Brooklyn, NY – From near and far, the family of 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky is surrounded by a grieving community and some are coming from thousands of miles away to pay their respects.
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A steady stream of mourners — men, women, a state senator, an NYPD inspector — all have come to the Kletzky home hoping to console the inconsolable.
“Nobody talking. Nobody talk,” said family friend Jacob Vizl, who described the scene upstairs behind closed doors, the family clearly silent, grieving, crushed.
“They’re taking it very, very bad,” said Vizl.
“It’s quiet, somber,” said retired NYPD Sgt Lawrence Bach.
The Kletzys have been in the Jewish custom of shiva, or seven days of intense mourning. A week ago, the dismembered body of their son was found in two different Brooklyn locations. Levi Aron, 35, was arrested and charged with the boy’s murder.
Those making shiva calls said the visits are brief, no more than three minutes long. It is all the family can bear. The small apartment can only hold about 15 people at one time.
Bach, who spent 12 years on the beat in Borough Park, said he is haunted by Leiby’s father’s anguish.
“You can see the pain on the gentleman’s face. It’s hard to describe,” said Bach. “Only he can feel the pain. You know, it’s tough.”
Binyomin Ginsberg came all the way from Minneapolis, Minn.
“Such a tragedy,” said Ginsberg. “How could I not show support?”
Ginsberg had never met the Kletzkys until now.
“We’re supposed to comfort the mourners, but in a sense, everybody coming is a mourner,” said Ginsberg. “We’re all mourning this child.”
A community of mourners, thousands of them, are coming from far and wide because they couldn’t stay away.
A friend of Leiby Kletzky’s father said he counseled him to concentrate on continuing to raise his family and try to have joy together.
how do we deal with fact that so so many of our own kinderlach are turning to drugs and even marijuana changes the brain function unless we do more to save them we will have alot of strange hallucinating off the d yidden in our future any ideas
The mayor and Kelly were just there. I just came from there. Made the trip from Monsey
Its wonderful to see how much support the family is getting from the political and religious leadership of New York. Sadly, however, there are hundreds of other New York families whose children disappear or are killed every year who don’t get a fraction of the attention and support. Without taking anything away from the tragedy of the Keltzky family, it would be nice if some of this support could be “reserved” for others who have suffered tragedies.
Until when are they sitting shiva?
Hamakom Yinachem Eschem Bisoch Shaar Availay Tzion V’Yirushalaem.
why does everyone think it is a good thing that so many strangers are piling into the Kletzky’s home because they can’t keep away. I understand the horror we are all feeling and the desire to try and comfort his family, but unless someone really does know them from before, now is not the time to bombard the family! There are other ways to show support such as writing letters, joining the email condolences etc.. that can give strangers an outlet for the emotion we are all feeling, but to actually show up to be menachem avel at the home right now is probably more of a burden to the family then a help. Certainly politicians who were not involved in the search do not belong there. The only people that should be going should be those who would have gone if Leiby had been niftar in a more usual way. Those people can actually maybe offer some nechoma or at least be a source of support to the family. The rest of us should stay away and do what we can from afar such as say Tehilim, make a kabalah, learn l’ilui neshmoso etc..
reply to quote #3.
idiot!!never ever did such a story happen to our community or elsewhere in new york city!!!even the lowest of the goyim are horrified!!!next time dont bother writing such a stupid message
Tens of thousands of complete strangers from around the country pouring into the Kletzkys small apartment in three minute stints when they are already in complete shock? While it may make the visitor feel better, it’s hard to see how that comforts the family. I think a card, letter of condolence and donation to a charity in Leibey’s name is more appropriate
How many people who don’t even know the Kletsky’s are crowding into their apartment just because it’s a high profile situation. Instead of being voyeurs at their grief why not think of some other ways to honor the memory of Leiby OB”M. Learn a perek mishnayos, learn a halachah, bake challah, make a donation to a worthy cause like Shomrim or Camp Nechmod.
Let’s take it to the bottom line here. There will always be those critical of any good deed that it was performed with alterior motives. Just address the facts here: 1) the fact that people come to console the berieved family IS consoling,regardless of the reason. Not showing up is even worse. SO if the community is bonding together to show their feeling, whether in search for Leiby ZL or to console the family, give them the thumbs up. Don’t split hairs on technicalities
I don’t think it’s appropiate to be menach avel people you have never met. I think it is pure morbid curiosity and mob mentality.
Just so a yenta can say, “I was by the Kletzkys .” It makes them feel important.