LAKEWOOD, NJ — Fifteen people were charged with violating Gov. Phil Murphy’s ban on gatherings after police were called to disperse a crowd that gathered for the funeral of a prominent rabbi on Wednesday, authorities said Thursday.
The funeral was for Rabbi Chaim Moshe Strulovic, a revered rabbi in Lakewood who died Wednesday of the coronavirus. The gathering happened in spite of multiple warnings that went out from community leaders and in spite of a teleceonference that was set up so mourners could participate. Murphy banned all public gatherings on March 21.
Between 60 and 70 people were gathered at 8th Street and Madison Avenue for the funeral when police were called about 6:30 p.m., Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Lakewood Township Police Chief Gregory Meyer said in a joint news release.
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Strulovic is one of at least six rabbis in Lakewood who have died after contracting the coronavirus. Read more: 5 Rabbis From Lakewood Among NJ’s Coronavirus Fatalities: Reports
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Authorities have warned that police will be stationed near the cemetery by Lakewood High School to prevent crowds from gathering for funerals.
Lakewood police tried to disperse the crowd but the group became unruly and argumentative, Billhimer said. One man, Samuel Manheim, 27, of Brooklyn, was arrested; Billhimer said Manheim refused to identify himself and gave authorities a false name and Social Security number.
Manheim was arrested after several attempts to positively identify him, Billhimer said, and he was charged with hindering his own apprehension and violating any rule or regulation adopted by the governor during a state of emergency.
In addition, the following were charged with violating any rule or regulation adopted by the governor during a state of emergency: Joel Jakubowitz, 36, and Shimon Hus, 18, both of Brooklyn; and Marcus Strulovic, 43, Nossom Strulovic, 25, Solomon Strulovic, 21, Joel Strulovic, 39, Mitchell Strulovic, 24, Mordechi Strulovic, 18, Bernard Strulovic, 45, David Kaf, 37, Moshe Friedman, 20, Yosef Kohn, 35, Alexander Ellison, 64, and Shimon Cardozo, 25, all of Lakewood.
The funeral was just the latest in a string of gatherings in Lakewood that have included weddings, a bar mitzvah and an engagement party in the days since Murphy first limited gatherings on March 16 and then banned them altogether on March 21. The incidents have angered residents of neighboring towns who have expressed concerns that people attending the gatherings are becoming exposed to the virus and unknowingly spreading it to others.
Lakewood rabbis have issued orders that no one is to travel either outside of Lakewood or gather with family members within the township for the upcoming Passover observances, because of Murphy’s ban on gatherings, according to a letter posted by the Lakewood Scoop.
“The governor has banned all public gatherings during this state and national public health emergency. This ban applies to everyone,” Billhimer said. “To be blunt, ignoring the governor’s order places lives at risk – not just the lives of everyday citizens, but the lives of our brave men and women in law enforcement who are required to respond in order to break up these unlawful gatherings.”
On Wednesday, Murphy and New Jersey State Police Col. Patrick Callahan again addressed the issue of gatherings, which have been an issue across the state. A lockdown has been ordered in four cities, including Newark, where there have been persistent problems. Callahan said 125 summonses were issued in Newark at a gathering there on Tuesday.
“Every single resident of this state needs to step up and stay home,” Callahan said, adding that he and his wife have postponed their daughter’s June wedding because of the ongoing crisis. “That’s how important this is.”
He said state police are partnering with the prosecutor’s office, the sheriff’s office and Lakewood police to force people to comply with the bans and adhere to social distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
As of Wednesday morning, more than 22,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 across the state, including more than 1,100 in Ocean County and 450 in Lakewood. More than 350 people in New Jersey have died, as of Wednesday’s reports from health department officials. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here’s What You Need To Know
“We’re going to be out every day and night with state police” enforcing the ban, Murphy said. “We have got to get 100 percent compliance and we’re not going to be nice about it.”