1. How can we let this happen??
   We as a town together need to step up to the plate

2. Call rechnitz from LA. He helps everyone

3. This is really not good. We go crazy when one girl is left out of High School, as we should. There are 40 kids out and multiple teachers without jobs.

4. You can’t expect Rechnitz to fund every School. Walgreens has and will come to the plate.

5. Oish. This is terrible. I’m friends w Staff who work there & parents of children with special needs that go to school there. This is a great school and very much needed. I hope they find a solution. And quickly.

6. U dont need to call 732 or 212 but call 323! You can get help there

7. sad is not the correct term this is such a huge achrieous that we have the mosad the flys under the radar can’t survive on tuition alone with staggering cost and constant cuts parents are forced to pay thousands out of pocket while many are not able to pay at all.Rabbi Tesser is the most dedicated principle with years of experience we must have it reopened

8. The solution is simple $$$
   You can’t always rely on 323
   It’s about time we The lkwd olam
   As a whole figure out how to get this school open with out reaching across the river

9. So sad, this hurts all of us not only these kids but our regular school will be forced to take children who need special help. These Rabbaim and teachers are Mosar Hevesy I think we should do on line campaign to them

10. Just so frustrating to watch the massive building here. Where is everyone going to school? My child was sent to oros Yisreol to bring him to a higher level. The school that suggested it won’t take him back and he is a smart A student. Now with no school.!! Each child is unique. Mine can do well in a regular Yeshiva. Not one will give him a chance. Lakewood…. My children see this …terrible situation here.

11. It is a terrible situation. Two of my relatives are not in school because there’s no other school in Lkwd for kids with their issues!

12. The ones who suggested Reb Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz …..I’m not sure if they’re serious or kidding but either way it would be more proper to at least write his name in a more respectful way (with a R’ before his name or to write his first names). I find the way in which two prior posts called him rather disrespectful and distasteful.

13. Why do we always need to rely on people out of Lakewood with all our schooling issues ?! we have thousands upon thousands of children in Lakewood schools , one of the biggest jewish communities in the world!! Shouldnt we have the responsibility to make sure we have all types of schools in our community?! And that they are functioning properly by all means!! So that every child in elementary school or high school should have a suitable place to attend!!

14. I think we as a town shouyld stop all the luxury clothing and expensive houses and focus on our children as we are sending them the wrong message by buying 100.00 matching outfits for out infant children while thesepoor children have no sxhool
    I hate to say it but what would you all do if it was your child!!!!!

15. The fact that lakewood yeshivas struggle is because no one feels an achrayas to a yeshiva. You get into a school because you have money yeechus or pull. When you get in that way, once your in, why give more.
    In the old days you applied to a yeshiva, you owed them the world. You were thankful. If you had a few extra bucks. Why not give it your yeshiva. Nowadays, why give it. The yeshiva doesn’t need your money, they can coerce it from the next guy applying.

16. What happened to schi? These kids can’t go to schi? Why not? What am I missing here??

17. Everyone who builds a home more the 35000 sq ft. Or anyone who drives a luxury car should pay a special community tax for these things

18. All our school problems both tegular and special, can be solved with more money. But most of our tzedokoh money goes out of town

19. How much money is needed for them to open

    TLS more info would move these comments from they to we.

    Assumining 40 students at $25,000 a year = a million what if each family in town was asked to contribute. Gabbaim for each neighborhood.

    Or is this an issue of Catapult being denied the service contract and now there isn’t a provider capable of covering. If its an issue of business conflicting with the needs of the children. Let us know. In which case maybe the other providers should withdraw their bids.

20. For everyone information askonim are not giving anymore money to Lakewood schools because they’re burnt out from Lakewood schools these kids cannot be integrated into regular schools and oros Yisroel must reopen in order for our kids to be the best they can be otherwise it’ll be on the towns head the school is a trailer behind another school and was on a shoe string budget

21. The saddest thing is that there are millions and millions of dollars collected in Lakewood each year for people in and OUT of Lakewood. Here we have a school that is part of our school system; it’s for all the kids that can’t be in regular classrooms, and it has to close for money reasons. This school is a responsibility of this town and this town only. We should take a moment and put ourselves in these parents’ shoes and try to imagine what it means to have a child who faces challenges in daily life, then imagine having that child home all day because the only school that can cater to him is closed for financial reasons. We as a city have a responsibility to make sure the school opens ASAP.

22. These are kids with issues not severe enough for SCHI. Like ADHD or mild aspergers

23. For those that question why these children can’t go SCHI. This school is for children that don’t belong in Schi yet can’t function properly in a reg mainstream class yet. Some of the children will remain in this school while some others can gain enough tools to eventually function in a mainstreamed classroom. This school can not receive government funds because it was established as a yeshiva. They learn Chumash and gemerah and about holidays. Schi is not allowed to teach this. These children CAN function independently in reg society one day – IF provided w the right tools and integrated in a “regular” setup. That was the point of Oros Yosroel.

24. What happened to school for children with hidden intelligence, is that not good enough. Lakewood board of ed pays for and only hisidiac attend.

25. The saddest thing is that there are millions and millions of dollars collected in Lakewood each year for people in and OUT of Lakewood. Here we have a school that is part of our school system; it’s for all the kids that can’t be in regular classrooms, and it has to close for money reasons. This school is a responsibility of this town and this town only. We should take a moment and put ourselves in these parents’ shoes and try to imagine what it means to have a child who faces challenges in daily life, then imagine having that child home all day because the only school that can cater to him is closed for financial reasons. We as a city have a responsibility to make sure the school opens ASAP.

26. these kids are to advanced for Schi and would not gain any life skills in Schi that they need

27. You said it Mo! I am nauseated by the homes going up around Lakewood. If these people can build 15 to 20,000 aware foot homes with upgrades galore, why can’t they invest into education for these vulnerable children! Gevalt!!! Put in a few less bushes, more basic window dressing, more standard knobs,…. And these heilige children have to go to public school! And what a lousey public school we have! Im embarassed that this town has to call upon a askan from LA! We need the local gvirs to give to others and not only themselves.

28. Is it possible for us to start a gofundme page for the yeshiva with a link directly from tls? We have a responsibility as a community to make sure the institution can continue.

29. Instead of all the חכמי אינטערנעט posting their questions in this forum, let them (if they are seriously willing to help) call Rabbis Tesser or Kanarik (No! Not that one!) and get legitimate answers to ALL their questions, some of which are good. Offer to help with solid ideas to raise some funds. It won’t take a lot. The staff is a couple of months behind, and for 3 months back-pay the doors can open.

30. TLS can you make a collection link so perhaps instead of just commenting people can actually help out??

31. Agreed! There are many people who would be interested in contributing!

32. For all those who don’t understand how important this school is, I personally worked at this school for two years for free. The rebbaim work with mesiros nefesh and even spend money out of their own pocket, wether its for a trip or a bbq outing or even an overnight trip with the older boys. This yeshiva gives its heart and soul to each and every kid so they can succeed and reach a high level so that they can attend a mainstream yeshiva. THERE IS NO OTHER INSTITUTION LIKE THIS IN LAKEWOOD. This yeshiva is the only place where the kids feel like they have hope to one day be in a mainstream yeshiva with friends. Please help them.

33. It maybe worst idea to closed it door maybe there are other solution for this school

34. Maybe we can set up “adopt a kid” program in each shul. This cause is super important to our town. 100 dollars on average from each family in Lakewood and each of these kids gets a school to grow and learn in. We can do this!!

35. The Special Children’s Center and SCHI both have State approved programs, specifically geared for these children.

36. I am not familiar with Oros and it seemed like they filled a need, but to all thos posting about where “gvirim” should contribute their money please stop.

    Anyone who makes a living in Lakewood os constantly bombarded with phone calls (nnot the robocall type) about many emergencies from individuals, schools and mosdos.

    Many of these are for good causes, but resources are limited. Many people who give tzedakah are constantly asked for more, even from causes they give to. Giving Tzedakah has become Mais Mitzvah as the amount given is never enough, and evenwhen the benefactor is extending himself, it is often not appreciated.

    These negative comments don’t help. Lets appreciate the massive tzedakah that is fiven and not pass judgement on what other people should give.

    Maybe gofundme is a solution for Oros.

37. Most of the posters here R right. The Yeshiva has been broke since day one. Several staff work for next to nothing. They tried several times to do a major fundraiser, yom-tov raffle, stuff like that, it never got off the ground. Although it was never marketed as such to the tzibbur with dinners or jogathons or Lose-a-thons, Oros is as important to kehilaseinu as SCHI, stars, center or whatever. Maybe we can do a swim-a-thon and this place back humming.

38. Remember all askonim and baalei tzdaka…”Aniyei Ircha Kodmin” you have no idea how much finacial and emotional strain there is on the parents of this and other schools of the like. Parents sitting at home with no other option and little help from the town will not bode well…if they cry to Hashem…Veshomati Ki Chanun Ani

    Unfortunately, underdog schools in this town don’t do well. The “it” institutions are well funded by wealthy parent bodies who dump money into the institutions. Let’s all get together and do something. R’ Kanarek traveled around the country to collect what he can. This needs something much bigger.

    Can we suggest a special needs campaign? We have adopt a kollel…how about adopt a child in lakewood? It’s not only the 40 children in Oros. There’s a few hundred in town spread out and struggling to have a chance in life with parents crying on a daily basis.

39. In my humble opinion.

    The entire way that we give tzedaka must be changed we must go back to the Shulhan Aruch.

    There is an order of priorities and with all due respect to the thousands of collecting that goes on by/for people from out of Lakewood, we must first make sure ALL the local needs are met.

    Additionally in the olden days there was a gabbai tzedaka for ALL the tzedaka of the entire town and all the needy would then go to this person/organization for their needs, we must go back to that way and it would solve most if not all the tzedakah issues.

40. THE TRUTH IS, AS A PARENT OF A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD, THESE KIDS GET 2ND CLASS CITIZENSHIP EVERYWHERE I GO
    THEY GET STARED AT AS SOME FREAK FROM OUTER SPACE AND SPECIAL NEEDS IS ALWAYS ON THE BOTTOM OF EVERYONE’S TZEDAKAH LIST

    THAT IS JUST NATRE AND NO ONE IS GOING TO CHANGE IT
    UNTIL YOU HAVE ONE OF YOUR OWN, IT IS ALWAYS ” SOMEONE ELSES PROBLEM”

41. Instead of just talking and saying loshan horah about other schools in town. Lets donate money to bring this school back!! I am unsure how to start the campaign, but if someone starts the campaign I pledge $200.

42. Why can’t we make a run 4 ohros

43. Is it possible to set up a homeschooling co-op in which the parents are the teachers and then the public schools would come in to give services to the children. My 2 oldest are special needs and I home schooled them. I am not saying this is a be all end all solution but it might be a way to keep the children in the system and keep their education going so they do not back track or miss out on their lessons. I know how big routine is for special needs children and I also know not all parents have the time to home school but maybe between family and friends something could be set up for the short term and if it works out long term can always be worked out down the road

44. They gevirim in this town may be maxed out.. bur the are about 700 people in town living in luxury houses and driving luxury cars that do NOT call themselves gevirim. It’s time they start realizing where they stand or move to NY

45. I generally do not post online. However, I would like to add something here, as I have a school remotely similar to the one in question. As a society, it is clear that we can find room to improve on all sides of this issue; from the donors, to the parents, to the administrators/owners, etc…Some of the proposed solutions would address one side of the problem, only to exacerbate the other side. If we centralized the giving, for example, and let the kehilla apportion the funds, some mosdos might lose funding from a supporter that is closely linked to them particularly. If we closed smaller schools in the name of efficiency, we might chalila have children who fall through the cracks that more likely exist in a bigger mossad. One possible step in the right direction, in my humble opinion, might be an establishment of a Vaad Hachinuch- with a twist: If we assembled Rabbonim and Askonim, and asked them to field a smaller team to represent them- and gave them a mandate to deal with funding shortfalls across the mosdos- focused on each category. For example, the group of, let’s say, 100 Rabbonim and Askonim elected a group from amongst them of 18 key people to make “small” decisions, bringing larger ones to the full Vaad. And this Vaad would address, for example, all middle-school aged children who can’t thrive (yet) in a mainstream mossad, but are not suitable for SCHI et al. They would assess, for example, that we have $3M to help these children, They would invite the administrator of each relevant mossad to discuss their budget, shortfall, student body, etc. Then they would meet with askonim, and present the challenge: “We have a shortfall of X dollars to service X amount of children- what can the group of you do to fund it?” They would need to somehow stipulate, that they do not want donors to minimize what they are already giving any particular mossad; rather, they give donors an opportunity to get a reasoned, balanced view of the community wide issue- without any bias towards any one school. The not-yet-allocated tzedaka dollars could then be funneled more efficiently to address the problems. Of course, this Vaad, and it’s smaller subsidiary, would repeat this process for all sectors of chinuch (girls’ high school, teens at risk mosdos, boys chadorim, etc.). They would not be encumbered by dealing with policy or chinuch related issues- only funding. Another advantage would be, that if a crisis r”l occured- they would have much more clout in seeking out of town help financially- it would be the Lakewood Kehilla as a whole requesting assistance.

46. You’re 100% right we should have a 1 community monthly tzedakah appeal and all tzedaka should be collected and distributed by a single group with representation from all the LOCAL needy people and organizations to submit requests and have a dynamic group of gabbaim to ditribute the funds accordingly. Like it use to be in the times of old

47. Why aren’t any of the philanthropists in the town stepping up to the plate?

48. Kol Hakavod TLS!!
    Very smart – the askanim should get this place open for these kids but first have to make sure that it will be done the best way to get all the potential it really has. Oros is amazing place. Askanim please make Oros all it can be!
    Then we all – Lakewood should all do our part to give money right before rosh hashana and get Oros opened!
    Lets not have to embarress ourself to have to reach across the world to Rechnitz! just because he”ll do it does not mean we shouldnt maybe if we do it hashem will make some more rechnitzes

49. Question what right do us locals have – to give tzedaka to any out of town collection/collecter before all our town needs are completely met?

    I used to try to give to every collecter in shul then I realized how wrong it is and as much as I feel bad for them I must give the locals first.

50. rather than speculating about priorities for tzedaka, each person should consult his rav to determine the priorities as in most cases it is clearly spelled out in shulchan aruch, e.g. a poor person from E.Y. collecting for a medical need vs a local mosad etc.

51. This is a truly wonderful mossed doing Hatzalas Nefoshos.

52. I”m not sure if the policy still holds today but many years ago I flew out to Chicago with a big Rosh Hayeshiva from E”Y to help him raise money for his Yeshiva and our first stop was to a well known askan and a talmid of the R.Y.who helped us with contact information, addresses etc. But he said to us upfront that while Chicago is full of generous baalei tzedaka- don’t expect huge checks as Chicago has many mosdos Hatorah and many institutions that it must support on its own as they can’t count on outside help, as such the askanim and baalei tzedaka all came to an understanding that they must help their community first and they all agreed to cut back on the monies going out of Chicago. I think that Lakewood needs to re-examine the way in which it gives tzedaka. I am confident that if priorities were given to helping our own mosdos and our own nitzrochim we wouldn’t have this sad scenario where a much needed yeshiva must close due to lack of money.

53. This breaks my heart. Special needs children are just that- special. To have a school dedicated to their well-being and education having to close because of lack of funds is very upsetting. Is there a gofund me page or anything that they have for donations?

54. Is this related to the catapult lawsuit?

55. Maybe speak to Boruch Jeremias..Hes a very big baal tzedoka

56. Like you said we gotta get together to make sure lakewood Mosdos and families are taken care of first

57. Many excellent points about how Lakewood should be going about funding themselves. I hope to see some of this implemented.

    This particular snenerio really hurts as this mosad is a one of a kind place.

58. Sad..however it is really the responsibility of our town to support our mosdos…no one can argue with that since it is the truth.

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