Lakewood’s vaad called the arrests of seven Orthodox couples, including a rabbi and his wife, a “valuable teaching moment that cannot be wasted.”

Rabbi Zev Weisberg, writing on behalf of the vaad, was responding to recent charges of alleged welfare fraud by the community members. The arrests, which made national headlines, brought unwanted negative attention to this New Jersey community of over 100,000 charedim.

Rabbi Weisberg wrote: “There is no such thing as ‘justified’ theft. Federal and state social safety-net programs are meant for those in need; even those in need have rules and criteria that must be strictly followed. To deliberately bend a safety-net eligibility rule is stealing, no different than stealing from your friend or neighbor.

“We would all do well to redouble and triple our efforts in our communities, reminding each and every one of us that there is never any excuse for dishonesty in any form. Let us take this moment to speak openly of these matters, from the pulpit, in the classroom and by parents at the dinner table, so that this tragic but necessary learning moment is not lost.

“In the days ahead we will help launch a set of intensive educational programs that can ensure that such does not happen again, and will invite the public to participate in these timely programs.”

Rabbi Weisberg continued: “We are saddened beyond words by the arrests of seven couples in our town. As firm believers in the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ we suspend judgment until the disposition of these charges, and are comforted knowing that our judicial system is an able arbiter of justice.”