Our Town

Our Town

Lakewood, N.J. was once a small, quaint resort town nestled away on the tip of Ocean County. Over the years its unprecedented growth resulted in it evolving into the largest hub of Torah Jewry as we know it today. Join Meir for fascinating conversations with individuals whom with great effort transformed Lakewood from just a small town… into Our Town!

Episodes

September 30, 2024 97 mins

In this episode, I sit down with Hudi Greenberger, the king of product photography, to dive into his creative journey. We explore the business side of his work, the challenges he's faced, and his unique approach to capturing the perfect shot.

Hudi Drops invaluable business insights that will inspire your creatives and entrepreneurs alike. This conversation is packed with something for everyone!

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Join Rabbi Klein, a master mechanech and seasoned camp head counselor, as he delves into the important factors parents should consider when choosing a sleepaway camp for their child. From weighing the pros and cons to understanding the key elements that make a camp the perfect fit, Rabbi Klein offers invaluable insights to ensure a rewarding and enriching camp experience for your child.

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In this episode, we're joined by Rabbi Meir Levi, Lakewood's premier shadchan. We dive into the inner workings of the shadchanus field. Rabbi Levi shares insights on how many shidduchim does one have to make to be considered a professional shaddchan? Should a boy who is entering shiduchim use a dating coach? Join us as we get a glimpse of what the field of shadchanus looks like from the inside.



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Thank you for subscribing to Our Town!
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-town/id1661853310
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and anywhere else Podcasts are available!
To watch any of our episodes as well as to get all the latest Lakewood ne...

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Recently, an unsettling incident unfolded when a missionary infiltrated BMG under the guise of seeking to become a baal teshuva. Swiftly discerning the missionary's true intentions, they  reached out to Rabbi Yisroel Blumenthal, Lakewood's  counter missionary activist. LNN's Meir Dickstein had the opportunity to sit down with Rabbi Blumenthal, to hear more about his counter-missionary efforts. Get ready for a very in...

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Although Season 2 has concluded, we release this episode  in honor of Rav Ahron Kotler's sixty first yartzeit. 
In this special episode we are honored to be joined by Rabbi Baruch Ber Yoffe, We delve into the extraordinary life of  Rabbi Ahron Kotler Zt"l,  Rabbi Yoffe paints a vivid portrait of how Rabbi Ahron Kotler carried the weight of Klal Yisroel on his shoulders even from a young age. We explore the deep respec...

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Welcome to another captivating episode of the OUR TOWN podcast, where we have the honor of sitting down with Shimmi J., the CEO of Censible Marketing.
Shimi's story takes us from his formative years growing up in Lakewood in the early 1990s, through his impressive career as a shadchan, to the early struggles in his working life, ultimately ascending the ladder to lead a large, successful healthcare marketing firm. Shimi i...

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Join us for an inspiring journey into the world of philanthropy and fundraising as we sit down with the remarkable Rabbi Ahron Steier, the National Director of Development at RCCS.
Rabbi Steier will share his incredible experiences and insights into the ever-evolving landscape of fundraising efforts. Discover how he has navigated the challenges of rejection and embraced the rewarding aspects of his fundraising career. His warm...

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In this week's episode, we are joined by David Rosenberg from Toms River. He is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Jewish Business Alliance.

David is a native of Union City, NJ, who grew up with a burning passion for politics. Over the years, David has cultivated deep relationships with government officials at the state, county, and township levels across New Jersey. His dedication and networking prowess have n...

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In this episode, we have the privilege of interviewing Isaac Akerman, a dedicated Committeeman who has served Lakewood Township for the past 13 years. Isaac's tenure since 2011 has solidified his reputation as a respected members of the Committee.

Isaac's successful stints as mayor in 2013 and 2015 underscore his commitment to the community, where he consistently places the needs of Lakewood above personal aspir...

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In this  episode, we're joined by Rabbi Yanky Kaufman, who conquered a lifelong struggle with stuttering, despite unsuccessful attempts at therapy.
He endured intense pain and anxiety, seeking remedies in vain. Rabbi Kaufman’s life continued—a journey through mainstream yeshivos, learning with chavrusas, summer camps, yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael, dating, marriage, teaching in a yeshivah—all while battling debilitating and c...

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In this episode we sit down with Dr. Rich Roberts, a remarkable individual who has experienced a transformative journey. From his upbringing as a reformed Jew in PA to currently living in Lakewood as a frum yid. Roberts is renowned for his selfless endeavors, from organizing his famous free chol hamoid carnivals to making generous philanthropic contributions, as well as political advocating to benefit our community.

In our...

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In this week's episode, we are joined by Rabbi Mordechai Herskowitz, the Executive Director at Beth Medrash Govoha for nearly four decades. Over the years he has been involved in the construction and expansion of each building on its campus.


When Rabbi Herskowitz raises funds for BMG, it's not merely about soliciting donations; it's about passionately sharing his conviction that there is no greater priv...

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September 10, 2023 73 mins

In this week's episode we have the privilege of hosting Simcha Shain, a remarkable individual whose life story is truly inspiring. Simcha, a Lakewood native, always had a deep passion for emergency medical services. He joined the Howell First Aid in 1993 which was a stepping stone for Simcha to become an essential part of Hatzalah in various cities, including Lakewood, New York, and United Hatzalah in Israel. Simcha also found...

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In this episode, we were honored to host Rabbi Avrohom Moshe Weisner, the administrator of the KCL, the Kashrus organization that has been an integral part of Lakewood, NJ's culinary landscape.

Rabbi Weisner's KCL journey started when Lakewood boasted only a handful of eateries, and today, KCL certifies more than 130 establishments, including numerous home-based operations. As we delve into his remarkable story,...

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In our first episode of Season 2, we sit down for a conversation with Dr. Dovid Friedman, the CEO and driving force behind CHEMED Health Centers in Lakewood.

We discuss his incredible journey from South Africa to Israel and then to Lakewood. He explains why he chose to run a health center instead of pursuing one of the most prominent and lucrative positions in the administrative healthcare world. Dr. Friedman transformed ...

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Your choice of how you spend your day, whether it's devoted to learning in Kollel or in the workforce, does not define your status as a Ben Torah or a Bal Habus. Listen to Rav Gershon Ribner as he  sheds light on this important distinction.

Buy Rabbi Ribner’s book, “Consequential Choices” by visiting your nearest Judaica store or visiting
https://rebgershonribner.com/2021

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May 13, 2023 49 mins

 

In this episode, we go behind the scenes as well as review the highlights of Season One. It's a celebration of the exceptional individuals we've encountered and the vibrant tapestry that defines Our Town, Lakewood. 

Prepare to be inspired one last time as we close this chapter, eagerly anticipating the extraordinary individuals who continue to make a significant impact on Our Town, whom we'll encounter in S...

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In this week's episode, we were privileged to have Rabbi Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin on the show. Despite not being a native of Lakewood, Rabbi Rubashkin has made a significant impact through his Shuirim and other endeavors, and has since become an integral part of the Lakewood community.

You will be inspired by R’ Shalom Mordechai’s unwavering commitment to living a life of Emunah, Bitachon and devotion to Hashem. His...

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Rabbi Binyomin Babad, CEO of Relief Resources, joins as our guest in this week’s episode. Over two decades ago, Rabbi Babad played a key role in establishing a mental health referral agency, a pioneering effort at a time when mental health carried a heavy stigma. With Rabbi Babad at the helm, what started as a small organization in Our Town;  evolved into a multi-service, global agency with offices worldwide. Their focus was on mat...

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