On Wednesday, the Israeli Consul General in New York, Dani Dayan, visited Lakewood to tour the growing town comprised largely of Jews, and to meet with community leaders regarding matters that are of interest to Lakewood residents.

Arriving in Lakewood with an escort from local police, Dayan was first greeted by Lakewood’s Mayor Ray Coles and Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller. Community leaders brought the Consul General to Yeshiva Mekor Hatorah where he was impressed by the diligence of the students and the caliber of their personal character and studies. In short remarks made to the students, Dayan told them that they and their learning was integral to Jewish continuity.

Dayan then toured the facilities of the newly rebranded Hatzolah of Central Jersey. Although not affiliated with Hatzolah in Israel, a recent symposium of all Hatzolah groups that was held in Israel formed bonds that are bound to grow between Israeli Hatzolah and Hatzolah of Central Jersey.

Mr. Dayan met with local businessmen, many of whom utilize workers in Israel due to the time difference which allows America-based companies to provide for their customers extended business hours. He also had a chance to see for himself the tremendous economic leaps Lakewood has taken in recent years, mostly by way of local alumni of Beth Medrash Govoha who have ventured into the business world.

Wrapping up his visit, Consul General Dayan attended a luncheon held in his honor at Chemed, a local facility which provides care even to the uninsured, which many Israeli visitors to Lakewood often are. Attendees included local askonim and dignitaries, including Rep. Chris Smith, State Senator Bob Singer, Lakewood Township Committeemen, and the Director of Chemed, Dr. Dovid Friedman.

After opening remarks by Dr. Friedman, Rep. Smith spoke of rising anti-Semitism in the world and the effort to combat it’s rising tide. Senator Singer then thanked Rep. Smith for being a champion of Jews in the US Congress, in stark contrast to some in the chamber who have made disparaging remarks about Jews in recent months. Singer also spoke of her daughter’s organization, Strength to Strength, which she founded after surviving a bus bombing in 2001. The organization provides support to other survivors of terror attacks, and has helped hundreds of victims since it’s inception.

The attendees then worked as a group on streamlining processes and services often needed by Lakewood residents from the Office of the Consul General, including providing the necessary permits to be able to transfer bodies to Israel for burial. Mr. Dayan and local askonim were able to make significant headway on this and a variety of other issues, and they mutually agreed to continue to advance and enhance their productive working relationship.