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New Square Dissident Burned by Attacker

JTA

New Square, NY. Illustration photo.

A member of a dissident congregation in the Chasidic village of New Square, N.Y., suffered severe burns after confronting a suspected arsonist outside his home.

The Journal News reported that Aaron Rottenberg, 43, suffered third-degree burns on 50 percent of his body after he confronted a man carrying a rag soaked in flammable liquid outside his home early Sunday morning. During the confrontation, Rottenberg’s clothes caught on fire.

Ramapo police later arrested Shaul Spitzer, 18, on assault and attempted arson charges. Spitzer had burns on his hands and arms.

Rottenberg’s family and other members of the dissident congregation reportedly have faced violence and harassment in the homogenous town dominated by the Skverer Chasidic sect. Spitzer, one television station reported, is said to be a live-in butler for the sect’s rebbe.

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10 Comments

  • No Shortage

    I don’t get it. Did we run short on machlokes in Crown Heights, or in Lubavitch, so that we have to now hear about other Jews’ machlokes?

  • V-hamavin Yavin

    Let this serve as a cautionary tale for what machlokes within a community can lead to if left unchecked.

  • ch

    It was b/c this guy Rotenberg did not davan by the main skvar shule. why cant they mind ther own bussness.

  • CS

    the arsonist is the true dissident. Nebach. Thats what they call Torah and Mitzvos?
    Let this serve as an example of machlokes but also that we all have to know what our own people are doing. how horrible, horrible. I wish refuoh shleima for the victim and refuoh shleima for the arsonist.

  • TO 1 AND 2

    GUYS THIS IS CRIMINAL AND IT DESERVES TO BE IN THE NEWS, JEWS SHOULD STAND UP AND OPPOSE THIS CRIME!

  • hc

    i love lubavitch Sure we have disagreements, and when it really gets hot and angry we send out flyers, hand posters, make comments on info… Thats it

  • CR

    “I wish refuoh shleima for the victim and refuoh shleima for the arsonist.”

    I wish refuoh shleima for the victim and for the arsonist to be brought to justice quickly and made to answer for his horrific crime! Aroor makeh rei’eihu basoseir!

  • BS--D

    BS”D
    Thee is no justification for hurting another Yid to my humble knowledge.
    People need to know Ahavas H’, and Derech HaTorah before they learn to read Tosafos.