On the morning of May 22, 2011, a Hasidic Jew was seriously burned trying to defend his New Square, New York house from a firebombing. Now on May 26, 2011, the victim's lawyer is asking for a civil rights investigation and police are investigating a connection between the terrorist attack and a feud between sections of the Hasidic New Square community. The feud may go all the way up to David Twersky, Grand Rebbe of the Skver Sect.
Attempted Firebombing in New Square, New York Leaves Two Seriously Burned
According to Ramapo police, who have jurisdiction over New Square, Aron Rottenberg, 43, was attacked by Shaul Spitzer, 18, at 4:12 A.M. Spitzer allegedly carried a rag soaked with flammable liquid, and attempted to set Rottenberg’s house on fire while Rottenberg and his family were inside. When Rottenberg confronted Spitzer, he was set on fire.
At a press conference on May 26th, Rottenberg’s lawyer, Michael Sussman, demanded a civil rights probe into the incident, claiming that the attack was religiously based. The call has yet to be answered.
the crowd remained sharply divided on the incident. One protestor, Shulem Sofer, tried to shout down the Sussman. Sofer said that burning down the house was justifiable because Rottenberg broke Grand Rebbe Twersky's laws.
Sussman replied that in America you can pray where you want, but Sofer countered that he followed the laws of the Grand Rebbe, shouting “I live in Jew Land!”
Rottenberg suffered third degree burns to half of his body. Spitzer was also burned on the hands and arms. Spitzer is currently out of custody on $300,000 bail, but still hospitalized.
Police Investigate Connection to Grand Rebbe David Twersky’s Temple
Ramapo police believe that the attack was provoked by a rift within the normally unified Hasidic community. Rottenberg attends a different temple from the majority of the community. Most, including Spitzer, in New Square attend the community temple led by Grand Rebbe David Twersky. Twersky is the worldwide dynastic leader of Skveric Hasidim and spiritual leader of New Square.
Twersky is also a direct descendent of the Ba’al Shem Tov, the spiritual leader and founder of Hasidim. The attack occurred during the Hasidic holiday of Lag B’Omer. Bonfires are central to the celebration.
Is the New Square Hasidic Population Destroying Itself?
The New Square community remains divided on the attack, and on the feud as well. Some neighbors say that “in America, people have the right to pray wherever they choose without fear of retribution,” Even some who condemn Rottenberg for leaving Twersky’s temple have denounced the violence.
However, this is not the first time that the dissenters in the community have been harassed. Rottenberg’s wife claims that they have been harassed before. Their car windows were smashed and their 15 year old daughter was kicked out of school. There were also two other suspicious fires recently in New Square, one in May and the other in September.
New Square is a Hasidic town in Rockland County, New York, forty minutes from New York City. It has its own ordinances, zoning codes, and laws. They are also a powerful voting block, and have succeeded in blocking the East Ramapo school budgets in the past few years. Rockland politicians often have difficulty getting elected without the support of the Hasidic voting block.
How this terrorist attack will effect New Square, Rockland County, and the entire New York City area has yet to be seen. This story will undoubted continue to grow unless the feud in ended.
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