Rodrick Turns New Leaf with Orthodox Community
After making key appointments, the Toms River Mayor tries to dispel previous antisemitic rhetoric.
Toms River - Dan Rodrick seems to be making peace with the community that largely fueled his rise to Toms River’s top post. The newly-elected Mayor’s three appointments to municipal posts may be evidence of his change of heart to Toms River’s growing community of Orthodox Jews.

During his first month in office, Rodrick appointed Dassie Demobitzer, an orthodox woman, as an alternate to the Township Planning Board. Sam Ellenbogen, an orthodox male, received an appointment as an alternate to the township Municipal Utilities Authority where commissioners receive a stipend and taxpayer-funded health insurance.
Rodrick also re-appointed Baruch “Booky” Kaluszyner to the Emergency Management Council. He was one of the holdovers from former Mayor Mo Hill’s administration. Kaluszyner was once in Rodrick’s crosshairs when he was the subject of a mailer viewed as antisemitic, gaining rebukes from the Toms River Jewish Community Council (of which Kaluszyner and Ellenbogen are leaders) and from Congressman Andy Kim. in 2019, then-councilman Rodrick was censured by his fellow township councilmembers after an antisemitic mailer was delivered. Rodrick called the move a “political reprisal.”

During the 2023 campaign, Ocean County Chair George Gilmore called Rodrick’s campaign tactics “disgraceful and have no place in our party." He later “[called] on every Republican -- commissioners, legislators and local leaders alike -- to join me in condemning this abhorrent behavior. Gilmore later held fundraisers for Rodrick.

Rodrick claimed victory in November by an overwhelming majority against Ben Giovine, a Rep. Andy Kim advisor. Newcomers Thomas W. Nivison, Lynn O’Toole and Crag Coleman, received nearly double the number of votes. Rodrick, the former firebrand councilman, drew ire from the Orthodox community as his theme of stopping “Lakewood-style development” was largely seen as a dog whistle for “no Jews wanted.”
The repeal of Certificates of Occupancy remains popular with the Orthodox community, who also advocate for other zoning measures such as using finished basements as bedrooms without egress and terminating Building Department inspectors. Whether or not Rodrick’s appointments have been selected to fight for or against these issues remains to be seen.
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