Rockland County, NY – New Square Teen Arsonist Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison

    185

    File - Spitzer with his lawyers and supporters Jan 24 2012Rockland County, NY -An Orthodox Jewish teenager was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for a firebomb attack on a neighbor in their insular Hasidic community.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Shaul Spitzer of New Square in suburban New York City previously admitted that he attacked Aron Rottenberg outside the man’s home last May. He said he did it because Rottenberg defied the grand rabbi by worshiping with nursing home residents rather than at the community’s main synagogue.

    Rottenberg, a plumber, claimed in a lawsuit that Spitzer was acting at the direction of the rabbi, David Twersky. The rabbi denied involvement and was not charged. The lawsuit was settled for $2.3 million.

    Rottenberg had asked Rockland County Court Judge William Kelly to be lenient with Spitzer, who was also burned, and the judge came down from the 10-year cap he had promised after the plea deal.

    Defense attorney Kenneth Gribetz said the sentence was “fair and compassionate.” But he said he fears for Spitzer, who he said will be the rare inmate who has had “no exposure to the outside world.”

    Gribetz said he was worried about prison life for the 18-year-old who has “never seen TV, never been on the Internet, doesn’t know who Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter are.”

    “His whole life has been the rabbi and the synagogue and now he’s going to state prison,” Gribetz said. “This is a very severe sentence for a boy from New Square. I hope he can be safeguarded.”

    A trial would have brought unwanted attention to New Square, a New York village where nearly every one of the 7,000 residents is a member of the Skver Hasidic sect. The sect and the village are named for the Ukrainian village of Skver, where sect members were killed during the Holocaust.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    185 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    11 years ago

    ברוך דין אמת

    11 years ago

    כל מה דעביד רחמנא לטב עביד

    lamdan
    lamdan
    11 years ago

    Mee kamcha yisroel that Rottenberg asked the Judge for leniency even if he got a settelment from New Square of close to $2 Mil. It shows ahavas chinam

    PMOinFL
    PMOinFL
    11 years ago

    He’s the luckiest man in New York.

    Rottenberg showed a level of compassion for this murderous animal that I don’t think I could show someone if he tried to burn down my home while my family was asleep inside.

    enlightened-yid
    enlightened-yid
    11 years ago

    7 years for nearly killing a person? I wonder how much time he would get if this teen was Black or Hispanic setting a white person on fire.

    Sol-Sol
    Sol-Sol
    11 years ago

    If Rottenberg wrote a letter to the judge.. There’s nothing more for us to comment anymore! The whole story angers me to no end! I know New Square very well, I feel this kid is a big Nebechdiga victim of severe “Brainwash” and the higher ups should be punished!

    avigreen
    avigreen
    11 years ago

    It’s a very sad story! This bucher is no murderer and would not hurt a fly. What happened was a tragic mistake from young naïve boys who were lured into this. The media painted this very well “intentions to kill a family”.
    We all make mistakes and we want to be judged in favor after the matter.
    After the shooting in France, killings in Israel or any tragic accident or story around the world, all of a sudden all the comments on VIN are about how “Hashem should have mercy and that we all unite”.
    Let’s not wait for another test. We are being test right now at the moment, a family and kelal yisroel is suffering! This boy has a father, mother, brothers and sisters. DO NOT be stupid to assume you are guaranteed how ‘YOUR’ children will behave and mistakes they might make down the road. Don’t judge and keep your hate comments to yourself!
    Lets all pray the all yidden survive and get of prison to return to their families with Moshiach!

    ALTERG
    ALTERG
    11 years ago

    גם זו לטובה

    11 years ago

    I wish that I was the judge in this case. I would have sentenced him to 20 years for arson, and attempted murder; for those of you who think that this individual is not a danger to society, you are daydreaming. The saying “with liberty and justice for all”, applies to the secular, AS WELL AS THE FRUM, in our society. Case closed; no appeals!

    jkier74
    jkier74
    11 years ago

    Reply to 11:

    Yeah only fire. Like the one that killed Rav Abuchatzera told the judge that he didn’t mean to kill him, just stab him to show he is human not super natural.(sic) In the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping, burn down the house but I won’t hurt anyone. Only a fire! get real, or try to be normal.Please

    Laytzunay-Hador
    Laytzunay-Hador
    11 years ago

    Don’t worry, he’ll probably be pardoned by Obama very very soon….

    11 years ago

    The only reason he is not a murderer is because baruch hashem the rottenbergs got out in time. All of you people saying he wouldn’t hurt a fly – lets see how you would feel if it was your house and family set on fire!!!

    shprintzyobermeister
    shprintzyobermeister
    11 years ago

    i hope we dont make rallies for shpitzer

    speakup
    speakup
    11 years ago

    Does anyone know how Mr. Rottenberg is doing? How severe were his burns? Is he permanently scarred? Are there limitations on what he can do? What degree of pain does he endure on a daily basis? Mr. Spitzer was sentenced to seven years. What was Mr. Rottenberg sentenced to?

    REBITZIN
    REBITZIN
    11 years ago

    I leave in new square not far from spitzer! And I c the mother a lot! And the all family so broken! Don’t jodge anyone! Nebach! Hopefully he will be out befor u know it!

    11 years ago

    I am not chassid or friend of the Skver Rebbe but at least a little respect. This type of bashing least to bashing everybody including their neighbor and their own family

    maxedout
    maxedout
    11 years ago

    It really amazes me how some people here are so stupid and narrow minded asking for rachmonos for Spitzer. Do any of you give a rat about all the pain and suffering caused to the Rottenbergs? Did Spitzer have rachmonos?

    OyGevald
    OyGevald
    11 years ago

    Is he a “murderous animal” you ask? Are you kidding? The nicest person on earth is charged with Manslaughter when driving a car and fatally hitting a pedetrian – a pure accident technically, but calculated arson with sleeping occupants isn’t called a “murderous animal”? You got to be kidding!

    MonseyLuke
    MonseyLuke
    11 years ago

    As I have said before this young man was thrown under the bus by the community to protect the true evil doers. Given the obvious potential for political consequences his sentence will be minimal at best and actual time served will be a joke. To avoid outrage, the press will be asked not to report when he is released in 6 months. Just watch it unfold. Sad.

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    11 years ago

    Not only Rottenberg was burned…Hashem was burned.!!!! One of the biggest chilil hashems in New York history when all the media in the world had this in the front newspapers and on radio headlines..Rottenberg got 2 Million dollars, Spitzer got 7 years jail and 5 years probation..What did Hashem get.? he got shame from a community who are suppose to be role models to Hashem Yisburech….What did New Square do to ask hashem for forgiveness for this chilil hashem..Did they make a Yoim tefilah or Tanis Tzibir for causing such a Chilil Hashem.? Did they write open apology letters to the world that they won’t tolerate such a chilil hashem.? Of coure the answer is NO….So how to we compensate Hashem for Shechinte Begeliseh causing hashem such Tzar and Beeshes ..?

    jkier74
    jkier74
    11 years ago

    To no. 38:
    Dina Dimalchuso Dina. This is halocho

    11 years ago

    avi in #38 ; you are wrong, if there is circumstantial evidence, then a punishment is possible. Only the daled missos need eidim and hassraah. I think you should review masechta sanhedrin

    Miriam377
    Miriam377
    11 years ago

    I hope spitzer gets the mental help he needs and gets a refuah Sheleima

    jakyw
    jakyw
    11 years ago

    i hope that the
    “rebbe” and his supporters have learned a lesson after destroying two families. absolute power corrupts absolutely! money is our avoda zora that we have sacrificed our children to.

    Insider
    Insider
    11 years ago

    He could be released after 50% of the sentence is served with good behavior. After 25% percent of the sentence is served with good behavior, he would be eligible for work-release. Which means that he could be out on the streets as soon as July 2013.
    If he does his sentence at Woodbourne, he will have no shortage of visitors DAILY throughout his 15 months of being in the slammer. Literally, this could very well be a YOM TOV for him. For attempted murder of an innocent Yiddishe family and arson, this is NOT justice.

    A1826
    A1826
    11 years ago

    Rottenberg originally stated that he doesn’t have something personal with the boy. If you understand the “system” of skver, you would think differently. Of course this boy (teenager that doesn’t think of the consequences of his actions) needs to get something for his actions and even 6 months would teach him a gezinte lesson. He would never do such a thing again. However, I would want the higher ups to pay. The boy is just a pawn and thrown under the bus in this sick communist game of the shtetl. I have rachmonos on him.

    I would think that Rottenberg thinks the same way. Even he was burnt, he knows the boy was just a pawn. I am sure that all Rottenberg really wants is that no one should suffer the terrorism that he suffered. Enough with that communism in the shtetl.

    torontonian
    torontonian
    11 years ago

    I question the dichotomy and duplicity of a shtettel and its leader(s) that are able to pay 2 million dollars for payoff, while collecting money under the guise of Torah and Yiras Shomayim. Something is rotten with the state of Square.

    bucher
    bucher
    11 years ago

    Rachmunes on Shaul. But you could look on both side’s. after all he nearly burned a man to death. But as they say in roam you do like the roamin’s do…

    rikki
    Member
    rikki
    11 years ago

    I would like to remind you all!!! If your family would be in bed sleeping and someone put your house on fire, how would you feel? Would you still feel that this was not a crime? Had the whole family Chas V’Sholom been hurt badly, or worse, he’d have been charged with murder….no plea bargaining then!!! The terror tactics should stop right now so this shouldn’t occur again.

    barry30
    barry30
    11 years ago

    i once used gasoline trying to burnout something ,it came jumping back at me.i was on fire,lucky a friend of mine was there .he through me to the ground and put out the flame within 30 seconds.it was the scare of my life.people don’t know the differents of oil & gasoline.i think the lawyers didnt explain this point .i am shure this silly boy didnt know,as i was 35 years old when it happened to me. somethimes a small town lawyer will do better.

    Rifka
    Rifka
    11 years ago

    Has the boy been given an IQ test? Has he been evaluated by a psychiatrist? The lad needs help. I would give him therapy instead of jail.

    musthavegum
    musthavegum
    11 years ago

    lets view this with an open mind this methed of burning down houses when you want to get rid of somebody was done over 5 times in the past in new square succsesfully so there was clearly no intend to kill,, what he is guilty of is arson in the first degree indangering the wellfare of 5 poeple including kids which he desrves the sentence he got and more never the less the right thing that he should had done was to make a deal with the prosecuter and tell them who send him and who else was involved and get to the root of the problem thats the only way we are certain this should never ever happen again till then we as citicens of the new square villege are in the same danger as the rottenbergs are

    2smart
    2smart
    11 years ago

    אין פלא למה אין בן דוד בא
    אם יש אנשים יהודים ששמחים בצערו של בחור תמים
    ומצטערים על שנים המועטים שנפסק לו להיות במאסר
    אז משיח צודק.
    שלא יבוא לדור מכוער כזה
    אני מתבייש להיות יהודי אם יש יהודים כזה
    שיהיה לכל אלו עונש כזה בבניהם ובבנותיהם

    11 years ago

    I hope he survives prison but he deserves a custodial sentence. Why do we expect any less because he’s a chassid? If he were Black we’d be screaming for his blood. This was a terrible thing and he’s lucky he didn’t get 25 for attempted murder.

    OyGevald
    OyGevald
    11 years ago

    So, will you contribute to the Pidyon Shvuyim Campaign to hire “better” lawyers to get this Bucher out of jail?
    When will Klall Yisroel stand up & say “you aren’t Ehrlich & pay for your crimes” and when released be treated like a Yiddishe Ganiv?
    When? When we have dead yidden?

    11 years ago

    Its unfortunate that this boy is a scapegoat. I hope his father has learnt a lesson .he is the instigator of sending ppl to expel residence in new square. He should be sitting. Feel had for the bochur the most rachmunus goes to the mother. On a nice note someone does have to pay a price for such a stupidity. Hope Hashem guards the boy from harm. A state prison. Bad

    noahz6
    noahz6
    11 years ago

    this spitzer boy doesn’t get it. he didn’t understand what fire does. now he doesn’t understand what prison means. when he’ll feel the taste he might start singing.

    MayerAlter
    MayerAlter
    11 years ago

    Don’t worry Spitzer will feel great when the Rebbe comes to visit him in jail to give him chizuk.

    CSLMoish
    CSLMoish
    11 years ago

    “The sect and the village are named for the Ukrainian village of Skver, where sect members were killed during the Holocaust.”
    Hmmm what an idea let’s name our village after the great little town that killed all our parents in Ukraine!

    Shaul in Monsey
    Shaul in Monsey
    11 years ago

    Anyone supporting Spitzer is giving lip service to acheinu kol beis yisroel. What Spitzer did and who he represents are chassidic values turned on their ear. Meiskite and farkrumpte values created this chillul Hashem. There is no kaparah for it either.

    JudahM
    JudahM
    11 years ago

    Well, now he can sit in a corner and study all day without any contact with women. His life will be little different from his current life. He’ll hardly know he’s in jail.

    listen
    listen
    11 years ago

    All commentators keep in mind an important Chazal: The way you judge other people reflects on how Hashem judges you! The upcoming Rosh Hashanah is not that far away, so use caution when YOU ARE SENTENCING a fellow Jew! אין צדיק בארץ אשר יעשה טוב ולא יחטא. Are you clean from Loshon Horah (obviously not), embarrassing a friend is also שפיכת דמים, are you ready for a HEAVENLY HARSH SENTENCE or will you beg Hashem for LENIENCY “in YOUR case”!

    Rethink again – and don’t be embarresed to take back your OPINIONS which won’t change anything in THIS CASE but might change decisions in YOUR CASE!

    וקבל את האמת ממי שאמרו

    lazerx
    lazerx
    11 years ago

    7 years? for ATTEMPTED MURDER!! what a perversion of justice!? he is lucky that the SANHEDRIAN is not judging the case. He deserves what he TRIED to do to them! Well I guess in heaven what is to be will be and not for us here on earth.

    11 years ago

    Its unfortunate that this boy is a scapegoat. I hope his father has learnt a lesson .he is the instigator of sending ppl to expel residence in new square. He should be sitting. Feel had for the bochur the most rachmunus goes to the mother. On a nice note someone does have to pay a price for such a stupidity. Hope Hashem guards the boy from harm. A state prison. Bad

    11 years ago

    The boy has caused no harm to all u nasty comments writers .
    Its totally unnecessary of one to post spiteful loshon hora. I do believe in justice. However, both u and I know Hashem is in charge and leave things up to him. Unfortunately the bad Satan comes in and a person carriers out an action indeed not fitted for a Yid. I do not know the family but a yid is a yid.its enough we get such hatred from the goyim. Why r u yidden doing the same. Crime or not crime we r never guaranteed in life if one would be in such a situation cv. Its unreal how some of u comment.things do come back to haunt in life.

    maxedout
    maxedout
    11 years ago

    After reading all the comments here, certain things come to mind. As much as I agree that this kid was thrown under the bus, the fault lies in his parents and his upbringing. When you are taught from day 1, that the Rebbe is bigger than Hashem, this is the behavior you get. As someone else mentioned, this is not the first arson incident. Spitzer never dreamed that he would get caught. Once caught, being that he is quite naive, his parents should have made sure to finger those that put him up to it. Anyone that believes he acted alone is as naive as he is. However, being that the Rebbe is the supreme being in their universe, I have no doubt that he orchestrated the plea deal in order to keep the true guilty parties out of trouble. Hopefully, they and the Rebbe will have learned a lesson from this and we never hear of another arson again. On another note, I cannot understand how some people feel that “he is a good boy, he didnt mean to hurt anyone, etc”. He broke the law. The laws of the USA override the laws of JewTown. There is no such thing as “lets just forget about it”. You want Moshiach, learn to behave like a Jew and treat your fellow Jew with respect.

    emesdig
    emesdig
    11 years ago

    This boy is a Korben Tziber, he’s sitting for the crimes committed against humanity by the people of New Square, it should be proven by the fact that this boy was living in the Rebbes house, it’s known that he wasn’t personally close to the Rebbe but it shows from heaven who was really supposed to be punished.

    People say how innocent he is, being a young boy, just know that ALL of the 9/11 terrorists were about the same age….

    Nuchim
    Nuchim
    11 years ago

    I would like to make 1 thing clear given the way some ppl keep on writing what a big animal murderer this bucher is. It is a huge difference if someone stabs someone in the back or light a fire on someone’s porch with intentions of scaring him off!! how many fires did you light when you were a teenager?? Or how many other dangerous things did you guys do without thinking the consequences or how many ppl might get hurt?? That’s a teenager, Its still a big crime and im not trying to downplay it but he is not a “cold blooded murderer” as it was NEVER his intention to actually kill anyone. The prosecutor and the media tried to make it sound as if he came to wipe out a whole family and by reading most of the comments it looks like they made a pretty good job!! I fully agree that a big crime has been committed here but again he is not a cold blooded murderer, in the worse case you can call him a stupid naive crazy person.
    I don’t justify what he did or talking about his sentence if its harsh or good, im only commenting on the “cold blooded murderer” comments.
    And to those ppl who keep asking if i would still have rachmunis if the defendant would be a goy the answer is NO coz i don’t know him but if it would be your son/brother/cousin/friend or whatever you WOULD have rachmunis and pity him/them and u can write as many times as you want that you would not have rachmunis but im sorry, i don’t believe you!!

    Nuchim
    Nuchim
    11 years ago

    him but if it would be your son/brother/cousin/friend or whatever you WOULD have rachmunis and pity him/them and u can write as many times as you want that you would not have rachmunis but im sorry, i don’t believe you!!