An urgent warning has been issued to Lakewood residents as Rabbonim sound the alarm about the potential dangers of car service arrangements. A striking new campaign urges families to take immediate steps to protect their daughters, spouses, and themselves when using transportation services in the community.
The message, emblazoned with the stark reminder “Lakewood Be Aware! Don’t Look Back With Regret,” highlights the need for vigilance in choosing safe transportation options. Rabbonim are unequivocal in their guidance: no girl or woman should ever enter a car service or taxi alone with a male driver, regardless of familiarity. Instead, they stress that individuals should only ride in groups or opt for a female driver whenever possible.
The warning comes amid growing concerns that unsafe transportation practices could lead to devastating consequences. The campaign states bluntly, “Not following these guidelines has destroyed our girls, destroyed relationships, and destroyed families.”
This initiative is endorsed by some of Lakewood’s most prominent Rabbonim, including R’ Simcha Bunim Cohen, R’ Uri Deutsch, R’ Chaim Mayer Roth, R’ Avraham Spitzer, R’ Avraham Yeshaya Frand, and R’ Tzvi Elimelech Hershkowitz.
I know a few such stories first hand and the “Lake…” are complicit 100%.
Scary stories.
Be careful and it’s not worth using a taxi.
I’m talking about ppl taking jobs just to entrap young girls.
The taxi services know about this and have no vetting process. They are guilty 💯.
I completely agree without any reservation. Lakeway knowingly employs predators and refuses to take drivers off their roster, even after incidents occur under their watch. This is not an exaggeration—it’s a necessary callout because Lakeway consistently fails to take action to prevent these incidents. Their inaction is unacceptable and perpetuates harm.
Am I missing something ??
why is this any different then a car service in boro park!?
Maybe let our girls get their license and their parents won’t have to be a shuttle service at 12:00am to get their kids to G.O. or play practice etc. Instead of blaming parents this and parents that, the schools are really the ones putting our girls in danger with their radical rules and sensitivity. Yes you can say blah blah you don’t have to send your kid there but the truth is the whole girls high school system needs a reform in the most drastic way.
Also bochurim hitching rides at night from yeshivoth going home, they enter any car that stops for them. The yeshivoth shouldn’t permit these bochurim to hitchhike,
Especially in these times we live in.
What do you want from them? They should walk an hour? If your so scared that they will be picked up by dangerous people MAKE SURE TO ALWAYS PICK UP ANY BOY THAT YOU SEE HITCHING!
The person who worded this letter is a animal.
He says “even the most refined girl” which indicates he believes a girl could potentially be at fault if she isn’t refined.
Excuse me?
The truth hurts
The intent may have been “You might think that being eidel and refined will protect someone, but it won’t.”
At any rate, if victim-blaming was good enough for Chazal, it should be good enough for you (case of the Ish Mitzri).
It should be 100% up to the parents to decide when their daughters can drive. The school don’t allow it so don’t put blame on the parents for this.
A suggestion
Maybe the Chassidishe Rabbonim/Rebbes should consider allowing women to drive? 80-100 years ago driving was banned but maybe due to the change of society & circumstances this setup should be changed?
You come into a community and take over housing, construction, a zillion cars on the road and then act like the people in the community are less worthy of your community? Obviously your issue is that people not associated with your beliefs are evil and less righteous, nobody but you are worried about doing harm to values that are dated..
The intent here isn’t “Protect yourself from bad influences,” it’s “Protect yourself from being assaulted.”
The focus specifically on female passengers and male drivers should have told you that.
Maybe they should consider that there’s a huge percentage of girls who aren’t safe in their own homes with their own fathers and brothers and address that for a change?
What about bus drivers jewish & non jewish some are left to be desired.
Lets have a conversation about that.
lets just make sure this is not someone who is trying to exploit these stories for his own business reasons like he did in monsey like i wont be surprised if in a few weeks someone mysteriously just opens another car service. time will tell