Roosevelt, NJ – Orthodox Yeshiva Brings Tension To Town

    30

    Roosevelt, NJ – Bert Ellentuck watched the adolescent boys with tzistzis and yarmulkes shooting hoops next door and sighed.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    “The people who settled this town were Jews; oh, they were socialists, communists and anti-religion, but they were Jews,” Ellentuck said. “I’m a Jew, those kids are Jews, and the biggest problem facing this town in years is about Jews.”

    Difficult times have come to historic Roosevelt in Monmouth County, the only municipality in New Jersey where the only house of worship is a synagogue. In the past year, the tiny borough has been embroiled in lawsuits that have eaten up more than 10 percent of the total municipal budget, and two more court actions were filed last week.

    All involve Yeshiva Mo’en Hatorah, an Orthodox high school that opened three years ago in an old synagogue in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Borough officials said the yeshiva is not following proper building and zoning regulations. Yeshiva officials say they are the target of religious persecution.

    Before the yeshiva moved in, the synagogue membership had declined to the verge of collapse, its board said. Now, 52 students from around the country attend classes 14 hours a day, six days a week and live in “dormitories” that are single-family houses within walking distance.

    Aside from natural exuberance and some kosher candy wrappers left on the lawn, the boys have caused little trouble, neighbors say. That does not mean, however, that they or the fervently Orthodox rabbis who run the school are welcome.

    “We heard about the tolerance and the beauty of Roosevelt and thought it would be a perfect place to get our boys out of the city,” said Joshua Pruzansky, spokesman for the Bronx-based yeshiva. “I guess we were wrong.”

    Most people in Roosevelt will no longer talk openly about the yeshiva; not since more than 25 people out of an adult population of barely 600 were named in lawsuits. Ultimately, however, several locals confided, the conflict in Roosevelt comes down to the fear that “the yeshiva will take over and push us out.”

    Cultural and religious clashes accompanying Orthodox Jewish expansion into suburban New Jersey are not new. Nearby Lakewood is home to one of the largest populations of fervently Orthodox Jews in the nation. They, like the members of the yeshiva in Roosevelt, are extremely insular.

    In Lakewood, the separatism resulted in violent racial tension. Roosevelt has not seen any violence. The situation here is significant because of the borough’s size and history.

    Roosevelt was founded as a utopian community for out-of-work New York Jewish garment workers during the Great Depression. In 1936, nearly 1,000 Jews were given identical houses in rural Central Jersey, where they cooperatively worked a farm and a garment factory.

    The farm and the factory failed, but artists did come and stay, such as Ben Shahn, whose 1935 mural in the Roosevelt Elementary School is how a historic monument. The rest of the town is a national historic district.

    Jews now make up only about 35 percent of the 900 people in town, the mayor said, but Roosevelt is still known as an extraordinarily close-knit, liberal community.

    “Roosevelt is unique, for its beauty, its seclusion and its tolerance,” Mayor Beth Battel said. “Also for its arguments. The joke is, there are 933 residents and 2,000 opinions.”

    Opinions turned ugly when the yeshiva came to town in 2005.

    “The yeshiva coming has changed my life, not in a good way,” said Helen Barth, who moved to Roosevelt in 1936 when she was 3.

    The 320 houses that compose the entire borough are close together, backed by wide belts of protected open space. There are few roads and no room for expansion. For anything to move in, something must move out.

    Residents say they fear the yeshiva population — up 350 percent in three years — will overwhelm the town. They said the students are packed into single-family houses — all Roosevelt has — violating density and safety regulations.

    Pruzansky said they rectified previous violations, which was confirmed by inspectors. There have not been any inspections since 2007.

    Barth remembered walking past protesters the night in 2005 when the synagogue board decided the yeshiva contract.

    “I felt threatened by the people standing there. For the first time in my life, I felt anti-Semitism among my friends,” Barth said. “Then I went into the synagogue, where I was promised the yeshiva contract would be for one year. They lied.

    “My husband now can’t sit at service holding his granddaughter on his lap,” she said, because yeshiva rabbis insist sexes must be kept separate. “I feel betrayed by my synagogue. I’m crushed that the community I loved is so divided.”

    In 2006, borough zoning officials decided the yeshiva had grown so much it needed a variance to continue at the synagogue. Four yeshiva properties also were cited by the state Department of Community Affairs for illegally converting single-family homes into dormitories and for insufficient sprinklers and alarms. They are now occupied under a settlement agreement that limits occupancy to five lodgers.

    Ellentuck claims he has documented 30 students in the house next to him. Pruzansky denied this but would not say how many boys are in the house.

    The yeshiva administrators did not apply for a variance. Instead, records show, they filed a federal civil rights suit against the town, the mayor, council, zoning and planning boards, a neighborhood group called the Roosevelt Preservation Association and six individuals, claiming they were discriminated against for religious reasons.

    Among those sued individually was Ellentuck, whose house lies between the synagogue and one of the dormitories. Ellentuck is the founder of the Roosevelt Preservation Association, which was sued, and is the father of councilman Jeffrey Ellentuck — who was sued. Both Ellentucks have also filed legal action against the yeshiva.

    “It doesn’t matter that the students don’t like us or that the yeshiva is out of sync with the community,” Bert Ellentuck said. “What matters is that, instead of obeying the law, they sue us into bankruptcy. This is about zoning, not religion. These are not the actions of people who want to get along.”

    In court papers, yeshiva lawyers accused Ellentuck’s neighborhood association of attempting to “eliminate” the yeshiva by perpetuating “an atmosphere of intolerance in the borough towards Orthodox Jews.”

    The yeshiva suit sought monetary damages and reversal of the zoning decision. In August, a district court judge dismissed the suit as premature because the yeshiva never applied for the variance. Last week, attorneys for the yeshiva appealed the federal decision and filed an additional lawsuit on the zoning issue in state Superior Court.

    In the past year, Battel said, Roosevelt has spent more than $100,000 on legal fees. The total municipal budget is only $1 million. The yeshiva continues to operate, pending the outcome of the court challenges.

    Pruzansky said the legal battles have not changed their plans: “We took a synagogue that had fallen on hard times and helped revitalize it. Yes, we must remain separate, but that is our right. I think people prejudged us coming into town and created an atmosphere that could have been avoided, but we’re not going anywhere.”


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    30 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    NY ATTORNEY
    NY ATTORNEY
    15 years ago

    Where can I donate money to the yeshiva. The worst anti-semites are our kind.

    TJ
    TJ
    15 years ago

    Dont be fooled on false pretenses that the issue is zoning. It is obvious the women interviewed and those who support her are angry about mechitzas and the frum lifestyle challenging their apikores reform ideology. The hatred that the secular have for the religious never ceases to amaze me. It is horrendous in Israel and it is now starting to be seen in America. The secular/reform choose not to make teshuvah when they are given the opportunity but instead reject Torah and Hashem. They want their own 21st century religion that is contrary to Torah way of life.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    You will never win over any baalei-teshuva with this atitute. You may be right yet still guilty of chillul hashem. You have to honor the desires of the earlier residents since you are eroding the quality of life by challenging the zoning. Just play by the rules and they wont give you trouble. If the settlement was to allow only 5 boys in a house open the doors and let them see you house only 5 per home. Tell them they are wellcome to check whenever they want but they in return must agree to treat you as equals. Work it out.

    moshe
    moshe
    15 years ago

    Typical frum position that the laws and regulations of a community don’t apply to them. Scream anti-semitism when you can’t get your way.

    ast613
    ast613
    15 years ago

    So instead of trying to influence them by showing them the beauty of Yiddishkeit, they “took over” and mandated how the Shul should be run. The Yeshiva had a great opportunity for Kiruv (not to mention a great lesson to the boys) and now they just threw it away. Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, NONE of our unaffiliated brethren will be “turned on” to Yiddishkeit. Chaval on a lost opportunity.

    Jack Gordon
    Jack Gordon
    15 years ago

    Well said ast613. Unfortunately this is the way things go and its not just specific to this scenario.

    What happens when you raise your voice in protest you get the redirect of TJ about how are own kind going at it is the problem. And the cycle just continues…

    thinking
    thinking
    15 years ago

    ask lubavitch for guiednce they will show you the right way to do it

    TJ
    TJ
    15 years ago

    AST613,

    REALITY is that MANY Jews don’t like Torah way of life. Its really that simple AST613. Their hashkafa is one that is American first, Jew second. They form G-d around their image/21st century liberal beliefs NOT Torah values.

    Furthermore, exactly what did these frum Jews that was wrong? Should they not have put up a mechitza? Should they shake hands with women? Your hashkafa sounds like one that is compromising frum yiddishkeit. Please tell me what you would have done. What kind of kiruv brings Jews back to Torah when their priority isnt Torah, when they believe Torah is nothing more the cultural/historical book NOT G-ds laws.

    Yonason
    Yonason
    15 years ago

    This saddens me greatly. In the 70s I lived near Roosevelt, and before becoming frum I davened in Roosevelt’s “Conservadox” shul, and my memories about the town are warm -Today, 35 years later, I live in a frum community some 25 miles away and daven with Yeshiva people – I personally know Josh Pruzansky to be an honorable fellow and a tremendous asset to Klal Yisroel. May he and the Yeshiva have success in this struggle. For me, very sad.

    formely
    formely
    15 years ago

    amazing they break the zoning rules. laws do not follow housing codes they agree to 5 boys per lodging and even break that rule, since the rabbie refused to say how many are living there. Then when the community calls them on this, they really have no answer, they do not answer the complaints they sue, and scream anti-religious, anti-whatever.

    i have a very unique idea for a yeshiva, play by the rules, zoning and otherwise, when you buy or rent a property make sure the zoning supports your needs. Do not go into a neighborhood knowing full well that what you want to do is not allowed by zoning laws. and then break the rules and say you are anti-religious give me a break. When will the yeshivas learn they are not above the local law.
    “We heard about the tolerance and the beauty of Roosevelt and thought it would be a perfect place to get our boys out of the city,” said Joshua Pruzansky, spokesman for the Bronx-based yeshiva. “I guess we were wrong.”

    I am still laughing at this comment coming from someone who will not bend their believes for no one (“My husband now can’t sit at service holding his granddaughter on his lap,” she said, because yeshiva rabbis insist sexes must be kept separate. “I feel betrayed by my synagogue. I’m crushed that the community I loved is so divided.” ) to just to funny. Not matter what you believe that hashem said so, to the others who do not belive that, it is intolerant.
    Tolerant works both ways, not one way like most frum expect.

    Yonason
    Yonason
    15 years ago

    This is very sad. Before I became frum 30 years ago I lived near Roosevelt and frequently attended the shul there; I remember the people there as being warm. Today, B’ H, I live in a solidly frum community where I have come to know Joshua Pruzansky personally – he is an honorable fellow and a tremendous asset to Klal Yisroel. I wish him and the Yeshiva much success in this struggle. For me, very sad.

    Bmg coffe room
    Bmg coffe room
    15 years ago

    Mr Pruzansky .Torah in your yeshiva institution will never thrive or survive with this chillul hashem are causing.
    If you had done things the right way in the first place you wouldnt have to deal crooked today. Plus you would have had more people interested in yiddishkiet . Now with all shenanegans you turned away lots of potential ballei teshuva and are making us yiddin look very bad.
    Its erev rosh hashana . I hope you Daven well to be mechaper on this chillul hashem.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    the yeshiva did not move there for kiruv purposes all they wanted is a place for their students.

    kiruv is a seprate issue those folks living there are self hating liberal jews let them be

    yoyo
    yoyo
    15 years ago

    Why is everything a “hate” crime these days. No one can do or say anything without being accused of such.

    I feel for the community, and not having the shul they are used to and feeling like they are being pushed out, but times do change.
    You can’t expect things to stay the same forever. It’s a free country, where anyone can move anywhere they want to no matter what the town considers themselves to be politically.
    The new members, and visitors of the town, should just remember that these people were there first, and they are the LAST people you should be telling what and how to do things.
    Lakewood has become huge, as most of us have witnessed, which is great, but when I see a young woman who moved from brooklyn 2 or 3 years ago, go to a family member who have lived here for decades, and tell them how to dress, or look down on them, it just makes me sick to my stomach at how disrespectful people can be.
    p.s. Just because there are Jews who are not orthodox, does not make them Reform. There are many Jewish movements in America such as, Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Conservadox, Conservative, Reform, Jewbu, etc. You can’t just assume a Jewish person to be something, just because they aren’t like you.

    Don’t be ignorant, and say senseless things like: “TJ Says-It is obvious the women interviewed and those who support her are angry about mechitzas and the frum lifestyle challenging their apikores reform ideology.”
    Grow up, and start having your own thought for once.

    grandpajoe
    grandpajoe
    15 years ago

    It is apparnet that the religious right like to take over the world, be it music, daily life, or whatever. I have no objections to Yeshiva’s or the religious right, but when YOU decide the “CHUMRAH” of the week then we turn off people.
    The extreme right is making a mockery out of religiousity. Our elteren worked with the communities. Remember – we are all yidden.

    Torah Yid
    Torah Yid
    15 years ago

    AST613,
    “So instead of trying to influence them by showing them the beauty of Yiddishkeit, they “took over” and mandated how the Shul should be run. The Yeshiva had a great opportunity for Kiruv (not to mention a great lesson to the boys) and now they just threw it away. “

    Yes instead of compromising Torah they put up a mechitza, observe Shabbos and keep kosher… Apparently this turns secular Jews off and keeps them from returning to Hashem. according to you others the Orthodox should daven without a mechitza, not observe Shabbos, stop dressing tznius and shake hands with women amongst other things… You and many others are left of the derech, living on fantasy island instead of reality. And let me tell you reality is a world where the worst antisemites are Jews who don’t want anything to do with Torah or Hashem. Even when shown how to live a frum life they reject it because it isnt what is important to them. Yes even Chabad has problems with secular/reform ( see VIN article on Chabad Rabbi in Wyoming posted yesterday) who hate Torah and Hashem. Don’t you know that many Jews consider the Torah to be nothing more then a cultural/history book and worst of all don’t even believe in Hashem? They are American first and Jew second maybe third. But you say we can do kiruv by advocating frum Jews breaking Torah so that we can have shalom bayis with Jews who don’t care about Torah or Hashem. Shame on you and all those who think like you!!! Please go bury your face in dirt and start repenting to Hashem…

    btw
    btw
    15 years ago

    dina d’malchusa dina. don’t give them the opening.

    Anon.
    Anon.
    15 years ago

    To the yeshiva,
    I still don’t understand, even now after the federal judge said apply for a variance first then sue, you don’t listen. You are taking jewish money and wasting it on lawsuits. You are creating sinah for no reason. And why do you think you will win on appeal or in state court? With what logic or proof do you have that the Judge is wrong? Maybe you should rethink your actions and try to see if you can compromise with your community either by applying for a variance or by complying with their zoning regulations. Stop trying to figure out their motives and claiming it’s anti-semitism. It’s irrelevant. You should be mevater and work on the middos of caas and gaivah. Don’t worry about them so much.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    My son learns there, there is a seprerate minyon for the Anshei Roosevelt people, lead by Rabbi Bess 9th. Grade Rebbie. I am sure in that minyon there is no problem having your grandaughter sit on your lap. Without the yeshiva your grandaughter can sit on your lap all U want, nobody will be there to throw U out.

    Mpls_JW
    Mpls_JW
    15 years ago

    Move to Minneapolis – we welcome all!

    Chronological Reality
    Chronological Reality
    15 years ago

    Some of the talkbacks have been ridiculous, people fail to see both sides of the issue without allowing their prejudices to interfere with REALITY. This is my attempt give a fair an impartial response to this article.

    CHRONOLOGICALLY speaking according to the article, this town was once a flourishing liberal “anti-religious jewish community of 1000” and while it still is a “close knit liberal community” it is struggling to maintain itself. There are approximately just 315 Jews left and the “synagogue was about to collapse” because no one attended or belonged!!! Therefore it should be blatantly obvious these people dont care about religion, no matter what the movement and obviously don’t care for Hashem or the Torah. There own words and actions testify to this REALITY.

    The simple REALITY is that when you have an anti-religious community of 315 Jews and then “52 yeshiva bochurs” move into town you have are all the ingredients for a culture clash. Opposition to the yeshiva existed before one orthodox Jew even set foot into town. (see protestors) The Rabbi must have known that he was in for a fight from the onset because of these protestors… Why would you want to live in a neighborhood that doesn’t want you to begin with? Furthermore, don’t break zoning regulations and give them an excuse to attack frum yiddishkeit. Yet all that withstanding this is a clear example of the “intolerance of the tolerant” who are not tolerant of others who have beliefs that clash with their liberal ideology. Even if the yeshiva wasn’t breaking zoning regulations they weren’t welcome. I am all but certain that if the “liberal anti-religious community” had turned the synagogue into a liberal art school they would turn a blind eye to zoning laws. So its my opinion that BOTH ARE WRONG!

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    15 years ago

    …”Rosevelt is unique in its beauty, seclusion and TOLERANCE”… Mayor Beth BATTEL (battle) is quoted as saying.
    I guess her [and the town’s] tolerance extends till the [entrance] door of the Yeshiva!
    How ironic. Her name is Battel/Battle! Unfortunately, they’re not unique. This situation (opposition to the establishment or expansion of JEWISH Religious institutions) is pervasive throughout (particularly) the State of New Jersey!!!

    FATHER OF A NEW TALMID
    FATHER OF A NEW TALMID
    15 years ago

    MY SON HAS JUST BEGUN LEARNING AT THIS YESHIVA.I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE BEHAVIOUR AND DERECH ERETZ THESE BOYS HAVE FOR EACH OTHER AND IN GENERAL.MY SON TOLD ME THAT IF THEY MEET THE TOWNSFOLK OUTSIDE THEY SHOULD GREET THEM POLITELY WHICH I HAVE WITNESSED. MY SON HAS NEVER BEEN HAPPIER, DUE TO THE QUIET SURROUNDINGS. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LEGAL SITUATION, BUT I WONDER IF THIS LIBERAL COMMUNITY WOULD ACT THE SAME WAY IF A BLACK OR HISPANIC SCHOOL WOULD HAVE MOVED IN NEXT DOOR!!!.
    LET US ALL PREY THAT SHOLOM WILL PREVAIL!.

    X- yeshiva bochur
    X- yeshiva bochur
    15 years ago

    There is no comromising Torah, period. Mr kiruv man, would you drive to a shul on shabbos to be mekarev ppl? The torah is not liberal. We frum jews dont compromise it – no negotiating. Was this incident dealt with correctly – noone wil ever find out because of all the he said/she said. But there are hundreds of yeshivos in NJ in what were formerly frum and vibrant communities and I have yet to hear of any lawsuits occuring. Im not saying they all get along with every single resident – no, but there is a righ way and a wrong way… I am not yeshivish but, Dina dmalchusa DINA. That is a halacha. Mitzvah haba b’aveirah.. and hashem is not m’chaper on chillul hashem. Keep that in mind when you daven your 18 hour shmoneh esrei on rish hashana and yom kippur…

    Midot
    Midot
    15 years ago

    Torah im derech eretz; derech eretz kadma letorah

    morris
    morris
    15 years ago

    unfortunately some yeshivas are run like businesses rather than a place of torah learning. peoples feelings arent considered and it brings resentment from the people they have to live with. too many rabbaim/administrators are known to be unscrupulous (not necessarily in this case). has the yeshiva ever invited their neighbors in for a shabbos???
    sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

    Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less!!!
    Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less!!!
    15 years ago

    JP you need to get out of that city and go someplace where they like you. The problem with the ‘ lo dati’ is that when they see a person who keeps torah & mitzvos better than they do, they look at themselves and they cant handle the fact that they are oysvorfs.

    Mrs. Kuchelefel
    Mrs. Kuchelefel
    15 years ago

    Do not blame the yeshiva for “missing an opportunity” in kiruv. The yeshiva did not move there to do kiruv.

    Now since you brought up the topic of “missing an opportunity in kiruv” I must ask you have you ever double parked and had an attitude for someone asking you to move the car?

    Have you ever cut someone off?

    Have you ever not got up for someone older than you?

    You know the answers and therefore we must say YOU HAVE MISSED MANY OPPORTUNITIES in kiruv and making a kidish hashem instead of chilul hashem.

    Look in your own back yard and stop looking at Roosevelt yeshiva in a bad manner.

    Roosevelt yeshiva has upstanding students and the bochurim are extremely nice.

    Unfortunately the Roosevelt community is totally anti semitic. When Telz yeshiva opened in Westwood NJ they suffered alot and it got to a point where priest and church members had to walk with the bochurim as protection for them so they do not get stoned every morning which happened a few times.

    Well Westwood chased the jews out of town and go-d took care of them when go-d flooded the entire westwood, NJ during a major rain storm two years ago.

    The most amazing thing was the only homes that got destroyed were the people that caused problems for the yeshiva at that time. Roosevelt community will have major problems if they do not stop bothering the orthodox jews.

    What goes around will always come around.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    why couldnt the yeshiva make their own shul, follow the rules, make a kiddush hashem, and make a kiruv program? ask any successful lubavitcher shliach or anyone else trying to set up a frum community in a secular one. its best for both sides to work with the people in the town, not fight them. now all the people in roosevelt have a tainted view of frumme yidden as lawbreakers and pushy people, and it will be even harder to bring them back to ehrliche yiddishkeit.

    the yeshiva doesnt have to have mixed seating ch”v. but if they are interested in kiruv (which they should be!) they should understand that you can’t make religious people by making them uncomfortable and angering them.

    i feel like for some yidden today it’s almost a badge of pride how much they anger the secular people in their town, like they’re proud that they’re so frum that no one else can handle it. this is pure gaivah folks.