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Cong. Smith Helps Ocean County Couple Keep Wedding Plans on Track
From the Oct. 28, 2010 edition of the Lakewood Scoop: The nightmare began a few weeks ago, when Faigy Friedlander of Lakewood found out that her Chosson Yosef David Michael- a UK and Israeli citizen – was denied a Visa to enter the U.S. where they were to marry. With their wedding just weeks away, the Chosson went to the Embassy to set up an emergency meeting, but to no avail. There was no way that he was getting his Visa to attend his own wedding.
In fact, the Chosson was told by the Embassy to postpone his wedding. The family was frantic and began contacting everybody they knew who may possibly assist. As a Chavrusah of Mayor Steven Langert, Rabbi Friedlander called on him to see what can be done. This was last Thursday. Steven Langert immediately contacted R’ Yitzchok Halberstam – the founder of CHEMED and the LRRC – who has strong political connections. After speaking with officials in Rabbi Porush’s office, Reb Halberstam contacted Grunblatt Esq. who put together a short synopses of the situation. At 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, Reb Halberstam, a friend of U.S. Congressman Chris Smith of NJ’s 4th District, emailed the synopsis to his Chief Of Staff, Mary Noonan. Within 15 minutes, she responded that she will immediately get to work on the case. Friday morning however, she was dealing with a Niftar from France who had to get to the U.S. before Shabbos, and so she hung up the phone saying she would continue working on it after the weekend. In the ineterim, fearing that it may not be takin care of, Halberstam contacted two associates of Hillary Clinton, as a precaution. Monday morning however, Chief Of Staff Noonan put Legislative Director Tim Lynagh and Katie Doherty on the case. Meanwhile, a letter from the Kallah was also sent to Congressman Smith. (See letter here). Shortly afterwards, Doherty researched the law and phoned the Consul General of the Tel Aviv Embassy to set up a conference between him and Congressman Smith. A strong advocacy letter (view letter here and here)- together with the Kallah’s letter – was sent to the Consul General from Congressman Smith. Fearing the Congressman, the Consul General agreed to grant the Chosson an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning. Yesterday, the Chosson went to the Embassy and was told that they had received tremendous pressure from the U.S. and his Visa was granted. This afternoon, the Congressman agreed to come to Lakewood to meet the Kallah and her family. In an emotional gathering, the Congressman met the Kallah and family at Mayor Steven Langert’s office this afternoon, with the attendance of R’ Halberstam and Chief Of Staff Mary Noonan. “It is always a pleasure to visit Lakewood”, said Congressman Smith”. “I enjoy seeing the health center that wouldn’t be there without Rabbi Halberstam’s efforts. In this case, I was happy to assist and help correct an injustice done. Mazel Tov to the Freidlander family”. At the gathering, Mayor Steven Langert made the following statement: “I thank Congressman Smith for taking time out of his rigorous campaign schedule to come to Lakewood tonight. I asked him to come because I feel that it is important to publicize how much the Congressman cares about Lakewood and how he will move mountains for his constituents. As we all know, Lakewood has a large Orthodox Jewish community. This community frequently travels to and from Israel. From time to time people in Israel can get into what I can only term as a “visa snafu.” This is what happened to the soon to be son-in-law of Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Friedlander. Rabbi Friedlander approached me about his problem. Thank G-D that Lakewood has many “askonim,” community activists, and I asked him to contact Rabbi Yitzchok Halberstam, a noted “askan” and the founder of both the Lakewood Resource & Referral Center (”LRRC”) and the CHEMED Health Center. Rabbi Halberstam reached out to the Congressman who immediately assigned both his chiefs of staff here and in Washington to look into the issue. Through their herculean efforts, the necessary paperwork was obtained and a visa was issued. There are very few of our elected officials who would interrupt their pre-election schedule and put it on hold to help ensure that a marriage takes place. Congressman, I hope I speak for everyone in Lakewood when I say thank you for what you have done and continue to do for your constituents in Lakewood. The Chasuna will be taking place this coming Thursday. PHOTO By MOFOTO (Moshe Oiknine) For TLS. The text of stories are below:
The Simcha Can Go On: Visa Granted to Israeli Chosson a Week Before Wedding in LakewoodFriday October 29, 2010
Full Matzav report: After weeks of uncertainty and worry, a wedding will take place this coming Thursday night at Bais Faiga Hall in Lakewood, NJ, with the chosson and kallah, and all the attendees, expressing extra special simcha that a potential visa difficulty was thankfully averted. Posted by lakewood246 in Local News on Oct 29th, 2010
A wonderful story was posted on Matzav about a Israeli Chosson who will Bezras Hashem dance at his own wedding thanks to the efforts of Lakewood Mayor Steven Langert and R’ Yitzchok Halberstam of the Lakewood Vaad. After weeks of uncertainty and worry, a wedding will take place this coming Thursday night at Bais Faiga Hall in Lakewood, NJ, with the chosson and kallah, and all the attendees, expressing extra special simcha that a potential visa difficulty was thankfully averted. The chosson, Yossi (Yosef Dovid) Michael, who is originally from England and now resides in Eretz Yisroel, will iy”H be marrying Faigy Friedlander, a daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Chaim Tzvi Friedlander of Lakewood, NJ. Yossi, a dual Israeli and British citizen, had been under the impression that he could use his UK passport under the waiver program to which he was advised to apply for a visa. However, he was denied a visa and was unable – with little time before the wedding – to arrange an emergency appointment so that he could apply for a visa to enable him to enter the United States. Yossi, a talmid of the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, and the kallah got engaged on September 5 and will iy”H be returning to live in Eretz Yisroel, where the kallah is employed at Machanayim International. Yossi had previously applied for a visa at the U.S. Consulate in Yerushalayim and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and was denied. Noam Amdurski of Matzav.com was one of the many askanim who, when they first learned of the story, placed phone calls and sent emails to find a way to help the chosson, who was told by officials to “postpone the wedding.” “How could they understand that over 1,500 invitations were sent out? How could we explain what a Yiddishe wedding means and that about 1,000 guests are expected at the wedding?” said Noam Amdurski of Matzav.com. “There are going to be many guests, iy”H, from Israel, England and the US. Postponing the wedding, from practical and financial standpoints, was just not an option.” Thanks to the efforts of Lakewood Mayor Steven Langert and R’ Yitzchok Halberstam of the Lakewood Vaad, Congressman Chris Smith’s office was apprised of the situation last Thursday and began to investigate what could be done to get the chosson a visa in time. Letters explaining the desperate nature of the situation – including one from the kallah herself – were sent to both the Congressman and the Consul General at the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. This past Monday, October 25, Congressman Smith wrote a strongly-worded letter to Consul General Anthony C. Parker, requesting that he grant Yossi an immediate non-immigrant visa interview and administer a non-immigrant visa for him to travel to the U.S. for the wedding. On Wednesday, to the great relief of family and friends, Consul General Parker met with Yossi and granted him a visa. Yesterday, Congressman Smith, along with his chief of staff, paid a personal visit to Lakewood, NJ, to wish mazel tov to Rabbi and Mrs. Friedlander on their daughter’s upcoming marriage. At a gathering at Langert’s office, Rabbi Friedlander, in turn, expressed his great appreciation to the Congressman – who made a special visit to Lakewood in midst of his reelection campaign – for procuring a visa for his future son-in-law. Rabbi Friedlander was joined by his wife, Mrs. Raisel Friedlander, and the kallah. Mrs. Freidlander thanked the Congressman and handed him an invitation to the wedding Thursday night. At the gathering, Mayor Steven Langert, who was joined by R’ Yitzchok Halberstam, read the following prepared remarks: "I thank Congressman Smith for taking time out of his rigorous campaign schedule to come to Lakewood tonight. I asked him to come because I feel that it is vital to publicize how much the Congressman cares about Lakewood and how he will move mountains for his constituents. “As we all know, Lakewood has a large Orthodox Jewish community. Along with this comes frequent travel and interaction to and from Israel. From time to time, people in Israel can get into what I will call a “visa snafu.” This is what happened to the soon-to-be son-in-law of Chaim and Raisel Friedlander. “Rabbi Friedlander approached me about his problem. Now, thank G-d, Lakewood has many askanim, or community activists, and I asked Rabbi Friedlander to be in touch with noted activist Rabbi Yitzchok Halberstam, who is the founder of the Chemed Health Center and also the founder of the Lakewood Resource and Referral Center. “Rabbi Halberstam reached out to the Congressman. He immediately put his chief of staff here and in Washington on the case. Through their herculean efforts – and really I thank you – the necessary paperwork was obtained and a visa was issued. “There are very few elected officials that would interrupt their pre-election schedule and put it on hold to help ensure that a marriage take place. I hope I speak for everyone in Lakewood when I say thank you for what you have done and continue to do for your constituents in Lakewood. Thank you so much.” Congressman Smith responded warmly, stating that he never had anyone be so gracious, grateful and kind in saying thank you to him for his efforts. He said with a smile that he “loves weddings” and is married 33 years. He wished congratulations to Rabbi Friedlander and expressed his blessings for a joyous occasion. Matzav.com thanks all those who were informed and tried to help, including MK Meir Porush, Attorney David Grunblatt, Rabbi Edgar Gluck, Rabbi Elisha Klausner of Chicago, Rabbi Abba Kohn of the Agudah in Washington, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel of the Agudah in New York, Mr. George Klein of New York, Rabbi Moshe Dovid Niederman, Rabbi P. Shapira, and Aaron D. Davis. And of course, an extra special thank you to Congressman Smith for demonstrating his genuine care for his constituents in the Fourth Congressional District and pulling the necessary strings to ensure that the simcha will go on this Thursday night at Bais Faiga Hall. May the chosson and kallah build a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel. The Second story is posted on yudelstake.blogspot.com This is not the first time that such an episode occurred in Lakewood that a choson was denied a visa in Israel to come to his wedding in Lakewood. About 20 plus years ago a wedding was scheduled in Lakewood with an Israeli choson for a Sunday. On the Monday prior to the wedding the Choson calls frantically the visa was denied. A call went out to Agudah, they tried all of their connections but it just wasn’t coming through. Yehuda Shain contacted Mr Lawrence Bathgate, Esq. (the current Lakewood Township attorney). Mr. Bathgate had direct contact with the President at that time. Mr. Bathgate asked me which flight the choson would like to take? I told him I’d wait another day to see what Agudah can do. Mr. Bathgate asked when is the last flight for the choson to be able to make it to his wedding? I told him Motzei Shabbos, but Thursday’s night flight would be preferable. Mr. Bathgate said when your other contact can’t work it out, call me even at home but give me a few hours prior to the flight departure. Mazel -Tov the Choson was on the Motzei Shabbos flight and made in time to the wedding. They are living now in Eretz Yisroel. http://www.lakewood246.com/news/22992/the-simcha-can-go-on-visa-granted-to-israeli-chosson-x-two.html http://matzav.com/the-simcha-can-go-on-visa-granted-to-israeli-chosson-a-week-before-wedding-in-lakewood http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/the-lakewood-shopper/issue42onlinesmall/2010110501/24.html#24 |