New Square, NY – An upcoming story in this week’s Ami Magazine hitting newsstands on Wednesday will present an exclusive interview with the Skverer Rebbe, Rabbi David Twersky, who speaks out in depth about the horrifying events that occurred in New Square less than two weeks ago.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter, editor of the magazine, spoke at length with the Rebbe who denounced the actions of one zealous individual saying, “I condemn in the strongest possible terms any violence or coercion under any circumstances. The use of force violates the very precepts upon which this community was founded. My father was willing to sacrifice his life for peace. I have tried to instill this trait in the entire community. This is a sad episode for all of us. We must also pray for the speedy recovery of all those hurt in this incident.”
Rabbi Frankfurter spent several hours this week in New Square this past Sunday night with Rabbi Twersky and community activists who are still reeling from the alleged arson attack.
“This is a peaceful, loving, selfless community,” said Rabbi Frankfurter in an exclusive interview with VIN News. “This is a terrible episode and no one in the community is condoning what happened here. We have to put a stop to this. Jews of all stripes have to start living together in harmony.”
Ami Magazine’s interview with the Skverer Rebbe will be featured exclusively on Vos Iz Neias this coming Sunday.
I am personally glad that VIN posted a story about Skver that reflects the chasidus as it was intended. The commenters on other threads unleashed enormous amounts of vicious, hateful comments, suggesting that the atrocities are consistent with the derech of Skver, and even sanctioned and approved by the rebbe. Nothing can be further from the truth. Even the most luscious fruit can have pits. Perfection is not a trait expected from humans. Every so often, Hashem displays the imperfections for all. That is our personal message to never take spiritual life for granted, and to make the mission of existence in this world to remain ever conscious of His will. I have not read the article either, but I do know the rebbe. I fear that the same vengeance that led to the horrific accusations and blind judgments will repeat themselves in the comments on this thread.
There is no derech of Avodas Hashem, not the many branches of chasidim nor the yeshiva world that are blemish free. Does Lakewood’s freezer make sense? Does only the Rosh Yeshiva getting Sidur Kidushin make sense? How about the many splits between families in Satmar, Bobov, Vizhnitz,etc? No one condones horror. Achdus!
Was wondering what toke them so long, I know they have a good PR machine, But let’s see if they gana be able to fix the damage, time will tell
Too little, too late. We don’t buy the bluff anyway.
We await the rebbe’s side of the story. With that said… I will be looking for a few key pieces of information.
1) Are residents allowed to pray at a different shul than that of the rebbe’s. If they are not, how is this not coercion?
2) Did the rebbe ever rebuke his people when they damaged cars and other property of the assaulted individual?
3) When protests were held at the assaulted individual’s house, what was the purpose? If this was not encouraged, why did the rebbe’s son pass by in a car and not tell the people to stop harassing this person?
i think he should say a drushe in public why it happened!
I think this is a bit of damage control in response to the overwhelming condemnation of both the attack itself and the subsequent failure of the rebbe to speak out more forcefully. I’m even more surprised that Rav Frankfuter needs an interpreter to communicate with the Rebbe. I had assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the rebbe would be fluent in English. However, its really a shock that the editor of Ami wouldn’t be able to speak in Yiddish and needs the guy in the middle to interpret.
Don’t care and I don’t believe a word he is saying. I just hope he interviewd Rottenberg as well not it should be a one sided story
Some of the commenters here are doing exactly what #1 said would happen. I want to know how these hateful people who trust no one but themselves, considering it okay to incriminate an entire community they don’t know are any better than the people they complain about? My therapist talks about “displaced anger”. I think that would explain there commenters.
The rebbe who is the boss of the town knows when the guy down the street sneezes. It is impossible for him not to have known about the ongoing situation which led to this attack. There were numerous other attacks that the rest of the NY area knew about so there is no way any sane person can say the rebbe didn’t know. There were many opportunities to stop the terror. The rebbes word becomes law. The rebbe by not stopping the terror enabled another person to carry out an act that would have resulted in mass murder. Nice attempt on his part trying to spin this one.
For various personal and professional reasons connected to a number of prior episodes involving the Skvirer leadership (the details of which need not now be publicly aired), I inherently am personally very, very skeptical regarding the Skvirer Rebbe.
That said, I really, really want the Rebbe to have a fair opportunity to present his sfora, because until now, there has been much speculation and suspicion. Accordingly, I look forward to reading the Interview when it posts. Perhaps it will shed some light onto a subject now in dire need of illumenation.
The two burn victims are not the only ones ailing from the incident. The Interview may well leave me and others with unanswered questions. But maybe it will help to facilitate a much needed healing process. I, for one, am willing to give it a chance.
The truth is that those saying “I want to see a response to this and to that” do not care in the least what the Rebbe says. They have already mad up their minds. As small as those minds may be.
No matter what will be said, the Rebbe should have said this or said it in such a venue or come over to me personally.
And that is the truth.
Many times people are not looking for answers, they are happier with their “questions”. And that is what all the commenters demanding specific responses really are.
I don’t understand what exclusive to VIN means, won’t this be published in AMI magazine?
in his last interview with the Mishpacha Magazine the Skvere Rebbe exclaimed that there are no dropouts in Skver. (like Ahmadinejad claimed in an interview that there are no g••s in Iran)
Last time the interview with the Skvere Rebbe appeared right after the pictures with the Clintons were publicized and it was a clear PR stunt to switch the topic. Rumors were circulating then that Skver spent $20k for that PR stunt.
In my humble opinion skver is doing the right thing by going public with its denunciation, and I hope it’s a real strong message for Skver and for non Skver alike.
As my mom always used to say “Better late than never!”
People should give the rebbe the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he is I fact innocent and didn’t know that his house bochor was going to pour a flammable liquid on a fellow Jew and then set him on fire.
Maybe he didn’t know gAsoline is flammable either. He is a big tzaddik. He doesn’t get involved in little gashmius things like we do. Show some bitachon rabosai.
“If you do not wish to abide by those rules, no one is stopping you from moving out!”
Sounds like a threat to me. A hate crime is a punishable felony in this country, which is not Jewland. Let them correct the money laundering issues before pointing fingers at others.
“Alleged” arson attack??? Is anybody denying the fact that rottenberg was attacked?
After such an introduction I already can tell you that the whole article will be just to improve the image of skver and 95% will talk about the chesed and torah of new square.
It’s true that new square is rich in torah chesed and ehrliche yidden, but on the other hand it sends the wrong message when problems are ignored and shoved under the carpet.
We must “also” pray for the speedy recovery of all those hurt in this incident.”???????
Why can’t he say directly I am praying & we should all pray for the VICTIM.
The story comes to show how low people can be, people who have no idea about Skver they do not know any details of the rabbi and his views, they did not know who Rotenberg was and how much tzar and trouble he caused the rabbi, yet they are happy to comment, texting jumping with all kinds of non sense and Lushen Hora and bezoin talmud chachumim. no! your not better then anyone your trying to condemn in fact you’re much worse, since you’re considering your self educated.
This Story should have not happen no question about it, but yet the details are unclear, what the media says is 100% not true as we see all the time, we all know what the media likes, and we all know to whom the media spoke, a bunch of Bums.
Mr. Rottenberg should have a speedy refuah shelaima and the accused should also. I think the link of Mr. Rottenberg speaking should be posted for all to see, he wants peace and ahavas yisroel too.
The fact remains there are 3 sides to every story and to date we have only heard one side. New Square and The Rebbe did not come out and tell their side to the story and the Rottenbergs never released the surveillance tape of what actually took place. so before we all become the prosecutor, judge and jury all in one one, let us be torah following Jews and in the mean time believe and practice the words in the mishnah ” hevei dan ess KOL ADAM LKAV ZCHUS”
the skver rebbe should take a lesson in PR from the Spinka rebbe. the first step is to admit fault for what has caused this terrible act, not to deny persecuting dissent.
I’m reading VIN for a nice couple of years. And following this news what happened in Skver from the beginning. Saw all the comments of all type of people. But… What makes me throw up is the few people who’re bashing all the Chasidem for this or any other story. From the comments they write I see that there is the same few people thay when ever it comes up an issue of Chasidem they’re up and about…
Let me ask you a few questions.
1) I know their are fights in Satmar, is there any other Chasides or even community in the world who is doing soooo much Chesed for someone else??? When it comes to help there will be not even one Satmar Chused who will look which Chused he is. They’ll even help any Tziyoini who cursed them out on any blog or site and titled them as Sonei Yisroel… I’m not gonna say that this makes them right. But, don’t talk with such a big mouth against the whole issue of Chasides! Don’t come up that not this was wanted by the Baal Shem Tov Hk’, I’m sure that what you do especially talking and knocking hundreds of thousands of Yiden was also not wanted by your Gedoilem & the Gr”u ztz”l.
2) Let’s look into your circle. There was major fight in Ponvitz Yeshiva, not Chasidem! Were you also there to condemn the incident? Or you closed your eyes? Did any of the Rushei Yeshivas or sides come out to say that we did a big mistake? They also went to court & fought non stop, wasn’t it such a Chilul HaShem as when any Chasudes went to court?
3) Yes! Problem happens all over. But… As long there is a benefit for others (the competition in Satmar brought us Chasina Takunas & high standard of Kashrus & many more) just sit aside and watch. So far fights between the modern people & Litvisha didn’t bring anything to Klal Yisroel!!!
Thanks for listening… I wanted to write this so long ago, but now I felt I have to…
I have a bigger issue with Rabbi Frankfurter making comments about how wonderful Skver is. A reporter needs to be objective and should let his opinions influence his/her reporting, otherwise he is a columnist/opinionator. In this case he should report what the Rebbe and whomever else he’s interviewed said . His comments suggest that they were the condition for him being granted the interview with the Rebbe that will surely guarantee the selling out of the issue. I’ll take the gamble and say now, before i’ts been published, that Ami will portray Skvere, The Skvere Rebbe and shtetl as the perfect and ideal place on earth to live,
It looks like the the Rebbe is doing the right thing. The only thing I would like him to add is to make the bochor who set this fire to visit his victims in the hospital. I have personally seen someone hospitalized from severe burns and I think if he sees with his own eyes what he did to another Yid it will be the last time he ever hurts someone.
How can Skver be considered a peace-loving community after the way they treat Breslov?
Skvere Chassidim consider the word “Breslov” a dirty word. When forced to refer to Breslov, they call it “Beh”. Try it on any Skverer and you will see.
This Skvere Rebbe made the lives of a few known Breslover Chassidim in Monsey a living hell. Their families still remember how they were stalked by Skvere Chassidim, threatened and coerced into divorces, property damaged, etc. for the crime of one of them having joined a Melaveh Malka in Skvere. Anyone can do a little research by the Brelovers in Monsey and confirm this.
When Reb Luzer Kenig, the Breslover Rav of Tzfas, went to visit the Skvere Rebbe, his meeting wasn’t reported in “B’Chatzros Kodsheini”, the Skvere weekly which reports on every “Rav” who visits him. Ask any Skverer for back issues and you can see for yourself.
Whenever the Skevere goes to EY, when he visits the Kosel or Meron his chassidim gather all of the Breslover seforim in sight and burn them. I have spoken to people who remember how when he was in Meron in the 1980s he presided over a bonfire of Breslover seforim.
I agree with #1 , #28 , & #30 . Bottom line: a human being was set on fire. Don’t try & excuse it as an unfortunate accident: the lunatic was trying to burn the house down while people slept. Either way, he intended this family serious harm & he succeeded in harming Mr. Rottenberg.
I just don’t get what’s wrong with the rest of you. Have you seen the video? Have you ever been to a burn unit & seen (& heard) the screams of agony from burn victims when their dressings are changed? I have.
Whether or not the Rebbe knew is another issue. I don’t think we’ll ever know but speculation is rife. Meanwhile, I too have a hard time with anyone equating the victim & the perpetrator. The term “alleged” assault?? How much more proof is needed?
I wish this Spitzer a refuah shleima, then he can rot in jail for 20 years. I honestly believe this is a case of collective community responsibility. No one has come forward to speak out in support of this family. Is there a gag order? What help & support is the family getting? Are they getting anything? Or are people saying it’s their own fault & they are still treated as pariahs? Glad I don’t live there. Ahavas Yisrael, anyone?
Hateful.
To be “dan lkaf zechus” does NOT mean to deny that a crime or aveiro occurred. That is simple denial and self-deception. To infer motives, to suggest conspiracy theories, etc. is the area where we are applying judgment, and that requires us to be “DAN lekaf zechus”.
Having stated this, my take is that we know limited (but painful) information. We know about the tragic assault (not alleged but actual). We presume we know the perpetrator (in light of no denial of that fact, I accept it as truth). We have no factual knowledge of who was behind it, what was intended (beyond that it was to damage), who else knew of the assault, who is defending it, the role of the rebbe, etc. It pains me to read the rage and vengeance written here based on assumptions and beliefs. Questions are indicated. The accusations, the foregone conclusions, the pronouncements are not.
We have fools who wish to tell a magazine what to write. We have more fools concluding that chassidus is equal to arson, violence, and hero worship. We have fools that justify horrific crime. And there are too many angry people who are directing everything at Skver without looking into their own mirrors.
Ami magazine is just spewing more Kool-Aid for the masses. The bottom line is that for years there have been notices sent out promoting and inciting action to be taken against those who do not follow all of their rules. Forget about a “peaceful, loving, selfless community.” There have been so many civil rights violations in New Square over the years without a single word against it from the rebbe, it is hard to believe his sincerity now.
One question explains it all!
Did the Rebbe visit Rottenberg?
If not, WHY????????
Reply # 59 I wanna understand what your saying, rav pollack was willing to give away his olem habo but not let him sell the house. This is quite contradicting.
What the Skverer and their supporters and yes men completely fail to understand and comprehend with their this was terrible, BUT, OR HAVING SAID THAT, ETC…
They are not living in back in a little shtetl in pre nazi europe. America has it’s rules and regulations and those include FREEDOM OF RELIGION. That means anyone can pray in ANY SHUL that they like. Skverer are about to find that out the hard way.
The Rebbe should have taken Damage Control 101.
Lesson #1 : Condemn a despicable act immediately and without ifs, ands or buts.
I hope the Rebbe learned his lesson now.
He really blew it.
A man is in critical condition in the hospital. Video footage in cyber space and police documents of prior incidents exist. Al this and NS is in spin mode. Disgusting. I can only hope the Rebbi is truly clueless of what those that surround him do to people in NS. Otherwise, he is not being truthful and that is beyond unthinkable.
I want to add one important point to No one, Why when someone buys a house in Skver he pays more than its value and when Skver desides he must go he gets less than nothing?.
“everyone who moves into Skver knows beforehand the rules and regulations, and if YOU decided to live there it means that you feel that you could go along with that. if you decide later that you want to change your lifestyle and move out,”
NS is an incorporated village in the State of New York in the United States of America. It is NOT a private country club. The Bill of Rights and civil liberties rule personal choices not dicta from the Rebbe. US Constitution 101 holds all the answers.
I AM NOT SKVERE BUT I HOLD OF ALL FRUM YIDDEN. From what I understand the one making the fire did not know anyone was home because they were away for Shabbos and came home at 2 am. So I dont think anyone would burn down a house with people inside. If the victim would of just gave a loud yell the kid would of run away and nothing would of happened but instead he confronted the kid and tried pulling away his scarf to get his identity. This caused both of them to get injured as in any fight both sides get hurt if there is a physical confrontation.. The Rebbe never told anyone to burn down a house ,certainly not a kid who just turned 18 years old that day. No one would trust a kid to do such a job. SKVERE HAS DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PEOPLE LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE. They need to create another skvere community to seperate the elite chassidim to the more materialistic types. Just as there is a marines and navy seals as elite units compared to the regular army which is less elite. Maybe just maybe a shidduch could be made with the victims daughter and the 18 year old and that could of been the purpose of this unfortunate incident.
Reply to # 76 I know for a fact that they give problem for anyone moving out from square, and I know of dreidlech they do with people that wanna move out from square and they have section 8 and most of the time they are forced to stay if they don’t wanna lose there section 8 that’s with plain people and for someone that davens in a different shul they really give you big problems to sell your house .
you have no idea what the h%&
your talking about.
Mr. rottenberg loves his children just like anyone else and want the best chinuch for them. the fact that one of them aren’t leading the same life style as main-stream skver is unfortunate, but he’s doing the right thing and still has a close relationship with all of his children. but do you know that there are many new square families who have drop-outs? yes including one of the rebbes children.
i wouldn’t go into explaing my phylosiphy as to why there are so many drop-outs there but that’s the fact.
Number 59 was rightfully deleted, who is this rabbi pollack who is so sure he has oilom habu in these days, and he is so readely prepared to give it away while he is trying to push mr rottenberg out of skver and make him lose his house, I think if he will help mr rottenberg he may gain some oilom habu
He is different.
He does not follow the rules of the community.
He does not belong.
We need to get him out.
We will do whatever is needed.
No one cares about him.
We’ll use fire to get rid of him.
That will also teach others.
Final Solution in NS.
No. 91 you are comparing heaven to earth a kehila can force it members to buy matzah from them but can not force them to daven where they do not want as long as it is al pi haloche
number 103 you are crazy and a danger to the publick or you must be trying for some reason to hurt and shame skver
To the one who posted comments about Rottenberg’s family and his kids, I hope all your kids grow up to be tsadikim and you should never no about all the stories going on today. His kids looked Yiddish to me, what degree of yiddishkeit is none of our business, they sure don’t look like the type who would burn a person alive.
(Reply to #105 ):
Actually, #103 ’s comment is quite accurate and insightful. Conceptually, #103 shows that scapegoats, in ANY context, are subjected to a pattern of treatment.
First the victim is intimidated, then demonized, marginalized, ostracized, and eventually attacked and dealt with violently. In psychological terms it’s called “scapegoating.” It can be seen throughout history. It happens in schools, families, and workplaces every day. It happens in both religious and non-religious communities. And now it happened in Skver.
It doesn’t happen overnight. There’s always a buildup. We need to understand how human beings operate in order to eliminate this type of bullying and intimidation in the future. Those who keep silent as they witness this behavior are just as guilty as the perpetrators.
it seems that many here seem to forget this is not a one time incident. There has been other complaints from other people about intimidation
and what happens if one misses a tish the rebbies muscle comes and tell you I think it would be better if you come next week.
this is not the way of a rebbie it is the way of a dictator. Good thing he does not run a country.
He was born into the rebbie position. Just because his father was a tzadduk and a good rebbie does not mean his son will be.
a rebbie position should be earned not an inheritance.
The rebbie simply should step down for the communities good if he really is lasam shmeiam that is what he would do
Happy 18th birthday, Mr. Spitzer. Now that you are legally an adult, you can be tried as an adult. Get ready for a nice long time in a cell with Leroy, Jamal & Bubba.
Once again, it is sad to see many posts here blaming the victim and/or referring to fanatics as “elite.” Really people?! While chassidus can be a wonderful thing, and I would never disparage any particular righteous chassidic individual, this tragedy underscores a problem with the very basis of modern day chassidus (which is not what former chassidic masters had in mind; in fact, they would probably be rolling over in their graves right now if they saw what their movement has become.) These are plain and simple religious fanatics, kept under the rebbe’s iron fist through poverty and lack of education. Those that see it for what it really is are intimidated, ostracized, and subject to violence and attacks. And to all those that think that these New Square rules and regulations are somehow justified because it is their community: Shame on you. The same privilege given to us by the United States of America that has allowed us to practice our religion openly and without fear should be accorded to everyone, and everyone should have the choice to daven wherever they want without having to fear for their safety. Shame on you. Your bigotry and double standards have no place here.
Going back to last week, and that unfortunate televised confrontation outside the Rottenberg house, I had always thought that “Jewland” was Medinat Yisrael.