The Chofetz Chaim once remarked that the map of the world in
Shomayim looks a lot different from the one we
conventionally look at on this world. The map down here
shows cities such as Paris, London and Warsaw with big dots
to indicate their large population. Other cities not as big
as these cities are also marked with dots, though not as big
as the Paris dot. Radin, by contrast, is denoted with a tiny
dot for it is a little hamlet when compared to the more
populous cities of the world.
On the Shomayim map, though, the town of Radin is marked
with a big dot for it houses the famed Radin yeshiva and its
many lomdei Torah. Paris, on the other hand, would only earn
a small dot for although it is well populated, it offers
little in terms of ruchniyus.
For many years the town of Lakewood, New Jersey, was
considered a big dot on the "Chofetz Chaim's map" for it is
the home of the famed Lakewood Yeshiva, even though it is
but a small dot on the conventional map because it is a
small town. Nowadays, though, the town has grown so rapidly
and is continually expanding, it would qualify for a bigger
dot even on the conventional map.
From a small yeshiva community consisting of 150 families
thirty years ago, to 1000 families fifteen years ago and
2500 families five years ago, Lakewood today boasts a
kehilla of 4200 families k"y, and the number is
constantly rising.
The Jewish neighborhood is no longer centered in a few
apartment buildings around the yeshiva, along Forest and
Clifton Avenues. Today the community has expanded all the
way to County Line Rd. to the north. Park Ave., once
considered "no mans land," is lined with three new
developments, putting the old Fourth Street shul once
again in the midst of a Jewish neighborhood. Other new
housing developments are being built two miles down East
County Line Rd. to cater to the housing needs of the
burgeoning community. People live past Hope Rd. to the west,
inching closer and closer to the Jackson border. Going
south, families now live near Kimball Hospital and all the
way down Central Ave. A developer is in midst of building
900 homes two miles down Central Ave. Old-time Lakewooders
have a hard time navigating out there for they have never
heard of these street names.
At last count, there are bli ayin hora ten elementary
schools for boys, with two more scheduled to open in time
for the coming school year. Six mesivtos proudly call
Lakewood home along with four exclusive beis medrash
programs. Six girls' elementary schools already dot the
Lakewood landscape, along with four high schools. Most
schools feature parallel classes in most grade levels; the
Lakewood Cheder boys school has six classes in some grades
while its sister school, Bais Faiga has seven. Yes, Lakewood
has indeed come a long way from its humble beginnings years
ago.
Lakewood's phenomenal growth is due to all the bochurim
who come to learn in the Lakewood yeshiva, stay on for
kollel and continue living there even after they
leave kollel to take jobs. As the community has
evolved into a full scale Jewish town, many people have
begun moving in from out-of-town to take advantage of its
affordable housing (relative to other cities) and its
premier quality of life, both in gashmiyus and ruchniyus.
Sounds of Summer
Despite the fact that Lakewood has experienced such
phenomenal growth--the community has doubled in six years--
it still has a rural feel to it. One still sees active farms
around the outskirts of town with horses and cows roaming
the pastures; others grow delicious corn and luscious Jersey
tomatoes. Thus people don't feel compelled to leave town for
the entire summer to enjoy life and escape the hectic city
atmosphere.
Other considerations come into play too. The yeshiva zman
continues as normal through tisha b'av so the avreichim are
committed to staying in Lakewood. (Some do go away to take
teaching jobs in camps and other summer jobs.) The boys'
schools continue past June into July, running a full-
fledged day camp in the afternoon instead of limudei chol.
They go swimming, play ball and have color war as well. The
rebbeim liven up the atmosphere a bit by telling stories a
bit quicker than they normally would, as they know most
other yeshivos are closed for the summer and some of the
boys in their class are enjoying themselves in camp.
After school is over and bein hazmanim goes into full gear,
most people go away for a week or two for a healthy change
of scenery. Some go to the "borscht belt" of the Catskill
Mountains, while others opt for the short family vacation
areas such as the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania or the
magnificent White Mountains in northern New Hampshire.
The Poconos are only 2 ½ hours from Lakewood, up Route 80
over the scenic Delaware Water Gap, making it a convenient
vacation destination, especially for those traveling with
many children in tow or those who cannot go away for a long
period of time. One can hike up the trails of Bushkill Falls
(where one can easily find a minyan for mincha
on many afternoons), or take the children to the Pa.
Dutch Farm, or a chairlift up the mountains.
Those who go to New Hampshire take an eight-hour trip
through the states of New Jersey, New York, and the rolling
countryside of Connecticut and Massachusetts en route to the
expansive heights of the New Hampshire Mountains. They tend
to stay a little longer than a couple of days once they get
there; one can buy kosher food there and minyanim are
in abundance.
People enjoy the breathtaking mountain scenery and the
various amenities that are offered in the area. It has
become such a popular vacation spot that one person who went
there quipped: "I didn't feel I was on vacation because I
met so many people from home." One can see many cars in
Lakewood sporting "This Car Climbed Mount Washington" bumper
stickers after the summer, a reference to the popular drive
up that famous mountaintop.
The children keep themselves busy when they're home by
attending many day camps that operate in town. Each camp has
learning groups, sports activities, swimming and a trip to a
water park that is rented exclusively for boys or girls use.
The camps take full advantage of the beautiful, spacious
parks around town, such as Ocean County Park (fondly
referred to by the old-timers as Rockefeller Park after the
famous tycoon who used to live on the estate which was later
converted to this park), Pine Park and Lake Shenandoah Park.
These parks offer beautifully manicured ball fields; some
even have nature trails and row boating on the park lake.
Lately, the township has accommodated the community's needs
by erecting kiddie parks around town with swings, jungle
gyms and slides to the delight of youngsters, toddlers and
parents alike.
The famous "Lakewood Lake," situated in the center of town,
is a great place to relax, either by sitting on the benches
overlooking the lake and enjoying its picturesque view, or
by walking or biking around the lake on its four-mile
trail.
The Atlantic Ocean is a ten minute drive away so after the
beaches close for the night, the townsfolk walk up and down
the boardwalk as they take in the fresh ocean air and listen
to the roaring waves rolling into the shoreline.
Continuous Torah Learning
The crown jewel of the community, the famed Lakewood
Yeshiva, is on a bein hazmanim schedule so the
yeshiva botei medrash and hallways are noticeably
emptier, but nevertheless, the sound of Torah continues to
be heard unabated throughout the summer. One can walk into
any of the yeshiva buildings or a shul in town and find
scores of people learning behasmada. Some cherish
learning during this time of year for the emptier botei
medrash and the generally relaxed atmosphere it engenders
lets a person expand his horizons in learning for he can
learn what his heart truly desires.
Indeed, the Steipler z"l writes that he knows of people who
shteiged more during bein hazmanim than other times during
the year, for its unrestricted learning schedule enabled
them to find their own niche in learning a lot easier. They
built up their self- confidence and cheishek in
learning.
A family came to Lakewood for Shabbos Nachamu, traditionally
the biggest vacation weekend of the summer, for a simcha,
a couple of years ago. After finishing the Friday night
seuda, they took a walk up the extremely quiet Forest
Avenue with its nearly empty apartment buildings lining the
avenue; the blinds were tightly shut over the dark windows
and the buildings parking lots had many empty parking
spaces. They continued strolling leisurely up Seventh St.
and decided to walk into the main yeshiva building,
wondering how many people would they find learning in the
bais medrash on this night? They found thirteen lomdim
in the bais medrash, learning behasmada and
totally oblivious to the clock which said 1:30 AM!
Yarchei Kallah
For the past thirty-one years, families from out-of-town
move into Lakewood for two weeks in the summer to
participate in the annual yarchei kallah program.
Some 50-60 families take part in the yearly retreat. They
come from all walks of life, from doctors and other
professional types to rebbeim and other klei kodesh.
They all share the same goal: to recharge their
spiritual batteries for the upcoming year by learning in a
real yeshiva-style atmosphere.
The men learn three full sedorim each day, with a
mussar seder, starting a 9:30 AM and finishing at 10:00 P.M.
They hear a shiur yomi on the sugya d'kala from Horav
Leib Taub shlita, a ram in the Philadelphia Yeshiva, and
shiurei klali from HaRav Simcha Schustal shlita, Rosh
Yeshiva of Stamford Yeshiva, and the father of HaRav Dovid
Schustal shlita, one the Lakewood Roshei Yeshiva. They also
hear from prominent guest speakers who offer divrei chizuk,
as well.
The women have time to relax from their myriad household
duties for all the meals are provided for them; everybody
eats together in the yeshiva dining room, which adds to the
camaraderie of the participants. They have shiurim as
well from prominent lecturers. The children have their own
day camp so they are busy for most of the day.
Some families come back year after year to once again plow
through the depths of Torah on a full-time basis, even for a
few weeks.
The yarchei kallah community is very grateful to
those in the Lakewood community who graciously give their
homes to their families. Such acts of chesed
demonstrate pure ahavas Yisroel and fosters a
tremendous kiddush sheim Shomayim. A yarchei
kallah coordinator related to me that a baal teshuva he
had befriended stayed at his house a Shabbos before the
program began. He noticed 70 keys lying on the table. He
asked his host, "Why do you have all these keys?"
"These are keys from people who gave their homes for the
yarchei kallah people to use," replied his host.
"They are willing to give up their homes to total strangers
for two weeks, I can't believe it!" he said, amazed. "Such
unselfishness is really remarkable".
"He saw that Torah Jews truly practice what they preach and
live with such lofty standards", noted the coordinator. "It
made an everlasting impression on him".
Preparing for Ellul
The summer winds down too quickly as the calendar shows the
month of Ellul is just around the corner. The town starts
filling up again and the yeshiva starts the all-important
"Elul zman" with its 3100 talmidim, all refreshed
from their well-deserved break, ready to prepare themselves
for Rosh Hashanah and the yemei hadin.
The 2400 avreichim and 700 bochurim who learn in yeshiva,
k"y, tackle once again the dvar Hashem with
renewed vigor and enthusiasm -- and a freshly tanned
face.
