent majority feels. (not jealousy, but just “what about us?”) Not like there are any easy answers, and organizations indeed really do well and askanim really try, but the cost of living is just too much for so many. Is it indeed 225-250k needed for a family of 7 kids? (recent kosher money podcast?) without any extras or vacations.
You have to own a business or have a high level corporate job to make ends meet and pay all the monthly subscriptions. Almost everywhere you turn there is a new monthly funding campaign, as if we all don’t notice that although monthly sounds small, it really adds up. Yes its a good tactic for the person that is making ends meet, and needs the extra pressure to help with what they really can and should, but the pressure on those that don’t doesn’t add up, in a society where its expected to just do everything at least for the monthly local community and shul things, because everyone just has to give their fair share, no?
The way I look at this mass event as much As they are really here to raise money, but I feel like this specific part of the trip is more of a opportunity for everybody to get to see so many big great Rabbis and make a nice Honor-for the Torah