Lakewood Mesivta Defies Mandatory Shutdown, Remains Open With 150 Students

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LAKEWOOD (VINnews) — Not all Yeshivos have followed the mandatory guidelines to close their Yeshivos. At least one Yeshiva in Lakewood has 150 students sitting and learning, defying all instructions from doctors and local, state, and federal officials.

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The students of Mesivta of Lakewood, under direct guidance of their Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yosef (Yossel) Burstein, are learning and sleeping in the building, in complete disregard of the ongoing global health crisis.

As the Coronavirus continues to spread around Lakewood, this poses a grave danger to the students, their families and all who come in contact with them.

VINnews has learned that there are also suspected cases in the Yeshiva itself.

VINnews notes that according to all rabbinical rulings, it is incumbent upon all to report the Yeshiva, as this poses a very real danger to many lives.

 


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204 Comments
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Educated Eddy
Educated Eddy
4 years ago

A wonderful kiddish hashem—– NOT

ah BITTER gelechter.
ah BITTER gelechter.
4 years ago

they will be עתיד ליטול את הדין

Heshy
Heshy
4 years ago

Why don’t you stop picking on yeshivas. Go after the reform. That you have no guts.

Stevens
4 years ago

They are the most responsible Yeshiva, all buchorim quarantined themselves in yeshive for 2 weeks.

Ina
Ina
4 years ago

This is the Mesivta that threw out 50 boys for going to the funeral of the Skulener Rebbe. The boys and their parents are likely fearful that he won’t allow the boys back if they leave. Something needs to be done about this “Rosh Yeshiva”. Don’t care how good his school is.

elyeh
elyeh
4 years ago

This is PeKuach Nefesh !

Eal
Eal
4 years ago

Major chillul Hashem
No wonder the goyim blame us for everything

dr. yidd
dr. yidd
4 years ago

Ina, the authorities should deal with him. I fear God will be much harsher

Alan
Alan
4 years ago

This is a tremendous chillil Hashem. Then we ask why the goyim hate us.

Circle
Circle
4 years ago

You took that clip while in your car?
110 people will die today from vehicle accidents!
Is life so meaningless to you that you drive around eventhough 110 people will die from it?

five towns joe
five towns joe
4 years ago

EDUCATION?
What are they teaching the boys about obeying dina demalcusa dina?
Do they choose whatdinim they want to obey?
Maybe that is why there enough residents in Otisville for a Daf Yomi

anonymous
anonymous
4 years ago

Freedom of choice???
Just make sure they stay in the building and not come in contact with you or your family.

David
David
4 years ago

Actually a smart great plan!! They decided to quarantine themselves together. They don’t leave the premises (they takes walks in front of building) and their all in it together. The Rosh Yeshivah felt its better for their health and everyone else if they sell quarantine. The rest of the bochurim in Lakewood are hanging out with other bochurim and going to stores and shops.
And btw their all there by their own will and choice.

five towns joe
five towns joe
4 years ago

EDUCATION?
What are they teaching the boys about obeying dina demalcusa dina?
Do they choose what dinim they want to obey?
Maybe that is why there enough residents in Otisville for a Daf Yomi

Jay Orchard
Jay Orchard
4 years ago

The Yeshivah has the right to continue to operate and for bochurim to continue to learn there. The rest of us have the right to lock them inside so no one can come out until the pandemic is over.

Just a Guy
Just a Guy
4 years ago

I knew this was going to happen! I knew that in no way a Lakewood yeshiva is going to close… I really have no clue to to why they think they are exempt to what the governor says.

lakewood strong
lakewood strong
4 years ago

lakewood strong
jackson strong

Just saying
Just saying
4 years ago

This is not the only Yeshiva which is still open, and it’s not only in Lakewood,

Donny
Donny
4 years ago

Pesach is very close, please don”t tell me tell me they are self quarantined if they leave the mesivta for Pesach and go commit murder.
While someone made a choice to select this Mesivta for their kids, the Rosh Yeshiva is still responsible and might be brought up on charges for running this operation.

Broken record
Broken record
4 years ago

What are you mosrim afraid of? You are following orders, right? You’ve locked yourself in your homes, right??? You are practicing what you are preaching, right??? So YOU and your loved ones including the elderly ARE SAFE. SO WHAT THE HELL DO YOU CARE IF OTHERS WANT TO KILL THEMSELVES?! Elah meiy, you’re jealous. They can go out and I can’t. So basically, you are all a bunch of sanctimonious selfish pigs. You are a bunch of rich spoiled brats who are ticked off that your Pesach plans have been cancelled and you can’t lay on the beach in the Bahamas. TOO BAD! Get over it!

Donny
Donny
4 years ago

  Broken record
You speak as if your mind is broken. The chain of people getting sick has to be broken. When these bochrim go home they might very well be sick and spread it to parents, grandparents, Shul neighbors, even people near them on line in supermarkets.
The issue is that they might be KILLING OTHERS. I was young once, you can’t stay young forever.
My Pesach plans include eating and having the supplies needed for the Seder. That involves last minute shopping, hopefully not in contact with these vermin.
By the way, your jealousy of those with the funds to do resort Pesach shows. Use all the terms you can, you can’t cover your jealousy.

Heshy
Heshy
4 years ago

Let’s be real.
When a leading rosh yeshiva in Israel Rabbi Meir Mazuz stated this caronavirus is because of gay parades in Israel. Why blame yeshiva boys. Chutzpah. Some of these commentators are infected with Krummer hashkofes. Trust me. When our devil politicians both here and in Israel outlaw the sinful gay behavior then will discuss the remote possibility of Shul closing. Until then we must keep our minyans going. This is a test. Where are the big mouth askunim when it comes to speaking up against euthanasia and abortions and toeiva behavior. Don’t lecture the yeshiva or heimisha velt.

Bob
Bob
4 years ago

Being that i’m stuck at home due to this issue, i am reading for the first time the responses to an article. I’m blown over how many of our wonderful yidden that may daven next to us in shul and seem so normal, online they at a minimum show no concept of mentchlichkeit, no concept of common sense, and probably, and i hate to say it have such anti semitic sinas chinam. Im shocked that anyone can defend the yeshiva anymore than I’m shocked any jew can hug the Iranian dictators. Those who spew such hatred, may one day be called in front of bais din shel maaloh as a murderer or as someone who helped or encouraged someones murder. Hashem should be “choinen dass” these poor misdirected yidden.

Donny
Donny
4 years ago

Heshy, you self identify as Heshy, not Rav Heshy. So who is your Rav? There are many that recognized this is a pekuach Nefoshos issue, all except you and your Rav.
I am not sure you have the right to put yourself in danger, you DO NOT have the right to put others in danger. Stop splitting hairs about gays. This is a different, unrelated issue.

Yankl
Yankl
4 years ago

Someone said that the Reformed movement does not have Yeshivos. But it looks like they do!
Welcome to Beth Mesivta of Lakewood, Reformed Temple of Lakewood, where they don’t bother to “really” listen to either the law of the land or to Din Torah.
What did they say? They blame on the fact that a bunch of their boys are gay? Oy!

anonymous
anonymous
4 years ago

Heshy, you’re not to blame. You’ve been drinking the “velt’s” KoolAid to overdose.
Too many cults in the “velt”. I’m a senior and familiar with the “velt”. I’ve never, ever experienced such farkrumpte kartoffel farchumret nonsense. None of my generation of Holocaust survivors ever thought that this extremist “velt” would ever hapoen. Our parents never experienced this “velt” in the alter heim either.

Frish
Frish
4 years ago

Ekeldiga litvaks it was never about hashem.

Jon
Jon
4 years ago

As a relative of bochrim in the yeshiva. I know that all the boys are not there right now. And they still following the CDC guidelines of social distancing.

Heshy
Heshy
4 years ago

In a time when an evil anti Torah government wants to close shuls we must be ready to give up our lives like the three cardinal sins. Ask any orthodox rabbi not a modern one. How do we define enemy governments. A government that wants to force our children to learn shmad through evolution or toeiva through their same gender education is our enemy. Not only here in Americavwhere democRATs hold sway but equally in Israel. For seventy years they have spit on Shabbos and now one spit from above makes them all scramble into hiding. Keep shuls open. Yes space yourselves but keep the minyans going.

Kugel
Kugel
4 years ago

When the deadly virus spreads in Lakevood, overwhelming the hospitals, you know who will correctly get blamed. Is this what the ‘heimisha velt’ has come to? Ignoring basic common sense and hygiene? Do they wash hentalas after using the turlet? If so, why?

Fearer of Hashem
Fearer of Hashem
4 years ago

This so-called yeshiva- the students claim they are jewish? Followers of torah?

Or just wear a uniform and regurgitate aramaic words?

Normal
Normal
4 years ago

Frum Jews were ground zero for measles in the USA and now they will be ground zero for Coronavirus

B
B
4 years ago

Bh there a place where there tefila berabim they are hold up our world!!!

Hektor Chaluvim
Hektor Chaluvim
4 years ago

We can all trust the judgement of Reb Yossel, the yeshiva’s menahel. Sadly, the readers here are not aware how religious he is. At the Pesach Seder he says “Zacher Zecher” L’Mikdash k’Hillel.
Who here knows anyone that is so religious?

Chaim
Chaim
4 years ago

Reb yosel is an unbelievable person though sometimes goes to the extreme
That being said
he really feels and believes and loves this in a practical fashion that Torah maygeen umatzla the Torah protects one and is the best shield against any pandemic hence his obstinate stance against The accepted health dept recommendations
Eluu veluu he’s right and their right but we also have the famous gemora the suton doesn’t differentiate between Tzadik verosha Bshas gezero?
So it would stand to reason that we should follow the health dept recommendations which is the accepted psak from all the gedolim

mendel
mendel
4 years ago

Corona Virus kills 4 in a Single NJ Family

Vincent Fusco died Thursday morning at a hospital in Freehold, NJ.com reported. His death was confirmed by Roseann Paradiso Fodera, an attorney and relative. Fusco’s mother, Grace Fusco, died Wednesday night, hours after another son, Carmine Fusco, died in Pennsylvania.

A sister, Rita Fusco-Jackson, died last Friday.

so they were not part of the yeshiva or yidden in fact….
so what is the excuse from our own anti semites??

Just sayin
Just sayin
4 years ago

I’m a Christian woman who works in lakewood and I’m just mindboggled or shocked at the way you all speak to each other. On here. Wheres the Brotherhood or children of God…wow just amazing. We should be obeying the laws. This is temporary not forever. Time to be with your family and closer to God just to HELP humanity stop spreading the virus..specia)y after Purim look at all the coming out positive cases now. So sad again I pray everyones well as I pray i dont get contaminated because you felt ABOVE whats being asked for on a temporary basis. This ABOVE everyone else attitude aka plainly prideful aka sin is the reason why people feel act and say such unpleasant things. Dont you get it? Feeling superior? We are all children of God. These posts show real hate and honestly hypocrasy. We need to humble ourselves and stop spreading hate.

Youngerman
Youngerman
4 years ago

Maybe someone can post the Rosh Yeshiva’s phone number and address?

moish
moish
4 years ago

I don’t know. As long as they’re staying together, even if chas vsholom they catch something, then what is the problem? They’re young, and it’s over before you know it. As long as the young ones stay together, what is the problem? Think! Of course this means they MUST stay together even over Pesach, until the Mageifo is all over.
No outsiders are allowed to join. Nobody should be allowed to leave.
I wish them hatzlocho – and may they be our shluchei tzibur.

Dr. Eli
Dr. Eli
4 years ago

I am not a Posek and will publish no opinion as to whether the Yeshiva should close. However, on a more general note, this is one of the reasons that many irreligious and non-jewish communities nearby have fought the expansion of Ultra-orthodox communities from Monsey and Lakewood into their towns. They see frequent examples of frum jews disregarding zoning and other laws, acting holier than thou, and relying on divine intervention to fix things despite risks like metzizah bpeh and the current situation. We may even be right, for example, maybe hashem is proud the yeshiva is open. However, recognize how this looks and dont act suprised and yell “anti-semitism” (as opposed to fear and misunderstandings, when towns balk at frum communities miving in…

PaulinSaudi
PaulinSaudi
4 years ago

There need to be arrests. Children need to be removed from danger.

Heshy
Heshy
4 years ago

So many of you have crooked secular Haskofas. When Rabbi Chaim kenievsky sent messages to the chassidic rebbes 17 years ago to bring out one hundred thousand yidden to protest the first Jerusalem gay parade. They refused. Ten thousand Jews came out. A mix between meah shearim people and Meir kahanes followers. The chief police said that had a hundred thousand protesters come out,there would be no gay parade as they could not guarantee the gays safety. Now 17 years later in the holy yerushslayim the biggest filth marches yearly and increases. Rabbi Meir Mazuz a leading rosh yeshiva declared the caronavirus is because of gay parades in Israel. The old satmar rebbe would never dream to what extremes the impurity has hit Jerusalem. And you bums laugh. Laugh at Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky but now you come crying to him why it’s happening. Of course it’s also chillul Shabbos as we see that the first time in 71 years they are closing everything on Shabbos. Also noteworthy right before carona hit Israel,the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that gay couples in Israel can adopt babies. What did G-d do. He closed the borders. No babies are coming in from Europe or China. And you crooked individuals think your smart. Also shuls have an epidemic talking problem. This must stop. There is a lot to write. Let’s keep the yeshivas open. Just space yourself. We salute the shuls and homes that are running minyans three times a day. I will not give out the names because you bums may harass.

max
max
4 years ago

Dont know whats their din But whoever took the clip in middle driving is for sure a “rusha” he could of killed someone much quicker then the vires!!!!!!!

Leah Z
Leah Z
4 years ago

This is ridiculous. We all should be ashamed of ourselves. At a time like this, we need to be uniting together, not fighting, bad mouthing, and shaming. We NEED to stop acting as if we all know me best and learn to respect other people’s decisions. We are living in unprecedented times and we need to believe that people are acting on what they truly believe is da’as Torah. Before we all rise up to judge this yeshiva, we need to ask ourselves what we are doing to fix the current situation? How many of us snuck one last errand in before the stores shut down? How many of us are spending our time kvetching about homeschooling instead of using the time to become closer with our families and grow together? How many of us are running to the grocery for nonessential items? How many of us are taking on extra learning and mitzvos? How many of us are doing a serious cheshbon hanefesh and looking at what needs fixing? We need to stop finding faults in everyone else’s behaviors and decisions and focus on what we as individuals can do to fix the world. I’m not saying I agree with what this Rosh Yeshiva decided to do but I want to believe that he acted with good intentions and his own da’as Torah and maybe I can even find something meaningful in the boys’ mesiras Nefesh, even if i might feel it is misplaced in this case. Will this cause a chilul Hashem? Maybe. Time will tell. But you know what will cause a bigger chilul Hashem? The way everyone here is speaking to and about each other. VIN, please be careful what you post here. You have a responsibility to post news that will unite us, not divide us.

Eve
Eve
4 years ago

Any one could do what they want put if you live in a country that have laws and the government ask for all school to be close why they cannot fallow the rule by staying open they or stating they above the law wish does not look good for the Jewish community

Heshy
Heshy
4 years ago

Hakol keminhag Hamadina
Means
Everyone should act like his community
Many places have minyanim on the street.
Many places use their homes
And yes there are still many using shuls
Just drive around Boro park about 8,9,10,11 am and you will see hundreds walking with Tallis and tefillin bags. No one will get hurt davening.
Especially if they space themselves.
You know who may be effected.
Women not dressed a hundred per cent tznius.
When someone coughs or sneezes and it’s saliva ends up towards floor due to gravity,it can hit a woman’s foot that’s not covered with proper tights. Even this crazy new off the Derech dressing of women wearing leggings leaves them open to getting caronavirus.
If the saliva hits the uncovered part of the bottom of the feet,she could end up with carona. What will be with her mispocha if she becomes sick. Wake up. Now where this can happen. In grocery,fruit store or doctors office. Please share this important message with your neighbors. Protect yourselves. Cover legs properly as well as arms. Gloves with shirt sleeves won’t be enough. Crown heights has been hit bad and so has Lawrence and parts of midwood. Wake up and smell the coffee.

David
David
4 years ago

You guys have got it ALL wrong.

These boys were self-quarantined.

In other words, they agreed between themselves to not go out of the Yeshiva and not even to the Grocery, so they couldn’t catch the Virus from the outside.

Anyone that goes out into public, or home, or a Grocery etc loses his right to be in the Yeshiva & must go home.

This is perfectly legal and allows Learning to continue in a SAFE environment.

I have spoken to people in the Yeshiva and confirmed this.

Donny
Donny
4 years ago

NO, Leah Z.
Such irresponsible behavior is something that has to be confronted and stopped. I speak as a retired health professional. It is silly arguing with heshy, who appears to be a teen aged yeshivah boy with no adult sense yet.

Donny
Donny
4 years ago

The video seems to be shot from a parked vehicle and began from the passenger side. Those distracting from the main problem here should note that. using cell phones while driving is not unheard of sadly, it is not the case here.

Sabra55
Sabra55
4 years ago

 HESHY: I have no idea who you are but I must say that I find you to be, probably, the stupidest person on this site. I really dont give a rats behind what “Rav” Mazuz says. He has been known to say stupid things before. He is NOT a Navi and he has no business acting like one. Especially when there are fools like you who spread the stupid reason in every article related to corona. The satmars in israel are saying thats its because women wear human hair shaitels. The yeshivish are saying its because of talking during davening, and you and Rav Moron are spreading your bullcrap. Nobody knows the reason for this.
This is an epidemic that Health specialists are much more in the know than Rabbonim. I dont care who is running this Yeshiva, he should be arrested and thrown into a cell. He is endangering the lives of countless human beings and their blood is on his hands.
So please Heshy, do everyone a favor and shut up. That way people will think you’re smart. When you talk, we all see the truth.