Recently, the second annual gathering was held to celebrate the remarkable achievements of a group of dedicated baalei batim who have taken upon themselves the task of raising funds for the BMG Kollel. It is truly astounding that this sweeping campaign successfully raised over $120 million, aiming to elevate and “restore the glory of our yungeleit. I consider myself fortunate to have contributed a small part to this monumental campaign and I am eternally grateful to those individuals who spearheaded this initiative, providing me with such a golden opportunity.
In light of the magnificent Adirei Hatorah, where 25,000 yidden gathered to demonstrate their support for “the greatest treasure of our world, the yungerman,” there is a pressing matter that needs to be addressed if we are genuinely committed to ensuring that the yungerman remains revered and able to pursue his studies with peace of mind and dignity.
Allow me to be direct and concise. Unfortunately, the yungerman is facing the challenge of being priced out of his own hometown. Over three generations, Lakewood has been built and centered around BMG, yet it has become unaffordable for the average young learning family. In recent years, kollel families have only been able to purchase homes in the surrounding towns of Howell and Jackson.
In the past two years, almost simultaneously with the increase in the kollel check campaign, the cost of even a modest starter home in these surrounding towns has nearly doubled. Previously, a small 3-4 bedroom starter home in Jackson would cost approximately $425,000, with a 4% interest rate and $10,000 in taxes and insurance, resulting in a monthly cost of around $2,500. Today, that same home is being sold for upwards of $650,000, with a 7% interest rate. This translates to a monthly payment of $4,500, in addition to a $45,000 increase in the required down payment. The additional $600 from the raised check falls significantly short of covering the additional two thousand dollars per month.
To be clear, I do not seek to assign blame or point fingers at any specific individuals for this rise; I merely present these facts as they affect the yungerman. This situation is nothing short of catastrophic, forcing many young families to shoulder an overwhelming amount of debt and monthly expenses beyond their means. Moreover, this does not account for the exorbitant increase in the cost of kosher groceries, which far surpasses the national inflation rate for food. Additionally, the increase in NJ SNAP benefits due to COVID has been phased out. Nor does it consider the average tuition increase of $500 per child. Yes, the dedicated women who support their husband’s tirelessly, have received an increase in pay, but that too falls short in most situations.
I do not wish to undermine the heroic efforts of these generous Baalei Batim. Rather, I aim to emphasize that this is not a time for self-congratulation, but a time of urgent necessity. As Baalei Batim who have undertaken the responsibility of supporting Torah in an unprecedented manner, we have a significant role to play in creating a sustainable future for our most cherished yungerman. It is high time that a concentrated effort is made to address the issue of affordable housing in Lakewood and its surrounding areas.
Anonymous
The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily reflect those of Lakewood Alerts. Have an opinion you’d like to share? Send it to Info@LakewoodAlerts.com for review.
I agree 100% with everything that the writer shares here. It is correct that yungerleit or anyone for that matter is being priced out of this Choshuve Ihr Hatorah. My question is what does this have to do with Adirei hatorah. As far as I understood, Lakewood Alerts does not posses the horrible discriminating sensless basless chutzpadig views towards BMG that some other so called news sites in Lakewood have.
This is a huge problem, I did hear through the grapevine that there is a plan in the works for a big development by the same guys running Adirei Hatorah, from what I understood this development will be subsidized homes only for yungeleit that are already in yeshiva for a certain amount of years.
I guess time will tell, but if this is true then it would be a tremendous yeshua for these chushiva yungerleit and a huge kiddush hashem for our Ihr Hatorah
This issue can be resolved with relative ease, without significant exertion. If a dedicated group of Baalei Batim collaborate to construct 250 homes for young married individuals without permitting outside investors to participate in the project, and sell them at a predetermined price that ensures developers still generate profit, it would have a transformative impact on the local landscape for our cherished Yungeleit. Moreover, it is worth noting that there is a substantial amount of undeveloped land accessible in Jackson among other nearby towns, offering numerous opportunities for expansion. Therefore, the only hindrance lies in our willingness to back our words with financial commitment & rolling up our sleeves. Only time will reveal the outcome.
What about the people learning in a different Yeshiva. Not necessarily BMG.
What about the yungeleit who left after many years and are struggling working bnei torah?
Home ownership? What happened to renting while in kollel?
I am trying to understand why someone learning is more entitled to own a home than someone working and pays tuition and learns with kivias and can barely cut it. What is wrong with providing home with a very low rental fee for the yungeleit learning with say more then 2 children. Subsidize his home as long as he is learning.
Because a youngerman which is torasoi umnasoi is on a higher level than a balebous who is working hard to support his family and is kovea itim. It’s a shade that Lakewood which once represented the shtultz of torah has people who don’t understand the chashivus of torah.
This comment would not come about, If you would realize how much the kollel youngerman contributes to the parnosso of the baalei batim and how much their yegias hatorah guards over klal Yisroel much more than the Aguda, Shomrim, Hatzolo and all other meaningful askonim!
I believe we have now a perfect opportunity to spread the light of Torah across America.There are many many Jewish communities that would love to have Torah scholars to live in their communities. The cost of living in many of these communities is much less expensive. it could be win-win for all. Chabad shluchim go out without any idea how they’re going to afford where they’re going financially yetHashem helps them. small groups of yungerleitCan make a big difference.
Stop being so greedy and take a step back and look at Lakewood. There is no more room. Why can’t students carpool or commute from another area with lower costs of living?
And what about someone like me with only 1 kid spends 12 hours a day working two jobs and still can hardly afford rent with how much everything else costs. Owning a house is a luxury, you shouldn’t be able to afford one by just learning.
We are fortunate or unfortunate to have become the new Manhattan and economic powerhouse of NJ . Office buildings are getting very high rents ,unlike Manhattan . The Cedarbrudge Corporate Park has transformed Lakewood into a wealthy corporate town . So what do you expect? Of course Yungeleit and Bnei Torah are forever priced out of the new Lakewood . No project can ever fix the problem. Yungeleit and their married children need thousands of houses over the next few years and they obviously can’t afford them . In addition, teachers salaries have to go up at a high rate every year to keep up with the corporate salaries. So obviously tuitions ,even in the most yeshivishe mosdos will need to increase by huge amounts annually . So no amount of Adirei Hatoirah can keep Yungeleit and simple Bnai Torah in Lakewood in the long run . We should have seen this coming and not allowed our town to become a Corporate Park ,but now it’s too late.
Aye. Aye. Hold up one Second.
BMG is building at least 600 Apartments for the Yigehlaat. Or at least they said they are building. That should save this issue for the less affordable folks. The ones with rich parents or in-laws will surly ‘take care’ of their offspring and handle the bills as well.
It would be nice if the taxpayer would get some benefit fromthe growth of Chmbersbridge. It was townhip land given to them and then all the buildings are tax exempt so all of us continue to pay hiugh real estate taxes.
Feel free to move out to one of the newer neighborhoods. You may have to walk a few more minutes to shul but you can get an affordable house.
BMG has millions in assets, why don’t they just support their learners at levels that are economically sustainable?
Millions in assets doesn’t mean they have millions in cash. If their Batei Midrashim are valued at a few million a piece, for example, that’s not something to sell to “Support their learners”. But it’s still counted towards their “Millions in assets”