LAKEWOOD, N.J. – A rising local emergency medical service, Hatzulas Nefashos, is facing escalating harassment amid a growing turf war over who controls first-response operations in the Lakewood and Jackson area.
The tension, simmering for years, took a disturbing turn this week when children reportedly egged one of the company’s ambulances while it was responding to an emergency at Prospect Square.
In Jackson, Eli Shem Tov, a candidate for mayor, has previously said he would officially recognize Hatzolah EMS services, but has not issued a statement on this matter.
According to company officials, the incident follows a wave of prank calls and verbal abuse directed at their dispatchers. Some of the calls, made to the company’s emergency hotline, included racial slurs and offensive language targeting Hispanics and blacks.
Hatzulas Nefashos, founded in 2022, was established to expand emergency response coverage in the fast-growing Orthodox Jewish communities of Lakewood and Jackson.
Since its inception, the organization has recruited dozens of volunteers, added several vehicles to its fleet — including a Cybertruck EMS unit that made headlines two years ago — and distributed flyers encouraging community participation.
But its success has sparked backlash from supporters of Central Jersey Hatzolah, the region’s dominant, long-established Orthodox-run EMS organization. For months, community chatter and online campaigns have questioned the legitimacy of Hatzulas Nefashos, with critics accusing it of dividing resources and duplicating services.
This week, audio clips released by FAA Lakewood captured prank calls made to Hatzulas Nefashos dispatchers, featuring children mocking dispatchers and using racist language. Some in the community believe adults may be encouraging the harassment.
In one disturbing call, an alleged rival EMS dispatch called and the two companies began fighting over an EMS call, both dispatching ambulances.
“It’s disheartening to see grown-ups possibly guiding kids to behave this way,” said one longtime Lakewood resident. “Competition is healthy, but this has gone too far.”
Lat year, Haredi media outlets also circulated a letter, reportedly signed by more than 100 rabbis, urging residents not to support Hatzulas Nefashos. The letter, which Shtetl News could not independently verify, claimed the new organization threatens the unity and efficiency of the community’s emergency response network.
The rivalry mirrors past disputes in Orthodox emergency services, including tensions between the all-male Hatzolah and the all-female Ezras Nashim in New York, where debates over jurisdiction and inclusivity have also stirred division.
Despite the harassment, Hatzulas Nefashos officials say they remain committed to serving the public. “Our only goal is to save lives,” one spokesperson said. “We will not be intimidated.”
Children egged a Hatzulas Nefashos EMS vehicle in Lakewood as harassment escalates in a growing feud over emergency service control.
Letter from Lakewood area rabbis:
It has come to our attention that a new EMS organization, which portrays itself as a new Hatzolah, has begun operating in Lakewood and its surrounding towns. This new organization has the potential to undermine Hatzolah of Central Jersey and their ability to deliver high quality emergency basic and advanced medical care to the communities of Lakewood and its surrounding towns. We believe that this unsanctioned action can ultimately lead to Pikuach Nefashos in many ways.
The Central Jersey Hatzolah (formerly Lakewood Hatzolah) leadership has always been proactive, professional, and responsible by adding additional members as needed. All of Hatzolah’s volunteers have gone through vigorous vetting and training prior to being placed in service. The Hatzolah EMS members/responder team continues to expand, with the constant addition of members and ambulances, determined to meet the demands of the ever growing population.
We would like to clearly state that only Hatzolah of Central Jersey has the unanimous backing of all the Rabbanim, who condemn any and all efforts that have the potential of undermining Hatzolah of Central Jersey in any way. Only Hatzolah of Central Jersey operates under the guidance and auspices of a Vaad Harabanim that guarantees that all operations and patient interactions are conducted al derech hatorah v’halacha.