Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Allen Fagin recently met with Lakewood Mayor Menashe Miller and the leadership of the Lakewood Jewish community. The meetings were arranged by Josh Pruzansky, Regional Director of OU Advocacy-NJ.

Included in Mr. Fagin’s visit was a tour of Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), the largest full time yeshiva/higher-education institution in America with 7,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students. Mr. Fagin met with HaRav Malkiel Kotler and CEO Rabbi Aron Kotler, and also toured several Batei Medrash (study halls) and other facilities.

Mr. Fagin also visited the Lakewood Cheder, a K-8 boys school with more than 2,000 students and 10 parallel classes per grade. The 260,000 square-foot facility makes the Cheder one of, if not the largest yeshiva building in the world. Together with its affiliate, the Bais Faiga girls school, the school’s network includes more than 4,000 students.

“As the new CEO of the Orthodox Union, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, Mr. Fagin represents hundreds of Orthodox Jewish communities across America,” explained Mr. Pruzansky. “I felt it was only appropriate that he meet the Jewish community leaders of Lakewood, the largest yeshiva community in North America.”

Mr. Fagin also met with the leaders of other yeshivas in Lakewood, who discussed the challenges they have faced with the New Jersey Department of Education and the assistance provided by OU Advocacy Center’s New Jersey Office.

“It was an honor and privilege for me to visit with a number of the Lakewood mosdos (institutions) and their leadership,” he declared. “I am delighted that the OU is able to provide assistance to this extraordinary community.”

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