Rockland County, NY – The FBI is working with Ramapo police on an investigation into an attack that left a Hasidic dissident with third-degree burns over half his body, authorities said Friday.
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“They will assist us and will not take over the case,” said Ramapo Detective Lt. Mark Emma. “If they determine federal crimes have been committed, they will make a determination on whether to pursue them.”
Police and the FBI will not only investigate the attempt to burn down the home of Aron Rottenberg, 43, but also months of vandalism, harassment and threats in the Hasidic Jewish village, Emma said.
FBI spokesman Tim Flannelly declined to comment, saying the bureau’s policy is not to discuss whether there is an investigation. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara also declined to comment.
If federal authorities do decide to pursue a case, they would likely look at potential violations of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, said a former federal prosecutor .
“I think if they have jurisdictional grounds, this would be something they would look at,” said Kenneth P. Thompson, who, as an assistant U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, prosecuted five New York City police officers in the 1997 assault of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima.
It’s a sad story & the article in the Ami did little for me. It was more a PR for the Skverer Rebbi.
Ohhh. Heilige Bashefer.
When will this massive Chilul Hashem stop????
Soon to learn that New Square is in America and not “Jew Country”.
Sadly, many people in Skver have been hurt by the aggressive enforcement of ‘rules’, but few have the courage to come forward. I think that Skverers may rally round the Rebbe to ‘protect’ him. It is like a dysfunctional family: when the abuse is revealed oftentimes the children cling to the abusive parent. It takes courage, and clarity to admit to the abuse and speak out/leave the ‘clan’. May G-d grant the people the courage to face the challenges ahead with honesty and strength.
new square chasidim are hated by their Ramapo neighbors. even if the Feds don’t prosecute, too much political influence by religious groups breeds hatred and resentment. rebbes should avoid politics, or they will be dragged down into the shmutz.
Every place has there own problems! Its not nice to talk about anyone else’s! We can learn from this story ,don’t be a wise guy! In the end 2 people are in hospitals in pain! No matter who is right or wrong. Let’s not be happy with some else tzuras! There is pay back in the end for everyone(hopefully in the good way)! After all new square is the only yiddish own village in the world that’s based on the ways of once upon! We will all wish our children should grow up in that village.
yes I’m repeating my self every place has there own trouble,but let them handle it on there own don’t mix in, in the end there is 2 fellow jewish brothers badly hurt in pain! Let’s pray for a full speedy recovery.
the article in the ami was a complete nothing until you dont interview spitzer, rottenberg and the pple in ns whats the point. what do you think the rebbe will say in an interview that he paid for.
(Reply to #5 ):
You said it, Raisy!
As the product of a dysfunctional family,
I can attest to the way
most family members cover for the abuser, and make it difficult for victims and witnesses to come forward, tell the truth and stop the abuse. You are right on the money when you say that the average Skver person will defend the Rebbe ’til the bitter end. It’s part of the dysfunction. Part of the lack of courage and clarity. Your post reveals keen psychological insight. How’d you get to be so smart? Please keep the comments coming, girl! They’re helpful in understanding the real story here.
I don’t understand how we jewish people children of hasem can be happy and even talk about how we can put other yiddish children into trouble, we gotta pray it should come sulem and achdis in klal yisruel, & people should use their mind before they act stupid.
I recommend that VIN stop posting articles about this incident. The track record for all previous articles here is that many commenters just use this space to attack people they don’t know and never met, making some of the worst accusations. For one, I will stop opening these articles. I have no problem with normal dialogue. But the rage that is being misdirected all over the place has risen to the intolerable.
Did the Rebbe pay for the AMI interview? I think not.
Acting like thugs? I think not.
I bet NS has its problems, like BP, Willi, Flatbush, 5 towns, Lakewood, Monsey., and any other concentrations of frum population. OTD kids, drugs, alcohol, white collar crime, and lots of others. Instead of throwing all this dirt, how about doing something constructive. Even Rottenberg used a chance to speak publicly to ask that others visit the residents of the nursing home. Not one word anti-Skver. Learn from him. Any suggestions? Or are many of you too busy with your own anger?
I don’t know what the end will be with this. But, I HOPE that this is a wake up call for all CHASIDUS. Heyudayim yedia eisuv. Don’t burn, don’t hit etc. We say every month by chodesh bentching, mi sheooshe nisim, and it ends hi yigal oisonuh ,CHAVERIM KOL YISROEL. I think it means in order for us to merit the geileh shelameh , we must be chaverim. Let’s make a kabooleh for shevius, like at matan torah keish echos b’lev echod !
The Ami captured the essence of the issue which many do not understand. The Skver Rebbe is not like loud politicians who will live through sound bites and yelling politically correct stuff. His silence and holiness is real and it is something many do not understand. There definitely needs to be more control over some of the other leaders and hotheads who may (?) have been well meaning but were certainly doing the wrong thing.
To all those who condone illegal behavior in the name of religion, if u want to engage in illegal behavior be prepared to pay the price. If you think your G-d wants you to treat ppl, especially his own ppl, in the harsh, crude, intimidating way those folks treat each other, you hv a lot to learn. It is no different from the way islamic fundamentalists hv distorted islam. lehavdil.
there is no toubt in my mind that if the rabbi would had made his this is not our derech speech 3 weeks ago this would not of happend he could of stoped it a long time ago ,,,,IF ONLY HE WANTED
According to the New York State Penal Code, if someone tries to burn your house down while you are inside, or attack you with deadly force (in this case fire), one is justified in using deadly force to stop the attack. In this case, the victim would have been justified in shooting dead, the perpetrator of this horrendous attack.
anyone equating spitzer w the victim is also brainwashed. a defense of blindly following ones leaders — sounds like nazi defense to me