New City, NY – Rockland DA: Attempted Murder Indictment in Skver Arson Dispute

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    New City, NY – An 18-year-old student from a Hasidic Jewish enclave has been indicted on an attempted murder charge in a fiery attack on a religious dissident.

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    Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Thursday that Shaul Spitzer of New Square was also charged with attempted arson and assault.

    The case has brought unusual attention to New Square, an insular village of 7,000 people, nearly all of them members of the Skver Hasidic sect. The sect takes its name from the Ukrainian village of Skver, where its members had been decimated during the Holocaust and for which New Square is named.

    In the pre-dawn hours of May 22, Aron Rottenberg of New Square suffered burns over half his body when he confronted someone carrying a flammable liquid outside his home.

    “As I grabbed him … we both just burst into flames,” a scarred Rottenberg said at a news conference Wednesday. He was released Monday from a hospital.

    Relatives said they were watching for an attack because they had endured broken windows and threats ever since Rottenberg began worshipping at a nearby nursing home instead of the main synagogue.

    Police arrested Spitzer, who was also burned, and said he was trying to burn down Rottenberg’s house.

    Spitzer’s attorney, Kenneth Gribetz, denied the allegations.

    “Mr. Spitzer has expressed tremendous remorse and sorrow for whatever injuries were caused,” Gribetz said. “He had no intention whatsoever to cause any injury to anybody in the home or to murder anybody.”

    Spitzer also did not plan to burn down the house, Gribetz said.

    Rottenberg’s family has alleged in a lawsuit that the attack was directed by Grand Rebbe David Twersky because of Rottenberg’s defiance.

    “Definitely the community leaders are involved in this,” Rottenberg said.

    Twersky has decried the attack and has not been charged.

    Gribetz said Thursday that Spitzer has denied that Twersky encouraged or even knew about the attack.

    Spitzer is to be arraigned Friday.

    An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.


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    113 Comments
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    BinderDundat
    BinderDundat
    12 years ago

    “Spitzer’s defense attorney denied the charges.”
    Hmm, he was caught red-handed. Was he planning to have a campfire and roast marshmallows? in someone else’s back yard at 4 AM? yes, that must be it!!

    12 years ago

    Like one of the the president’s said “”A communistic leader is a thing that cant last for ever its just a matter of time””

    12 years ago

    please lets have in mind before we write any comment it should not have any loshon horo or blow the fire of machlokes. we all need moshiach should come soon. lets not keep him away.

    mannie
    mannie
    12 years ago

    bad news for klal yisroel. why why are jews going in court and fighting like this, both sides should restrain.

    noahz6
    noahz6
    12 years ago

    nebech, they are going to throw him under the bus. no support from the community, that way it will show that he acted on his own.

    thewillyguy
    thewillyguy
    12 years ago

    Reply to #6 the biggest question is why would a yid want to kill anther yid ? And you only worry about court what kind of yid are you?

    Monseyer
    Monseyer
    12 years ago

    If I would be the judge I would send this boy to a good psychiatrist to go through an un-skver-ification process on his mind, and throw the leadership behind bars.

    This boy was trying to be a hero. He was indoctrinated in believing that burning down a house with 5 people in it, is a good deed – a mitzvah!

    I’m not pointing a finger at the Rebbe. I don’t believe the r

    ebbe would condone anything like this. But I believe the skver kehila sent this boy with exact instructions, and they should pay for it!

    Unfortunately the skver kehila is still in power and still using this poor boy.

    12 years ago

    its true that spitzer has to be punised.but on the other hand its so unfortunate that community leaders, knowing that action have consequences didn’t do anything that can land them in prison, but instead they got an 18 year old bucher- who is probably ignorant knows nothing besides the rebba and square – so excited to do something stupid like this.

    ConcernedMember
    ConcernedMember
    12 years ago

    I think #6 and others keep forgetting something. Had Rottenberg not interfered with Spitzer the whole house would have been set on fire. Remember the pictures of the wooden porch etc? It would have gone up in flames in seconds. A whole FAMILY would have died. Children as well! And you worry about court? This man went to murder a family. Fire is not something to play with. Fire spreads and people die. Now he has to face the consequences for the fire he tried to set.

    12 years ago

    Why are we so quick to indict a whole community and believe all the rumors flying around this case? Chassidishe politics aside, this individual could have acted on his own. The Skvere Rebbe would never have endorsed such heinous act by anyone. He is a pious, well-loved leader known for his chessed and integrity. This horrible episode must be hurting him to no end. Unfortunately there are less-than-savvy individuals in all sects who misinterpret situations and undertake what they foolishly perceive to be acts of heroism. For anybody here to make assumptions or judgements is wrong and only adds fuel to the fire.

    12 years ago

    Rabbosai! RELAX!!! #5 & #6 are, sadly, not with the program. Me? As one who asked Daas Torah if I should go to court (& I listened & follow their Psak!!) I say…GOOD NEWS.

    This case is past the stage of withdrawing charges. It went out of Mr. Rottenburg’s hands when Spitzer tried to turn him into a fireball. How he’ll get out of this one I can only wait with dread to find out. How do you say CHILUL HASHEM in Skvereze???

    emesdig
    emesdig
    12 years ago

    Everyone condemns the philosophy of skver, but lets take a moment and do what Chahmeinu Z”L asked us to do, and that’s _V’havei Dun Es *KOL ODOM* Lekaf Zechus_.

    Yes the Skverer are narrow minded people, they think that the Rebbe is everything and everything is the Rebbe. But are you familiar with their history? do you know how many conflicts the the Skvere Rebbe avoided, he was known for 43 years for a person of Sholom-peace, he had the Viznitzer Rebbe on his back and he avoided every possibility of making machlokes, he had his other BIL the Rachmestrivka Rebbe with whom he peacefully departed and yes go into the Rachmestrivka shul and listen to what evil they have to say, but ask a yungerman in New Square he would be completely unaware of anything related to a conflict.

    By chasunas and major tishen there’s complete seder the Skverer Rebbe can not take any pushing or fighting, and he not just said that they way of Skver is Deruchehu Darkei Noam it was always well practiced.

    Now for the story with Rottenberg, lets do a little history. This Village was created with Mesiras Nefesh Mamesh by the Skvere Rebbe Ztz”l who passed away in young age of 68 because of his Mesiras Nefesh >>

    emesdig
    emesdig
    12 years ago

    There’s a reason behind why he put in so much effort in making this Shtetel. He lived in Williamsburg where many machlokes was going on from a certain kehilla when he landed from the ship that brought him to America he right away said “ven ich volt zich nisht geshemt volt ich zich osgedreit in tzirik gefooren”, but all this didn’t push him to make the shtaitel only the machlokes of williamsburg convinced him to put in the effort he put in
    In Derheim there was usually only one fraction in every city, and the Kehilla had full authority on the Shul and everything but in America this stopped and there were hundred of fractions in every city, which he couldn’t take. So he decided that in his Village he doesn’t want to be like that because it brings conflicts.
    So far In New Square’s history there were many people that weren’t happy how things went and they were asked to leave peacefully which they did. The first person to refuse was this person named Chaim Aron Rotenberg who was in to make changes! And because Skver never dealt with something like this the “shvitzers” decided on their own to take action, and there slogan was that “if Kuhel cannot do enough for the rebbe than we will do”

    missyid
    missyid
    12 years ago

    To all those commentators still stuck on the concept of beit din – you do not understand how the “law of the land” works ….. The Rottenbergs have nothing to do with the fact that at this point in time an indictment was brought and a trial will be had. The DA brought the story to a grand jury and they do the indicting. The indictment is against the “alleged” criminal act. This is not a civil suit. If Rottenbergs want civil matters met, they may determine that a beit din is appropriate for that. But a DA and grand jury in the United States of America does not take accused attempted murderers to a beit din.

    MonseyLuke
    MonseyLuke
    12 years ago

    “It will be interesting to see if an attempt is made to have the defendant, Spitzer, incriminate the Skverer Rebbe in exchange for a lesser sentence.”

    I do not think that can happen in this County given the political structure.

    allmark
    allmark
    12 years ago

    Does anyone know who is paying for Spitzer’s attorney? Also, is he living at the Rebbe’s house like he was before the attack?

    emesdig
    emesdig
    12 years ago

    this wasn’t an official organized terror group everyone knew that they are the Talibans but no one ever thought what they are capable of doing. so no one stopped them. and this is what happened. someone has to belong in a psychiatric center to think that the Skvere Rebb was behind this. He might be narrow minded and think that in 2011 you can still think like 50 years ago. But to say that he had the least idea besides that the Kehilla is negotiating with him to move is foolish and absurd.

    emesdig
    emesdig
    12 years ago

    If someone really wants to teach a lesson in Chasidus than learn this weeks Moer Veshomesh on the Mishna איזהו מחלוקות לשם שמים

    emesdig
    emesdig
    12 years ago

    There’s a story that goes like this, When Reb Shimon Soifer son of the the Chasam Soifer had a strong hisnagdus in Krakaw when he was accepted there for Rav. So by the eintzigs drusha he told a story that when he was a child there was once a wedding near his fathers yeshiva and the made noise which disturbed the C”S so he sent his son a few times to ask them please to stop but the ignored him at the end the C”S told his on a Shem and said that he should tell the father that he knows a certain Shem which can kill him, this worked and they stopped. So Reb Shimon Soifer said to the audience I still remember that Shem!

    Question: is this Daas Tora to kill people for being against a Rabbinical position???

    oh you’ll answer that he had a Shem and it’s a different story. NO different story!! for being against him or for weakening his authority, he remembers a Shem that might kill them. Strange

    ExpatriateOwl
    ExpatriateOwl
    12 years ago

    #40 [allmark] says:

    “It will be interesting to see if an attempt is made to have the defendant, Spitzer, incriminate the Skverer Rebbe in exchange for a lesser sentence.”

    It would be even more interesting if the DA’s office were NOT thinking along those lines!

    noahz6
    noahz6
    12 years ago

    if it would be up to me i would explain to this spitzer guy what it is like to be in jail for years, until he understands it well, so he could feel the pain, also that if he informs the authoraties they minght lighten his sentance, and then maybe he will reveal who encouraged him to do this, it is important that the right people get punished.

    alter
    alter
    12 years ago

    Can anyone explain why Rottenberg has to keep the flame burning by talking to the media, posting clips, going on TV? The justice system is on it why does he have to wash laundry in public?

    BLONDI
    BLONDI
    12 years ago

    im sure if mr rottenberg would have gotten a fair market price for the value of his home, he would have moved out of the community a long time ago. and i still dont understand what is so terrible with him davening in a nursing home filled with lonely, old people. imho. he deserves what ever money he wins…hatzlocha mr rottenberg, and refuah shlama. third degree burns with grafting is very painful.

    rikki
    Member
    rikki
    12 years ago

    Wonder who’s paying for this high-powered attorney?

    rikki
    Member
    rikki
    12 years ago

    This is not a case to be settled out of court as this is out of the hands of Rottenberg, Skver or Spitzer’s family…a crime was committed and the State is pressing charges against the alleged perpetrator…he’s innocent until proven guilty…if Mr. Rottenberg Chas V’S. would have died then the charge would be for murder, not attempted murder…this is a serious charge. This is beyond some fight in Skver. Think about it, if this would happen to your father or loved one, how would you feel and react? This all is horrible!!!!

    raisy
    raisy
    12 years ago

    Emesdig,

    How do you explain the fact that the Rebbe and his family were aware that windows of cars were broken, children of mispallelim at Friedwald were expelled from school, and other aggressive acts–not negotiations–were going on and did nothing to stop this? “Kol she’yesh b’yado limchos v’eino mocheh….” Even though he may not have verbally ordered a ‘hit’ on A. Rottenberg, by staying silent about previous violence he is responsible for the consequences of his silence.

    12 years ago

    This whole parsha is mamash inyuna deyoma like korach duson and aviram went against moshe rabeinu as they felt he is brainwashing klal yisroel. They even had 250 roshei sanhedrin that backed them…
    The happy end was when all baalei machlokes got their well deserved punishment.

    MayerAlter
    MayerAlter
    12 years ago

    The indictment is excellent news. Maybe it will teach those of our community who think they can break the law with impunity that they cannot. Evert time a haredi breaks the law it creates another chillul hashem.

    MayerAlter
    MayerAlter
    12 years ago

    I do file my taxes and pay them on time. I don’t work under the table nor do I try and murder fellow yidden in the name of my Rebbe.

    dvd571
    dvd571
    12 years ago

    reply to #92 if you call these guys bums they are your bums and if someone doesnt daven with the rebbe but davens is a bum your whole yiddishkeit & hashkofe is screwd up we have a tora & shulchan orech to live by chassidus is an xtra curriculum after obeying the tora chassidus is beutiful