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Kiryas Joel, NY - State Police Attribute Peaceful Cemetery Ritual To Trooper Who Died |
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Sgt. Warner Hein died Dec of 2007, was a great friend to Kiryas Joel
Hein died suddenly at home on New Year's Eve last year. He was a zone sergeant at the Monroe barracks, which has the Hasidic village of Kiryas Joel in its patrol area, and he was the state police "go-to guy" when it came to coordinating the response for big, complicated events like 40,000 people, many of them bitter rivals, crowding into one spot in the village to visit the grand rebbe's grave.
This year's event stood in sharp contrast to past violence sparked by rivalries and challenges to the village's power structure. Back in the early 1990s, dueling factions in KJ rocked and bottled each other. Sometimes, troopers were caught in the crossfire. There were rumblings on Wednesday that there might be trouble, but the rumbles never mutated into hooks and jabs.
The village's public safety director, Moses Witriol, who counted Hein as a friend, smiled Wednesday as he considered the prospect that somewhere, Hein might be keeping tabs on the situation.
The current feud in the Satmar sect is between two brothers and their followers, quarreling over control of big money, blocs of voters and lots of political clout. There was factional ugliness during the village elections this summer. Down the road, there might be more. But as dust swirled and tempers grew thin in the heat on Wednesday, a potentially bad situation was defused, which is, objectively speaking, better than the alternative. From Witriol to state police Capt. Stephen Nevins, the people who were in charge of keeping things cool on Wednesday gave credit to their departed friend for planting peaceful seeds while ensuring that the law would be enforced.
At one point on Wednesday afternoon, a middle-aged Hasidic man leaving the grave stopped as he passed by two state police sergeants.
"Thanks for being around," he told them.
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Read Comments (15) — Post Yours »
1
Aug 29, 2008 at 10:03 AM Slonim? Says:
Maybe we should thank the normal people of Satmar who realize that from a fight no one benefits.
Maybe it is of the Zchis of the huge amount of Tzdukah that were given out that day.
I am not a satmar but I was in the Big shul in Monroe that night, there was no place to sit or stand, with so much Chasidim why need to fight?
everyone is a now a winner, and let the Peace begin and Moshiach come.
2
Aug 29, 2008 at 10:20 AM Frum in my heart Says:
What a terrible desecration of Hashem's name.
Chassidus is now about real estate and votes.
May Hashem have mercy on Ahron and Zalmen and help them do teshuva during Chodesh Ellul.
3
Aug 29, 2008 at 10:38 AM chaim from boropark Says:
what a chilul hashem,when gentiles have to be called in to make sure that so called chasidishe jews don't kill each other on the day of their rebbes hillule,
and these ignorant savages have the audacity to tell us that the reason moshiach is not here,is because of the zionist's in israel,what a sick joke
4
Aug 29, 2008 at 11:00 AM mt mehdi Says:
what a chilul hashem,when gentiles have to be called in to make sure that so called chasidishe jews don't kill each other on the day of their rebbes hillule, and these ignorant savages have the audacity to tell us that the reason moshiach is not here,is because of the zionist's in israel,what a sick joke
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Well said!
5
Aug 29, 2008 at 12:03 PM Anonymous Says:
The so called Chasidic, are only busy with lipa Schmeltzer and N Rosenberg. Because they are so perfect, what a shame and a chilul hashem. All you Rabbis shame on you, lets see stop with the fighting first and then go on to lipa and rosenberg.
6
Aug 29, 2008 at 12:09 PM Anonymous Says:
Once again, it's all about money. Hundreds of millions of dollars in cash, RE and other investments all around the globe. The two brothers are laughing as the money rolls in for their "fight" -- nothing raises money from followers as quickly as a so-called "Milchemes Mithzvah". They have played their chasidim brilliantly. In teh meantime donations for new buildings to outdo the other camp roll in as community Tomchei Shabbos rolls grow. Go figure. Not quite what Chassidus was supposed to be about.
7
Aug 29, 2008 at 12:28 PM Satmerer? Says:
this The so called Chasidic is very well known for one of the largest chasidus, every shul (from both sides of this chasidus) is full with learning people day and night. תלמידי חכמים are coming out of all of thier yeshivas and Kollelem. many many דיינים who are well respected Satmere Talmidim.
this The so called Chasidic is worldy known for it's צדקה וחסד
this The so called Chasidic has followers that are anytime as good people as you and others who are sitting on the internet writing pages full of שנאת חינם
8
Aug 29, 2008 at 12:31 PM Emes? Says:
very well said Mr. Satmerer
I could not agree more with you, every post here about Satmar is being bashed right away.
come on where is alittle Ahavas Yisroel?
9
Aug 29, 2008 at 12:56 PM Anonymous Says:
satmere/emes - i think 12:09 may agree. what does the chesed have to do with fighting? if it's about chesed and talmid torah nobody would care which brother is head - they could both be in shalom. alas, 12:09 is correct and the chesed of the chasidim which is beautiful, legendary and wonderful is simply aside the point of 12:09. In fact it shows that the chasidim mean very well with big hearts but are following failed leaders - so sad as the alte rebbe was so holy a person.
10
Aug 29, 2008 at 02:01 PM Anonymous Says:
I agree they are not bad people, but the leaders suck, I think it’s a few low life’s who do all the damage, running to the rebbes and making them crazy to aser Lipa and stuff
11
Aug 29, 2008 at 02:08 PM Catskills Coordinator Says:
I never posted anything pro or against Satmar.
I never mixed into their politcs as long as they let us (Hatzolah) do our job.
But last week a red line was crossed. Hatzolah, who is as neutral as can be, was attacked by a few goons.
I've yet to hear even one acceptable excuse for such animalistic behavior.
To all the Satmar defenders on this blog I ask; WHY WAS HATZOLAH ATTACKED, WHY? WE NEVER mix ito your fights, we're here to help.
WHY WHY WHY???
12
Aug 29, 2008 at 02:13 PM and Says:
aser Lipa? their leaders? what the heck are you talking about? something bother you very much, thats for sure. but none of the satmer rebbes were involved inthe isur on lipa.
13
Aug 29, 2008 at 04:08 PM Satmar Says:
You guys don`t get it, chilul hashem is only applicable when it relates to Zionism, otherwise anything & everything is just fine..........
14
Aug 29, 2008 at 05:37 PM bigwheeel Says:
Frum in my Heart 10:20AM. You quote a [biased] reporter of a [slanted (report)] newspaper. Then (based on that report), you conclude that it (contemporary Chassidus in Satmar) is all about bank accounts and block-votes! As a result, you claim that a [massive] Chillul Hashem is occurring. But you fail to realize that the so-called "Objective" reporters and editors[of the above newspaper are well exceeding their journalistic duty in seeking out sensations and looking at every situation in a skewed manner!!!
15
Aug 30, 2008 at 06:26 PM Anonymous Says:
Why are people quick to judge an entire Chasiddus, when something goes wrong? When there were fists in the air at the Belzer Rebbes tzion this year, did anyone in his right mind say that Belze Chasidim in general are a bunch of...?
Unfortunately, there are bad apples on every tree. How does that imply that the tree is rotten to it's core? I'm sure all the Satmar bashers out there know a few Satmareh who are kind and caring people. Don't you?
What I find difficult to comprehend is how some accuse the Satmar'eh fights as preventing the G'ulah, but don't realize that their own post's are not bringing Moshiach any closer...
I have this terrible gut feeling, that some people who regularly post to VIN, just "Love" to "Hate" Satmar.
Let us "All" better our ways, and may we merit the speedy arrival of Moshiach, Amen. (even if he happens to wear a Satmar hat...)