Avi Schnall | "He tried Exposing Lakewood.. But Got It All Wrong"

In this in-depth episode of *Meaningful People*, host Avi Schnell—now COO of Agudah Yisrael—engages in a candid and wide-ranging conversation about the challenges facing the Orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood, New Jersey, and beyond. Schnell dissects the viral Tyler Oliver video that labeled Lakewood a 'Jewish invasion,' calling it a blatant act of anti-Semitism driven by a narrative of hostility and misinformation. He argues that the community’s growth is rooted in democratic processes, not 'hostile takeovers,' and highlights how the Agudah’s advocacy work—though often invisible—has secured critical wins like the upcoming national scholarship program, which could revolutionize tuition relief for thousands of families. Schnell also addresses the community’s internal struggles, including the perception that Agudah is 'just taking money' and doing little, emphasizing the organization’s behind-the-scenes work in government advocacy, legal services, and infrastructure support. He reflects on the difficulty of marketing 'wholesale' chesed—large-scale, systemic impact—versus tangible, retail acts of kindness, and calls for greater youth engagement and modernized outreach to ensure relevance in a changing world.