A Place for Jewish Teens to Chill & Grow
Not a program. Not a class. A real house near Lakewood and Jackson, NJ where Jewish teens and young adults can just hang out — couches, good food, music, dogs, zero pressure.
The most underrated thing a teen needs: somewhere to be
Plenty of teens aren't in crisis — they're just bored, restless, and out of places where they're actually welcome. That's how kids end up hanging out in parking lots. The Bunker of Light started with exactly those kids, and the hangout is still the heart of it: an open family home in Toms River where you can show up, flop on a couch, eat well, play with the doodles, and be around people who are happy you came.
Chill is the whole design. Nobody takes attendance, nobody grades your Yiddishkeit, and nothing is mandatory. Farbrengens, learning, and real conversations happen constantly — for whoever wants in.
A hangout with adults who actually care
What makes this more than a hangout is who's in the house. Yosef and Sarah Shidler live here; mentors and rabbanim are part of the furniture. So when a casual regular hits a rough patch — trouble at home, no job, a bad week — the help is already in the room: mentoring, family guidance, mental-health advocacy, even a place to stay when it's appropriate. Growing happens because the chilling came first.
The house runs with structure: clear rules, separate boys' and girls' programs, and parental approval for anyone under 18.
Close to Lakewood, Jackson, and all of Ocean County
Teens drop in from Lakewood, Jackson, Howell, Brick, Manchester, and around Toms River — most within a 20-minute ride. Come once for a Shabbos meal or an event, and you'll know if it's your kind of place.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be religious — or "at-risk" — to come?
Neither. The Bunker is for any Jewish teen or young adult who wants somewhere real to be. Come as you are; friends welcome.
When can I come hang out?
Shabbos meals run every week, plus events, trips, and farbrengens throughout — message 718.781.6405 and we'll tell you what's coming up and when to swing by.
Does anything cost money?
No. Meals, events, everything — free, always.
One message is enough to start.
Reach out for yourself, your child, a student, or a friend — quietly, warmly, and always free.