Lakewood, NJ - First Orthodox Jewish Mayor, Expected To Take Oath Of Office Today

Lakewood, NJ - Meir Lichtenstein the 35-year-old property manager is expected to take the oath of office at today's Township Committee organization meeting, assuming the top job after two years as deputy mayor.
In Lakewood, the mayor is chosen from the five committee members, not elected by voters.
Lichtenstein is proud to be the township's first Orthodox Jewish mayor, but he and others say identifying him only by his religion is unfair.
"It'll make nice headlines, it's a good story. It maybe raises awareness, but after a couple of days, it doesn't matter."
Added Ralph Zucker, a developer and Lakewood resident who knows Lichtenstein: "To me, the yarmulke (a traditional Jewish head covering) is immaterial. It's really the person, the morals and the integrity they bring to the job. I look at Meir as Meir. As a person, not as an Orthodox Jew."