The Lakewood Vaad has extended its reach beyond the borders of Lakewood. Recently it unilaterally declared itself the vaad of Central Jersey. As people are moving into neighboring towns, the Vaad appears to follow suit. What some have coined the new "five towns" of Lakewood, Jackson, Brick, Toms River and Howell will now be under the vaads control. Time will tell if and how involved the vaad will be while locals form their own alliances and councils in these new communities. Non of the vaad members live outside Lakewood nor were they appointed by anyone of these communities. On the contrary, people moved to get away from it, not to be told by a 13 member vaad from Lakewood how to run their town.
In last weeks elections the Jewish Community Council of Toms River issued its own endorsements not the Lakewood Vaad. In Jackson a candidate blamed the vaad for their election loss but the vaad denied any involvement and it made no endorsements.
The Jackson community has its own askanim taking charge and some resent the vaads overreaching.
In one instance askanim forged relationships with local politicians and than the vaad election propaganda attacked them which could have set back months of hard shtadlanus.
In last weeks elections the Jewish Community Council of Toms River issued its own endorsements not the Lakewood Vaad. In Jackson a candidate blamed the vaad for their election loss but the vaad denied any involvement and it made no endorsements.
The Jackson community has its own askanim taking charge and some resent the vaads overreaching.
In one instance askanim forged relationships with local politicians and than the vaad election propaganda attacked them which could have set back months of hard shtadlanus.