Financial website WalletHub evaluated over 1,300 small towns and cities across the U.S. with populations of 25,000 or more. So, how did the Shore fare in this analysis?
Lakewood placed as the fourth highest in housing costs nationwide, following only San Luis Obispo, California; West Lafayette, Indiana; and Isla Vista, California, according to the assessment.
Among the 32 New Jersey locations WalletHub evaluated, Long Branch and Toms River were the only other towns from Monmouth and Ocean counties to make the list.
While Lakewood, Atlantic City, and Camden were ranked at the lower end of the scale, Atlantic City stood out by claiming the top spot in New Jersey for “Quality of Life,” according to WalletHub.

הגר”ח פיינשטיין בהדלקת נר חנוכהצילום: שוקי לרר
הגר”ח פיינשטיין בהדלקת נר חנוכהצילום: שוקי לרר
הגר”ח פיינשטיין בהדלקת נר חנוכהצילום: שוקי לרר

As previously reported by Matzav.com, Jimmy Carter, the longest-living former president of the United States, passed away today at the age of 100. In an article published by Benjamin Ivry in The Forward back in September, Ivry delves into the reasons why Carter was deeply disliked by many Jews, as well as some of the anti-Semitic comments he made during his lifetime.
To fully understand the mixed views toward Jimmy Carter within the Jewish community, we can draw a comparison to a figure from far outside the realm of Carter’s influence—a historical precedent. French historians note that Napoleon Bonaparte, while occasionally making disparaging remarks about France’s Jewish population, also took actions to help them in significant ways.

הגאון הצדיק רבי בנימין פינקל בחנוכהצילום: מ.ר.

הגאון הצדיק רבי בנימין פינקל בחנוכהצילום: מ.ר.

הגאון הצדיק רבי בנימין פינקל בחנוכהצילום: מ.ר.

Israeli Minister of Religious Affairs Michael Malkieli has formally written to the Mayor of Yerushalayim, Moshe Lion, requesting that he appoint members to a committee that will oversee the process of selecting the city’s new chief rabbis.
This marks the beginning of the process to appoint the new chief rabbis for Israel’s capital city.
At present, Yerushalayim does not have a chief rabbi following the completion of terms by Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rav Aryeh Stern.
The upcoming elections for the position of chief rabbi in Yerushalayim are viewed as a pivotal moment, as they will set a precedent for similar elections in other cities across Israel in the coming months.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Zev Volf Shapiro zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Beis Meir in Bnei Brak. He was 83.
In recent months, Rav Shapira battled a serious illness but continued delivering his daily shiurim with dedication. In recent weeks, he was hospitalized at Maayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak due to a severe infection. He was niftar on on Erev Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Miketz—Shabbos Chanukah.
The levayah was held earlier tonight at Yeshivas Beis Meir on Devorah HaNeviah Street in Bnei Brak, proceeding for kevurah to the Ponevezh bais hachaim.

Rav Yitzchok Yosef, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi, voiced his endorsement for negotiating with Hamas to secure the release of hostages in Gaza, even if it meant exchanging them for individuals convicted of terrorism. In a conversation with Haderech, the Shas party’s newspaper, Rabbi Yosef referenced his father’s opinion on the matter, emphasizing that “We must do everything in order to free them quickly.”

A heartfelt letter from James O’Connor, a security guard at Tehillas Chaya Sara girls’ school in Lakewood, NJ has touched the school’s parent body after parents presented him with a gift card as a token of appreciation for his hard work and dedication.
In the letter, O’Connor expresses his deep gratitude for the kindness and generosity shown to him by the parents, who collected money for the gift card during the holiday season.
He writes, “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the generosity that you’ve once again shown me this holiday season. You are all amongst the kindest and best people that I’ve ever known.”

A rare ceramic oil lamp, dating back to the 4th century CE, was recently uncovered by the Israeli Antiquities Authorities in an excavation near Har Hazeisim in Yerushalayim. The IAA announced on Thursday that this significant find will be displayed for the first time to the public during Chanukah.
The lamp is remarkable not only for its age but also for the unique depictions it features, which are related to the Second Bais Hamikdosh. Among the imagery are a seven-branched menorah—distinct from the nine-branched menorahs used during Chanukah—an incense shovel used by kohanim, and a lulav.

Dovid Bashevkin, the Director of Education at NCSY, the youth group of the Orthodox Union, has spoken out in support of the Jewish queer community, sharing his belief that there is “nothing wrong encouraging gay Jews with finding connections to our incredible tradition and remaining connected to family.”
Bashevkin, 39, who grew up in Lawrence, New York, and now resides in Teaneck, New Jersey, took to social media to share his thoughts.
In a tweet, Bashevkin revealed his hesitation in publicly supporting gay Jews due to backlash he has faced in the past. “Honestly, I was hesitant about sharing because I get so much grief anytime I share something related to this issue,” he wrote.