A rabbi in Ocean County is being sued by a woman who claims he sexually assaulted her when she came to him for financial help, then defamed her on a website and in fliers he posted near her children’s school.
New Jersey
Holmdel: NJ overcalculated how much affordable housing must be built in our town
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What is NJ’s Mount Laurel Doctrine?
All about the Mount Laurel Doctrine and affordable housing in New Jersey.
HOLMDEL — The Township Committee voted to comply with the state’s affordable housing obligations Thursday night, but challenged the number of affordable homes required over the next decade, saying the state assigned Holmdel 35 units more than it should have.
“By at least moving forward, adopting this resolution, (Holmdel) will retain immunity from builder’s remedy litigation, which is something the township wants to do,” said Andy Bayer, the township’s lawyer for affordable housing.
Under a builder’s remedy lawsuit, a builder who has plans to include affordable homes can get a court to force the town to allow construction it might not otherwise permit, if the town has not adopted an affordable housing plan.
“So, this way you control planning and zoning,” Bayer said. “And a builder/property owner can’t sue us and have their property rezoned for something that’s not intended for it.”
The income range to qualify for affordable housing in New Jersey varies by region. In Monmouth, which is located in Region 4, the income range is between $27,311 to $171,671, depending on family size.
Despite the unanimous vote, the resolution came with a statement that the approval came “under protest,” meaning that the committee did not fully agree with the requirements of New Jersey’s affordable housing law. The township’s attorney, Michael Collins noted that the township is still involved with a lawsuit that involves 27 municipalities, challenging the state’s affordable housing law. A decision to dismiss the case was rescheduled from Jan. 31 to May 9.
While the state’s Department of Community Affairs calculated Holmdel’s obligation as a prospective need of 133 units over the next 10 years, the township argued that the prospective need should be reduced to 98 units.
You can see a chart at the end of this story that shows what the state says each town owes in affordable housing units.
Holmdel agreed with the Department of Community Affairs calculation for 129 present need units, which are reserved for existing units that need to be rehabilitated.
“Those are not new units. Those are units that could be characterized as not meeting all code standards,” Bayer said. “So, homeowners would be able to apply through the township for a loan or a grant to bring their home up to code.”
Bayer said those repairs would be paid from the township’s affordable housing trust fund.
On the other hand, prospective need units would result in the building of new housing.
In a memo prepared by the planning firm Kyle + McManus Associates for the township, the firm argued that the township actually has only 1.23 acres of developable land. The largest plot of land it considered developable was 0.98 acres and it is located at 33 South Beers St.
The number of affordable units that a township is obligated to provide is determined by population growth, demographics, income, the value of nonresidential properties and the “land capacity factor.”
Land capacity factor looks at developable land, and was reduced from 0.76% to 0.01% of the township by the planning firm. With this decrease, the firm argued that Holmdel’s obligation to construct new affordable housing units should be reduced from 133 to 98 units.
“That is significant because that’s the affordable housing unit obligation,” Bayer said.
The most common type of affordable housing has been the building of apartment complexes in which only 20% of apartments are set aside for affordable housing. The other 80% are often market-rate units.
“By at least starting out and by reducing the obligation by 35 units, that is reducing the total number of potential obligations by 150 units,” Bayer said, adding that the township is looking to apply for a vacant land adjustment. Such an adjustment would allow the township to argue that it does not have enough suitable land for the development of apartment buildings, which would further lower the township’s affordable housing obligation.
Kendra Lelie, who wrote the planning memo, said the next step included waiting for the state to agree or disagree with the township’s assessment and then putting together a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. That plan would outline what land would be rezoned to allow for affordable housing.
Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.
See the Roxbury warehouse scouted by ICE as possible deportation site
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were in Roxbury recently apparently scouting a Rt. 46 warehouse as a possible migrant deportation facility.
Federal officials are considering abandoning plans for a controversial immigration detention facility in Roxbury, New Jersey, according to a June 18 report by The New York Times, prompting local leaders and state officials to declare a victory after months of legal and political opposition.
The proposed facility, a warehouse property purchased to serve as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, faced intense criticism from local residents, environmental advocates and elected officials who argued the site was unsuitable for housing detainees.
In a joint statement issued Thursday, Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said the Department of Homeland Security appeared to be backing away from the project following legal challenges that halted development.
“Today the New York Times is reporting that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is backing down on its mass detention center in Roxbury,” the statement said. “That is a big win for public safety, for the township of Roxbury, and for New Jersey.”
According to the Times report, the Roxbury facility is one of seven ICE is planning to dispense with by transferring ownership to other federal agencies or selling them.
Opponents argued the warehouse was designed as a logistics facility and lacked the infrastructure necessary to support a large detention center. They also raised concerns about the potential strain on local water and sewage systems and the impact on environmentally sensitive land surrounding the site.
State officials said they joined Roxbury Township in court to challenge the project, contending that federal plans violated local regulations and posed risks to the community.
“DHS’s plans were always illegal,” the statement said. “The Roxbury warehouse is a logistics center fit for packages, not thousands of people.”
Rep. Rob Menendez said in a statement on Thursday: “We are working to confirm reporting that ICE is abandoning its Roxbury warehouse plans, but if true, this would be big news. From day one, we have fought to stop this facility, bringing together thousands of New Jerseyans in opposition. Now we are on the cusp of an important win for our state.”
The detention center was expected to become part of the federal government’s broader immigration enforcement and detention network. However, the project became a flashpoint in New Jersey, drawing opposition from both local officials and residents concerned about public safety, environmental impacts and the facility’s compatibility with surrounding land uses.
Federal officials have not publicly confirmed whether the property will be sold or formally removed from consideration. The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the reported change in plans.
Opponents vowed to continue monitoring the situation until the project is officially terminated.
“This isn’t a partisan issue,” the statement said. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the Roxbury community as we keep DHS’s feet to the fire to ensure this facility is never opened.”
New Jersey
NJ rabbi faces lawsuit for sexual assault after giving financial aid | The Jerusalem Post
Avraham Appel, of Jackson, abused his position as a trusted community leader to sexually assault and exploit the woman, an Israeli immigrant who came to him as a single mother struggling to pay bills, according to the lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of Ocean County.
Appel is a prominent rabbi and Rosh Kollel, or head of a Jewish institute for advanced Talmudic study, who is based in Lakewood and Jackson, according to court papers filed January 5.
Appel did not respond to calls to his home and cellphone seeking comment on the lawsuit.
The woman claims she confided in one of her children’s schoolteachers in early 2020 that she was in significant financial distress and having trouble paying for daycare.
The teacher suggested she contact Appel, according to the suit.
In February 2020, Appel arranged to meet with the woman at a local Starbucks.
“During that meeting, Appel presented himself to (the woman) as a rabbi, mentor, advisor, and friend whom (the woman) could trust, confide in, and depend on,” the lawsuit states.
Appel, who had experience in real estate, allegedly offered the woman an opportunity to solicit investments on his behalf and to “draw,” or advance, money against future commissions.
Rabbi issues payments to woman after alleged sexual assault
In June and July 2022, Appel issued six payments to the woman, totaling $20,000 and characterized as advances or loans. He also provided the woman with “financial assistance” so she could buy groceries and pay medical expenses and water bills, according to the suit.
The lawsuit claims most of the money was meant to buy the woman’s silence after he attacked her on June 1, 2022.
The suit alleges Appel visited the woman while she was alone at home and sexually assaulted her as she pleaded for him to stop.
“Appel was abusive and unrelenting. The more (the woman) pled for mercy, the more aggressive Appel became,” the suit alleges.
Before leaving her home, he allegedly ordered her to delete Ring camera footage that showed him arriving.
In the months after the assault, Appel “forced himself upon” the woman and took sexual advantage of her on other occasions, the suit claims.
Appel also allegedly bombarded the woman with demands for sexual acts and sent her a barrage of text and WhatsApp messages containing crude and graphic sexual content.
“I want to squeeze your breasts,” one text allegedly said. In another, he sent the woman a photo of his penis, the suit alleges.
In July 2024, the woman met with another rabbi and shared evidence of the sexual assault and “other incidents involving Appel,” the suit claims.
Woman offered $50,000 for therapy after sexual assault
Appel later contacted his attorney and the two offered the woman $50,000 to cover her future therapy expenses.
The money would be available only if the woman signed a release of any claims related to the assault and agreed to keep all incidents between them confidential, according to the suit.
The woman refused to accept the money or sign the agreement, the suit says.
Appel then launched a campaign to destroy the woman “personally and professionally,” according to the lawsuit.
On December 15, 2025, the woman became aware of a website with her photos that claimed she was “a danger to all Jews,” and warned the public to stay away from her, according to the complaint.
The website disclosed the woman’s address, claimed she stole money, and characterized her as a “thief.”
Moreover, Appel and possibly others posted signs smearing the woman. The signs were posted at public locations throughout the community, including the school her two children attended, the suit alleges.
The lawsuit claims sexual assault, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, and conspiracy.
The complaint also alleges Appel breached his duty as a rabbi to conduct himself with loyalty and in good faith.
A shooting investigation in Camden County has prompted a large police response, according to a source.
Léelo en español aquí
The shooting unfolded in the area of Locust Court in Winslow Township in the evening of June 17.
SkyForce10 was over the scene of what looked like a residential complex as several police cars were visible lining the streets.
Police tape appeared to be blocking off the area as officers looked at a sedan that appeared to have crashed into another car.
No word yet on what led to the shooting or if anyone was hurt.
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