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Since the time that Lakewood has had an observant Jewish population, thousands upon thousands of talmidei chachomim have pursued lives of Torah there. Many hundreds of engagements, wedding, and other halachic documents have been composed, reviewed, and completed there. Consistently, the Hebrew transliteration of the name Lakewood has been the same, unquestioned, and universally accepted. Complacency, however, is not an attribute that is admired nor coveted by those in the Torah community.
Recently, Rabbi Berel Povarsky, a rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Ponovezh in Bnei Brak, visited Lakewood. During his visit, he participated in several simchos, including a wedding at which Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha, together with other rabbonim and roshei yeshiva were present.
While the kesubah was being composed, Rav Povarsky expressed his opinion that the name Lakewood, as it was being written, was incorrect. He felt that it should be written as follows: Lamed, Ayin, Yud, Kuf, Vav, Aleph, Vav, Vav, Daled. Rav Povarsky suggested the added Vav before the Daled. Without it, Rabbi Povarsky explained, the word would mean and be pronounced as Lakewod, not Lakewood.
interesting
And all Kesubos written up until that point?
“the name Lakewood literally means the woods next to a lake, which can describe any woods near any lake anywhere and does not specifically describe the specific city of Lakewood in the State of New Jersey.” I am simply asking because my admitted limited knowledge of the relevant halachos regarding this topic, leads me to believe this is a valid question. When someone says they are “learning in lakewood” will anyone misunderstand what yeshiva, in what town is being referenced? When someone says “im moving to lakewood”, does anyone think, even for a second” that this person is moving to Lakewood Tenessee?
Additionally, technically speaking Lakewood calls itself a Township, not a city. If one would search for the “City of Lakewood in the State of NJ” they will accidently bump into the Township of Lakewood but find no such city. I’m sure there are certain technicalities that make an area a city or a township. Lakewood calls itself a township, houldnt the Kesuba refer to it as such?
my admitted limited knowledge of the relevant halachos regarding this topic, leads me to believe this is a valid question. your “admitted limited knowledge” leads you to believe you have a valid question on Rabbi Povarsky’s Psak!! does that make any sense?
If you truly are interested in understanding the Psak better because of your limited knowledge then find a Halachic expert in this field and ask him…80
We are getting posts by people who know nothing about Poskining shailas but think themselves great Poskim (not referring to you, jphone), arguing on Rav Povarsky and Rav Kotler and the other Roshei Yeshivos. One poster (whose post was promptly deleted) actually had such arrogance and Gaavah as to state openly that Rav Povarsky is wrong, and to tell us the CORRECT way to spell Lakewood.
Jothar’s post was interesting but I don’t see that this thread has anywhere to go but down.
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