BMG Roshei Yeshiva Vehemently Opposed To Cell Towers In Lakewood Residential Areas

All four Roshei Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ have signed a strongly worded letter aimed at Lakewood’s Zoning board and political leaders.  According to the letter, published here, the Roshei Yeshiva are vehemently opposed to the approval of cell towers in greater Lakewood’s residential areas which are proven to c’v cause health hazards due to radiofrequency emissions.

Moreover, the Roshei Yeshiva were stunned to discover that the decision to allow these potentially harmful antenna in the Yeshiva area, directly affecting thousands of talmidei hayeshiva, was made without their being consulted and without thoroughly researching the issue of the adverse effects of radiation in residential areas.

The letter, signed by all four Roshei Yeshiva, comes just as Lakewood’s zoning board is scheduled on Monday to decide whether to approve a cell tower in the Yeshiva neighborhood.  Shockingly, a Verizon cell tower was already approved several months ago by the Zoning board to be built on top of the Eleanor Levovitz Senior Housing building, located at 500 Clifton Avenue.  This despite the fact that community members warned of the adverse effects on the seniors who reside in the building, the children who attend the Clifton Avenue Grade School across the street, and the many young families who live in direct proximity of the structure.

Prominent area Rabbonim have already spoken out strongly against the cell towers but have largely been ignored.  HaRav Yaakov E Forschheimer penned a letter (previously published here) stating that “I am hereby of the opinion that, considering the halacha of Chamira Sakanta Meisura, all involved parties should ensure that this proposed antenna does not become a reality.”

Furthermore, HaRav Mordechai Betzalel Klein, Satmar Dayan of Lakewood, also sent a letter stating that the advancement of the antennas by the phone company “is absolutely criminal according to Torah law and must be stopped.”  Rav Klein, who resides near the proposed cell tower on Clifton Avenue, noted “the tremendous health risk for myself, my family, and the entire surrounding neighborhood.”

Residents have organized a grassroots effort to halt the construction of these towers.  An attorney was hired and an appeal was filed against the Zoning board’s approval of the first cell tower.  Meanwhile the owners of the Eleanor Levovitz Senior Housing center who live in Monsey were notified of the community’s overwhelming opposition and have indicated that they regret their actions although they have not yet reversed their decision.

Having no choice, community members turned to the Lakewood Roshei Yeshiva for assistance.  In response, the Roshei Yeshiva penned a forceful and powerful letter appealing to all Lakewood residents “to join the effort to oppose these advancements” in any way possible.

The letter also notes that these projects “were approved without the knowledge or consent of community leaders” or of community residents and specifically states that the proliferation of such antennas “defies Torah Law.”  According to the Roshei Yeshiva, “All such projects should be terminated immediately and no similar future projects should be allowed.”

As the pressure builds, it remains to be seen whether Lakewood’s political leaders and Zoning board members will heed the call of the community’s most revered Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva.  Certainly, they must be aware of the potential frightening consequences of their decision.   One thing is for sure.  The community will continue in their relentless struggle to ensure that these frightening and halachically forbidden cell towers do not become a reality.