Hempstead, NY – Yeshiva Teen Arraigned On Facebook Bomb Threat Says Target Was School Principal

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    Hempstead, NY – At the arraignment yesterday of the 16 year-old yeshiva student from Woodmere charged with positing terrorist threats against his school on Facebook, prosecutors told a District Court judge that the target of the teen’s angst was the school’s assistant principal who had suspended him last Friday for texting in class.

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    NEWSDAY.com (http://bit.ly/ZByfKv) is reporting that the student, 16 year-old Joel Levy from Woodmere, admitted to police that he made the post on Monday because he was upset over the suspension handed down by Rabbi Yossi Bennett, Assistant Principal at the Mesivta Ateres Yaakov school.

    Prosecutors read excerpts from Levy’s Facebook post in which he claimed to have “all kinds” of “explosives,” and named “Bennett’s office” as his primary target.

    According to prosecutors, Levy said he wanted to “blind, torture, and maim” Rabbi Bennett with “nails.”

    Facebook friends of Levy alerted authorities to the threats after he posted them on Monday.

    Rabbi Bennett told police Levy was suspended because he refused to hand over his phone and “stormed” out of the school after being caught texting in class.

    Levy was arraigned on the felony charge of making a terrorist threat, and a misdemeanor charge of aggravated harassment.

    Judge Douglas Lerose issued a protective order against Levy prohibiting him from contacting Rabbi Bennett, and set bail at $50K.

    Levy was released later in the day after posting bond.


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    31 Comments
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    10 years ago

    To all the bleeding hearts: We have bleeding bodies in Boston et. al. resulting from those who act out on such theats. They are intolerable in a free society and we shouldn’t rationalize why some “troubled bohur” should not be punished. He should be charged and tried as an adult terrorist and punished to the fullest extent of the law if found guilty. We’ve got to establish a clear and zero tolerance deterrent so these kids/adults simply know that even if they joke about bombings, they will pay a terrible personal price for their grotesque effort at humor, retaliation, or whatever reason they give for posting such threats.

    Brooklynhocker
    Brooklynhocker
    10 years ago

    Nice of Bennett to drop the charges once the police searched Levy’s home. Another “tattala” that wishes he was more like Rabbi Y. Bender. This is Chinuch at it finest for todays generation.

    shalom36
    shalom36
    10 years ago

    Yossi was the second best Dorm counslor Ner Yaakov ever had. 1st place hands down goes to to Doolie.

    Nedivah
    Nedivah
    10 years ago

    It seems to be that he has a serious mental problem. He needs to be evaluated and this should be a condition for his return to any school. He is bursting with violence and anger and if this is not addressed, he may eventually act on it

    The IDF is quite good in their assessments and would never accept such an individual. Our soldiers are faced with tremendous challenges including ongoing Arab attempts to harass and provoke incidents. This fellow we surely don’t need

    allmark
    allmark
    10 years ago

    Why was his name released? He is only 16 years old. I thought the names of minors who are arrested are typically not released publicly.

    Geulah
    Geulah
    10 years ago

    Are we really so pretentious and smug that we feel that the lives of others are so incomplete without our constancy? Have we watered down our lives to the point where our self-respect is as disposable as tissue paper? Navel lint examiners are going to process this child’s actions and assess blame. What about responsibility, was there a gun put to Levy’s head that made him act out in the manner that he did, was there a game on of one up man ship or privilege (I’m paying money to be entertained at your school and when I’m not I’ll entertain myself). The military wouldn’t want this selfish and self-centered brat amongst them and I’m trying to figure out what we want him for as well. His friends are obviously appalled by his behavior, although I doubt they’ll condemn it in the entirety it deserves.

    10 years ago

    If this were a goy, everyone would want the kid punished. We spoil our kids too much and then when they commit a crime, we buy them a car. This kid has no chance to be a law abiding citizen. Eventually, he will wind up behind bars where he belongs. A restraining order was issued against him which means the courts feel he is still a threat to the poor Rabbi.

    Phineas
    Phineas
    10 years ago

    The boy is obviously troubled but had no materials and thus no intention of carrying out the attack. Just a teenager inappropriately expressing himself. It was right to get the police involved and the boy should be required to get counseling under the supervision of the judicial system. Incarceration is completely inappropriate.

    Bigshorty
    Bigshorty
    10 years ago

    So glad we are all free to judge because we know 100% of the story. Wait, we don’t. From either the student or the principal.

    Grumpy
    Grumpy
    10 years ago

    Kid isn’t rich or spoiled, rather has issues. What he did was very wrong and frightening. But some of the posters here are simply mean and hateful. The right thing to do would be for them to stop.

    clear-thinker
    clear-thinker
    10 years ago

    It has been shown that people who carry out attacks such as these often talk about them with friends or on facebook. One can not be sure if Levy was just mouthing off or might have acted on his threats.
    Does he need therapy? Should he be incarcerated? This will be up to the judicial system. One thing is clear. Threats such as these cannot be ignored because he is a a “boychickle”

    CanadianGuy
    CanadianGuy
    10 years ago

    20 years ago this boy would have written a journal entry in a notebook. Maybe his kid sister would have read it 10 days later. The digital era means disaster is a click away. One more reason to advocate reduced internet use.

    10 years ago

    After Adam Lanza, everything is taken very seriously!!! Beware Kids and Parents!

    MAYMOM
    MAYMOM
    10 years ago

    I would like to set the record straight here. My son is in this boys class, and I have other sons that attended Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. This boy is not a spoiled boy. He is a sweet boy from an exceptionally fine family. He has some issues with impulse control, and says things without thinking. Noone involved really believes for a second that he was going to harm anyone. He unfortunately was very angry, and expressed himself in a very inappropriate over the top way. His classmates are very sensitive to his issues and are devastated for him. Rabbi Bennett is a Tzadick. Just speak to any Talmud who ever had him. They call him for guidance years later. Rabbi Jaffe and his faculty show love and compassion for each child like I have never seen before. Just speak to any Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel. The Ateres Yaakov boys are the most mentchlach well rounded boys. What this boy needs now is love and compassion from all of klal Yisrael. We want him to get the help he so badly needs. He does not belong in jail. He is an angry confused kid. He can be helped. Shame on all of you judgemental people who are so easily willing to throw away a yiddishe neshama without knowing the facts

    10 years ago

    True story. One of my students in Phila. got upset with a teacher and the principal and said he was going to kill both of them. He came to school with a gun and killed the teacher. Google Samson Freedman, Philadelphia teacher and you will see. The student came from a fine family with lots of love and caring.

    No one really knows if this bochur has it in him to hurt someone. Stop defending him and denying he did harm just because he is a yid.

    MAYMOM
    MAYMOM
    10 years ago

    No One is denying that he needs a lot of hep. The fact is that nobody can say he was going to harm anyone. Until that is determinrd you can’t condemn him.

    MAYMOM
    MAYMOM
    10 years ago

    And by the way he is not off the derech