This is all a sad commentary on Lakewood. The root of the problem, however, is that Lakewood has turned into something that was not envisioned by its founders: To be an exclusive, yeshivish community. Over the decades it has attracted frum people of all stripes, apparently to the dismay of those who want to maintain the original vision of BMG. I think there is a certain population that resents those who are not yeshivish because they dilute the community that drew them to Lakewood in the first place and it filters down to the children, who feel those non-yeshivish would have a negative impact on the yeshivish crowd. This dynamic may be unique to Lakewood because of its original intention. And it’s sad because indeed it sounds like an elitist attitude by the yeshivish community there, and the kids are the karbanos.
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