Rockland County, NY – For the first time since an 18 year old New Square man attempted to torch the house of a resident as a punishment for choosing to daven outside the village, The Skverer Rebbe, Rabbi David Twersky, has made a public statement regarding the attempted arson.
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Rabbi Twersky’s remarks came late yesterday as he was addressing a group of bochurim who were making a siyum.
I ask each of you to daven for a complete and speedy recovery for the victim of this attack,” said Rabbi Twersky. “Violence has never been our way. The holiday of Shavuos is a time of healing and I hope that as the holiday approaches the people in our village will be like that of the Jews at the time of the giving of the Torah ‘as one person with one heart.’”
The Skver community is reeling following Sunday morning’s attack and Aron Rotenberg is hospitalized with third degree burns covering half of his body.
While the Skverer Beis Din has come out condemning the attack this is the first time that Rabbi Twersky himself has spoken publicly regarding the incident.
You can Listen to on Skver’s Kol HaTorah 845-678-8363 then 121 then 11# then 9, 6.
It would be nice to see the Rebbe visit Mr. Rottenberg in the hospital and wish him well. That will show a true path towards achdus and peace. Let him be a role model for his followers to treat each others with respect and ahavas yisroel.
Now? Were almost past the sheva brochos of this story already.. We’ve you been till now?
I tell myself its abbout time ! you know evryone is tallking abbout it ! so let me also talk abbout it after all it is skwerer nayes and i love to shmies with bucharim they are so young and inecent !
Never was raised in square but very fond of the rebba. He is a leader of great integrity and warmth. Its in the rebba zochus that we bore a baby this year. his shine reaches deep within you. Never ever, ever would the rebba support violence. May hashem send a speedy recovery. And may we all live in harmony. Life would be so much happier for all of us.
Let the rebbe visit the burn victim and beg him mechila that, at the very least, it happened on his watch. That will send a message.
Bochurim making a siyum are hardly the guys who need to be addressed in this matter. They don’t do violence. The rebbe should perhaps collect the bochurim who do not make a siyum and tell them what his position on violence is.
What about condemming the boychickle that committed this horror?
I can’t decide what the rebbe ment by saying this.
It would be better if the Rebbe would go to the hospital to be M’vaker Cholim. Actions speak for themselves better than words.
Hank Sheinkof the Public Relations Guru told him to say this belated something a Damage Control. The Rebbe says “all” the people who need a refuah should have one without addressing the man who was deliberately burned .
This is like the UN condemming “all” terrorist acts after the arab bombing of a bus in Yerusholayim.
I agree with #10 ; the condemnation should have focused on the perpetrator, and it should have been in more forceful terms. There is no forgiveness for this sort of atrocity. Don’t forget, that the public is always blasting the so-called moderate Muslims who fail to speak out against lunatics in their community. Hence, we have an obligation to do the same.
if only he would understand that by violance you build the opposition i guess poeple dont learn from history never mind the chilel hashem
the first 15 posts basically are saying it’s not enough,I disagree ; he did not send this bocher taking matters into his own hands, even if the boy had help it was not from the rebbe, all he needed to say in my opinion is that no violence should be done in his name, he said that.
After listening, I feel mixed about this – the words “this is against the Derech – this is against the Derech of Skver” are indeed very powerful, as well as the fact that the Rebbe said that the victim should have a refuah shleimah and “come home” – the coming home part being very strong
This is a rough translation of the R’ Duvid Twersky: “I want to announce something. We’re going through agmas nefesh. We should really not have to say this. We know from all the years, I spoke many times about this, not to go [out] with power or fight, and even more so, not to hurt any Jew. It against our ways. Everyone knows the way of Skvere is Torah, and all its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace. I really should not have to say this. But because this terrible thing happened, maybe it’s good to say it again and let everyone know that, God forbid, do not fight with koach, it makes agmas nefesh. Its against our way, the way of Skvere. This [incident] brought a lot of tears and pain. Whoever needs healing, God should send them healing, and they should come home healthy. Now is a time of healing. God should help that the shtetl [the village of New Square] should be at peace with one heart, with Torah and mitzvos and good deeds. The Me’or Einyim says that on Shavuos we accept the Torah [all over again].… God should help that my father, zt”l, should make his merit be a shield and we shall receive the Torah physically and spiritually, exclusively with happiness.”
You want the Rebbe to pull down the rosha’s pants in public and give him petch???? That’s not the way things are done. I am sure the alleged arsonist will not have it easy!
Rabbi Twersky’s remarks came late yesterday as he was addressing a group of bochurim who were making a siyum.
why not in front of the whole skver
On every apple tree there are rotten apples.
Even under Moishe Rabienus leadership there were pleanty of trouble makers.
To all of you who say the Rabbi spoke too late, sorry, it’s never too late.
I am an admirer of the Rebbe, and I have known him long enough to recognize his language and form of expression. I feel he is sincerely horrified by the events. I do not question his feelings. I do not believe he has any direct responsibility for the atrocity that happened, though all readers have some responsibility for behavior of the community (as in עגלה ערופה).
Yet, I, too, hoped for more. This statement was needed to calm the nerves of others, not to defend himself. What needed to be said should have been in the language that all would understand, with the intensity of condemnation that is unquestionable even to the skeptic. This need not be defensive or damage control. I would have hoped the Rebbe would declare that hostility that is in conflict with the derech of Skver will not be tolerated, and that those who adopt such ways cannot be part of the community. That matters infinitely more than takunos about where to daven. The Rebbe needs to set straight the “derech of skver” and strict compliance with דרכיה דרכי נועם. I believe he means that, but others are skeptical (and for good reason). The message still needs to given, with full strength.
Strong words, weak message.
The attack was condemned in a way which can be translated in many different ways. Like saying we don’t go with koach, as in actual beating and and burning. But let’s not forget other possibilities like, intimidating people, phony calls in middle of the night, yelling at people in front of their kids etc.
Let them all have a refuah shleima, those that need it physically and others which need it mentally. There’s so many pain besides that, why bring new pain?
It’s not up to us outsiders to tell the Rebbe how to respond. It seems to me that the statement he made was a very clear expression of his opinion (at least it was clear to the Chassidim who know how to understand what a Rebbe says).
If he is not going to visit him, he should at least send flowers for Shavous.
As someone who listens and knows the language of the Rebbe let me clarify:
The Skvere Rebbe NEVER talks about any type of current events and especially not explicit language. For example when is son R’ Yakov Yosef was sick with cancer r”l and was on his death bed, he never spoke about it publicly or asked to say tehilim in public. It was just notes hanging in shul in his name.
Another factor is then whatever he speaks are with soft words in not directly.
For his style of words these words are the first time in history that he ever addressed something in such strong terms!
For his Chasidim who hear this language it’s the strongest form of condemnation possible. When he said not to use “Koiach” the hasidim won’t dear doing the slightest type of even verbal abuse.
And remember he even added the words he should come “home”, although some might claim he violated the Kehillas rules. He still welcomed him back.
Now, you can say that he needs to speak stronger and he should change his general way of speaking. As any reader has the right to like his own style of speech.
But as someone who understands his language I wanted to relate simple facts:
HE GAVE THE STRONGEST CONDEMNATION ON THIS!
Those who are looking for something bad will always find.
I spoke to a few Skvere Hasidim who told me that this type of language is severly extreme for the Skver rabbi. They say he never speaks close to this language.
So I guess it’s hard to judge words if you never listen to his speeches.
Why not as Klal Yisroel let’s try to give the benefit of the doubt and be happy that this despicable actions and behavior has been stopped!
i am very saddened with the situation in square.i was always under the impression that the square chasidus was indeed based on shalom.what happened caused great pain to the rebbe and 99% of his folllowers.what can we say if our youth today does not think of consequences of their actions. i happened to know family of ypung man who commited the crime and there is not a nicer and more bechuvedige family. think of what they r going through. and most omportant the family of the victim may he have a refua shelema AND COME HOME HEALTHY AND WELL.
Since I wasn’t able to listen to the clip above (its not working) I called in and listened on the phone……. (And since the translation above is very vague) the rebbe said very well, he did say (twice) this is not the way and never was and should never been and since it happened he wants to remind again that this is not the way and should never happen…… He did wish a refuah shleima (not as described that he asked them to pray etc and some comments that he didn’t even wish him etc) and wished this person to come home soon …… according to the Rebbes way of speaking this was well said (as some comments claim that it was very weak)
I don’t get all the hating here. Yes, his statement was a little late but it was perfectly fine. If he says that this is not the derech of skver and he claims that he emphasized non-violence before, why is it neccessary for him to rant and rave how evil this 18 year old kid is. I just hope he is saying the truth and if he is it seems his leadership is weak, but that is not a moral failure.
I was at the rebbe last year for the very first time in my life..i was in need for a Yeshieh and was advised to go see the rebbe..So waht dosent a yid do when he is in tsuris.? The rebbe spoke to me for over 40 minutes and advised me how to handle my problem and also contacted the right people for me to help me out..B”H i had the yeshieh i needed and am very grateful for Hashem and the sheliach the rebbe..
I am sure that the rebbe has very big agmes nefesh over this horrible terrorist act which happened in his shtetel and dosent give him meniche..
How much does the Rebbe really need to say? If a guy from Home Depot blows up a Lowe’s, does Home Depot need to apologize?
Certainly a more important way of addressing this would be to ensure that the underlying reasons are alleviated–teaching people that kanaus doesn’t trump menchlichkeit, that chassidus doesn’t outweigh Torah, etc.
The gear says.
Bemakom Chilul Hashem, ain cholkin kavod larav.
With great respect to the Skvere Rebe.
He must scream out. Yudainu Lo shufchu es hadom hazeh.
I have no way direct nor indirect anything to do with this barbaric act. Not with burning properties and not with burning people.
All week everyone was willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the rebbe. No more. His words speak to the reality that he encouraged the policy of punishing those who disobeyed his policy that everyone must daven at his shul. This boy went to far in enforcing the policy. His comments show the way of the Skvere has been lost.
Such extreme acts do not happen in a vacuum. It takes years of living in a culture where intimidation and violence is encouraged or at least implicitly accepted.
If this was the first time such intimidation occurred people would be more outraged at the individual than at the leadership and the Rebbe. However it seems that this was part of a pattern over the years `where violence against people and property was at the very least tolerated. Had the Rebbe spoken out after the first window was shattered there is no doubt that this would not have happened. Yes if he really believed that the Torahs and all its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace, violence would have been nipped in the bud a long time ago.
Had he put as much emphasis on peace as he put on enforcing the no other Shul policy chances are this would never have occurred. Apparently the kids in the street know the Rebbes priorities very well. It is up to the wider community to condemn this type of thinking in the strongest terms possible. It is no coincidence that Jewish terrorism over the years was minimal compared to Arab violence. Violent people do not act in a vacuum. They need approval from…
It might be helpful if the Rebbe were to say that, while he welcomes the victim to return to Skver, he understands that it is not the appropriate place for everyone to live and that if someone chooses to leave, he wants it to be under fair and good terms. That way, everyone wins – the Rebbe gets a town of devoted followers who will daven according to his rules, and the unhappy can move to Monsey or elsewhere and be happy.
I think the Muslim community came out with a faster and much stronger response after 9/11
why doenst the rebbe mention his name when he wishes him a refua shleima ?
Let us stop beating around the bush. The Skvere Rebbe’s hoize bochur tried to murder a fellow Yid and his family and the Rebbe cannot do more than speak about it to the bochurim in terms that only those close to Skvere understand clearly. I am not a Skvere chossid but what Skvere do is my concern as each Yid is an oireiv for each other Yid and I object to being a party to their games. When the actions of Skverer chassidim cause a chillul hashem, I have the right to ask the Rebbe, who understands and speaks English perfectly, to publicly take a stand in language that the average man in the street will understand. Rabbi Twersky, please do just that.
does anyone have full name of vvictim so we can daven for his refua
I have been to the Rebbe and am not a resident of Skvere, nor am I chassidish. The Rebbe, in my opinion, neither condones nor promotes violence. He is a godol of immense proportions who has helped many people, and the way he speaks is difficult for those who are unfamliar with his mannerisms to understand. Yes it is a horrible thing and yes, that ‘hois buchur’ should go to jail or get whatever he has coming, and I dont feel sorry for him at all (although I do feel bad for his family). The bottom line is, the Rebbe will do what is right, and whether we agree or not with his statements/actions, that is still the Rebbes choice to make. We cannot judge the Rebbe based on what we would do because we are not the Rebbe nor do we see the future as he does. I do believe that Rottenbergs should have moved out of Skvere since it is a known fact that not to daven in the main shul is an affront to the Rebbe and community, however, this is America and they have the right to live where and as they choose. However there is NO excuse for the act committed against Mr. Rottenberg and for him I do say a refuah Shelaima and we should help the family in any way possible.
The violence and harassment are inexcusable, assuming, of course, that the reports are true (is it allowed to believe the reports or is it being makabel Loshon hora?). However, I am also puzzled why the Rottenbergs didn’t leave Skver,
Why would someone want to live in a small, insular community where, it seems, they are not accepted? Had Mr. Rottenberg approached the Rebbe and asked him to help get full value for his house, would the Rebbe have helped him?