Fifteen people in Lakewood were charged for attending a funeral in violation of the Governor’s orders.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. yesterday, members of the Lakewood Township Police Department were dispatched for a report of a large gathering on the corner of 8th Street and Madison Avenue. This gathering was in violation of Executive Order No. 107 signed by Governor Phil Murphy on March 21, 2020, which bans gatherings of individuals, whether they be at weddings, parties, celebrations, or other social events including funerals.
“The Governor has banned all public gatherings during this state and national public health emergency. This ban applies to everyone,” stated Prosecutor Billhimer. “To be blunt, ignoring the Governor’s Order places lives at risk – not just the lives of everyday citizens, but the lives of our brave men and women in Law Enforcement who are required to respond in order to break up these unlawful gatherings. I am imploring everyone to abide by the Governor’s Order and stay at home, so that we might all get through this very difficult time together — as painlessly as possible,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.
Askonim are urging all to obey by these strict guidelines, as hard as they may be during tragic events.
“It’s gut-wrenching not to have a Bakavadig Levaya, however, the ramifications are very detrimental and far-reaching,” one Askan involved told TLS. “We beg people to recognize this.”
He added, “We’re not gathering for Davening, we’re not gathering for Pesach – let’s just please end this.”
Why cant people follow by car? Seems like some politicians want a “maximum pain” policy as its pretty obvious that there are cars on every highway in the us with no one pulling people over.
Hashem yirachem! No one is trying to hurt you by suggesting, begging, pleading and finally enforcing the ONE THING that al pi derech hateva can slow the spread of the virus and the resulting suffering r”l. It is overwhelmingly tragic and sad that people cannot give proper kavod acharon to their family member or rov. Unfathomable. But HKBH instructs us to do everything in our power to save lives and social distancing rules are for that purpose only.
Just heard on the news that since a small percentage of Lakewood doesn’t seem to be following the governors orders that the state police are coming to our town.
I do not know about in Lakewood but people are getting pulled over in other parts of the state. I work for a business that is considered essential and some of our staff need to travel as part of their work. Several of our employees have been pulled over and needed to provide documentation of who they worked for and what they were doing on the road.
ONE CONMENT: when you’re driving in a car you’re NOT gathering. Forget the law, think about the health risk and danger…
There is no reason not to be allowed in cars!! And if they are so enforcing minyanim, levaya, why are supermarkets packed??
Your comment is not clear, are you saying these 15 gathering were in their cars? and that they didnt get out?
I agree with all the social distancing & dont think people should try to get around it. However, laws have to reflect reality and compassion. Once you start saying that people cant bury the dead in a humane & reasonable way – you lose public trust & people start disregarding other things that authorities tell them (especially when they see cops pulling up side by side & shmoozing or gov’t officials holding press conferences without masks & even standing near each other.
So yes, keep social distancing, limit grocery shopping, wear a mask, but don’t force maximum pain on those who have been affected by this pandemic most. Everyone knows that you cant catch the virus through your car!
Nobody knows ANYTHING about this virus, so please don’t be so haughty. It is the attitude of people like you that encourages people to take matters into their own hands and reach false and dangerous conclusions.
Yes, let us be compassionate! Let us save the living!
Over 60? Isolate! Under 60? Social distance. It’s very hard, but it’s much better than the alternative.
So what if the politicians don’t do it. Aren’t we Jews much better than the politicians?
And, yes there might be ways to do things safely, like drive through levayas. But, once people start making exceptions then some people will make bad decisions. I would love to join my neighborhood in a Minyan from our porches It’s safe. But it’s also very dangerous.
Be healthy!