Updated – June 2nd: Vote Jewish, Vote Solomon; Solomon Issues Retraction On Singer-Tomchei Shabbos Claim

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avi-solomon[Update below.] By Avi Solomon

June 2nd is an important day for Republicans in the State of NJ. June 2nd is the primary election for the GOP Gubernatorial race. However, June 2nd is also the primary election for the position of General Assembly. General Assembly is a state legislation position. However, the people who hold the office of General Assembly or State Senator are more than just law makers. The position puts them in power to greatly help their community through contacts.

There are those who have argued that frum Jews should stay away from local politics. There logic is that political office is not the place to be for a nation in exile. I believe that frum Jews should seek positions of office higher than mere local politics.

The following news story is an example of why I believe this. Tomchei Shabbos was operating from a warehouse in Howell, NJ days before Pesach. A local resident called the police to complain about noise. The cop arrived on the scene, left, and returned an hour later with officials from the Howell health department. The health inspectors ordered the food to be quarantined inside the warehouse despite Tomchei Shabbos officials trying to explain the necessity for them to deliver the food. Local Lakewood politicians arrived on the scene to try and resolve the situation, but were reminded that they have no jurisdiction in Howell. Bob Singer, the Mayor of Lakewood as well as a state Senator, was asked to intervene, but initially refused. Only after pressure was put on him did Singer use his contacts to make a thirty second phone call to a health department official of Monmouth County. Singer’s sphere of influence yielded him this power because he is a state Senator.

Now, let’s imagine Avi Solomon was a General Assemblyman during this incident. Howell officials could not remind me that Howell is not part of my jurisdiction because Howell is part of the 30th district. In fact, if I was a General Assemblyman I’d technically have the same jurisdiction as Singer. The only difference is I would have immediately understood the severity of the situation.

If elected to the General Assembly I won’t need to have sensitive issues of Jewish faith explained to me. I’d be a tremendous resource for the Lakewood frum community to tap into. I wouldn’t just be a representative of the Lakewood community. I’d be the guy that you bump into at shul or while walking down the street. Lakewood Jews would find that they have an address to turn to other than the Vaad.

Therefore, I hope the residents of Lakewood help me get elected on June 2nd to be the Republican nominee for the General Assembly General election so that I can be a help to them.

 {The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and may not represent those of Matzav.com.}

Updated, 8:43 p.m. EST: Following the publication of the above piece, Tomchei Shabbos of Lakewood was in touch with Matzav.com and stated that while they understand that the article is the opinion of the writer, the facts that he stated are incorrect and damaging. Lakewood Mayor Bob Singer, they said, has been understanding of their mission from day one and very supportive. Avi Solomon has therefore penned the following:

Dear Matzav:
I have been in contact with both Binyomin Svarc and Rabbi Yossi Schreiber of Tomchei Shabbos of Lakewood and have come to learn that the person who informed me of the above claim about Lakewood Mayor Bob Singer isn’t associated with Tomchei Shabbos of Lakewood. In light of this and out of political consideration for Tomchei Shabbos of Lakewood, I ask that you post this retraction.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Avi Solomon

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


16 COMMENTS

  1. I’ve read Mr. Solomon’s columns in one of Lakewood’s weekly papers. He seems like a nice enough fellow, but he has a spectacularly weak grasp of politics, history, governance, finance, economics, labor relations, sociology, psychology, grammar and spelling. Other than that, he’d make a fine Assemblyman. Nice of you to publish this commercial advertisement for him, anyway.

  2. I’ve read Mr. Solomon’s column and I think he is an excellent writer with a good grasp on secular subjects.

  3. In a recent column Mr. Solomon wrote about being A-Wall. It is actually A.W.O.L., which stands for Absent With Out Leave. Mr. Solomon has a good heart, and it it is worth voting for him if only to get a good laugh. Remember fellow Lakewooders, no matter who you vote for, if you vote absentee, you vote wisely.

  4. “Rosh HaYeshiva”: Please provide some evidence of Mr. Solomon’s “good grasp on secular subjects”. Other than rote repetition of what one might hear on Sean Hannity, I can’t recall a particular original or penetrating insight by Mr. Solomon and I have found him often wrong, misleading and shallow in his writings.

  5. WEVE SEEN FOR DOROS THAT YIDDEN GETING INVOLVED IN POLITICS HAS NOT HELPED FOR THEIR AFRAID TO HELP BECAUSE WHAT WILL THE GOY SAY AND THERE IS BIG KINO ALSO HES NOT TO BRIGHT HE HAS OTHER PEOPLE WRITING FOR HIM

  6. Someone that make accusations without verifying facts and just shoots from the hips is the perfect person to represent us in politics and of course very qualified to write for Matzav.com. I think he should be embarassed.

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