Shaul Spitzer of New Square enters the Rockland County Courthouse in New City Tuesday. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in the attack on fellow New Square resident Aron Rottenberg. / Ricky Flores/The Journal News
Aron Rottenberg, second from left, leaves the Rockland County Courthouse on Tuesday after his attacker, Shaul Spitzer, was sentenced to 7 years in state prison. / Ricky Flores/The Journal News
An 18-year-old New Square man who severely burned a village dissident during an arson attack got sentenced to seven years in state prison on Tuesday after apologizing for trying to burn Aron Rottenberg’s family out of the Hasidic Jewish village.
The attack on Rottenberg and others for refusing to pray in the village synagogue and other activities raised how the Hasidic Jewish theocracy in New Square controls the lives of residents and deals, harshly at times, with those who choose not to follow the grand rabbi’s dictates.
Rottenberg, a plumber still recovering from body burns across his chest from May’s attack, has blamed the grand rebbe, David Twersky, for inciting the violence against him, including Shaul Spitzer’s arson attack to his Truman Avenue house at 4 a.m. May 22.
On Tuesday, Rottenberg said he was satisfied with the state prison sentence given to Spitzer and he plans on moving his family out of New Square. The community agreed to buy his Truman Avenue house as part of a $2.3 million payout that ended a civil rights lawsuit against Spitzer and Twersky.
“I think that justice has been served,” Rottenberg said outside the courtroom at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City. “We’re pleased. We hope to meet again under different circumstances.”
Rottenberg, 44, who wears a glove on his injured right hand, had sat in the front row of the packed courtroom with his wife and children.
They listened without emotion as Spitzer apologized for trying to set Rottenberg’s house on fire and then setting off an incendiary device that set himself and Rottenberg on fire after Rottenberg wrestled with him.
More than 60 supporters of Spitzer, including his parents and family, attended and some prayed for him as state Supreme Court Justice William A. Kelly oversaw the sentencing.
Spitzer’s explanation for trying to burn down the Rottenberg home was to try and scare Rottenberg into moving from New Square. Rottenberg became a target of community protests and vandalism when he refused to pray in Twersky’s synagogue, becoming a symbol of defiance against Skver Hasidim leadership, especially among younger residents chaffing under the strict social rules.
White Plains, N.Y. - A teenager was sentenced today to seven years in prison for the firebomb attack that badly burned Aron Rottenberg during a dispute.
A defense attorney said the sentence was fair but worried about prison life for an 18-year-old who has “never seen TV, never been on the Internet, doesn’t know who Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter are.”
The teen had been charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to assault as potential jurors gathered for his trial in February.
The teen admitted that he attacked Aron Rottenberg, a plumber, outside Rottenberg’s home in May.
Rottenberg filed a lawsuit that the teen was acting on behalf of others and the lawsuit was settled for $2.3 million.
Rottenberg had asked Rockland County Court Judge William Kelly to be lenient with the teen, who was also burned, and the judge came down from the 10-year cap he had promised after the plea deal.
Defense attorney Kenneth Gribetz said the sentence was “fair and compassionate.” But he said he fears for the teen, who he said will be the rare inmate who has had “no exposure to the outside world.”
מחיר ההצתה: 7 שנות מאסר לשאול שפיצר הצעיר המצית מסקווירא
גזר דינו של שאול שפיצר, הצעיר בן ה-18 ששרף את ביתו של חסיד סקווירא אהרן רוטנברג,ניתן היום • בית המשפט הטיל על הנער עונש של 7 שנות מאסר • השרוף ביקש מהשופט להקל על הנער • מאות חסידים התכנסו לתפילות עבורו בעיירת סקוויר • האם הפרשה הכואבת באה לסיומה?
פרשת ההצתה בעיירת סקווירא שבניו-יורק מגיעה הערב (ב) לסיומה.
בית המשפט הטיל עונש כבד של 7 שנות מאסר על הבחור 'המצית', שאול שפיצר בן ה-18 שהודה בזריקת בקבוק תבערה לעבר ביתו של אהרון חיים רוטנברג. מה שגרם לפציעתו הקשה ולכוויות בכל חלקי גופו. כל זאת משום שרוטנברג הקים מניין נפרד בעיירה מזה של האדמו"ר.
הפרשה הסעירה את היהדות החרדית בארה"ב ובישראל וזכתה לסיקור תקשורתי רחב היקף בכלי התקשורת האמריקאים.
שפיצר עמד בפני עונש מינימאלי של 5 שנות מאסר עד 10 שנה.
אהרון חיים רוטנברג הגיש לשופט מכתב בו ביקש לרחם על התוקף כמה שיותר בגזר דינו.
בעיירת סקווירא התכנסו היום מאות חסידים להתפלל להצלחתו של שפיצר במשפט. בית המדרש היה עמוס בחסידי סקווירא שאמרו פרקי תהילים במשך כל שעות הבוקר.
כאמור, בית המשפט הטיל עליו עונש של 7 שנות מאסר.
השופט סירב לעכב את ביצוע גזר הדין ושפיצר נלקח לבית הכלא כשהוא כפות באזיקים.
New Square Teen Arsonist Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison
Rockland County, NY - A New Square teen was sentenced today to 7 years in prison for a fiery religious dispute.
Shaul Spitzer pleaded guilty to throwing a fire bomb at the home of Aron Rottenberg, who was badly burned in the May 2011 attack. Spitzer was angry at Rottenberg for deciding not to worship at the main synagogue in New Square.
In a letter to the judge, Rottenberg asked the judge for leniency and compassion for his attacker.
Fire-bombing victim asks for leniency for his attacker
(04/16/12) NEW SQUARE - The victim of a New Square fire-bombing is now asking the judge for leniency for his attacker.
Shaul Spitzer is being sentenced tomorrow for last year's fiery attack on Aron Rottenberg.
Spitzer confronted Rottenberg over a religious dispute, angry about Rottenberg's decision not to worship at the main synagogue. Rottenberg suffered burns on over half his body after he and his house were set on fire.
In a letter to the judge, Rottenberg doesn't claim Spitzer is blameless, it just asks the judge to have compassion for him.
Spitzer pleaded guilty and faces up to 10 years in prison
שנה לאחר פרשת ההצתה של חיים אהרן רוטנברג בקריית סקווירא שבניו-יורק, שהסעירה את היהדות החרדית בארה"ב ובישראל, נראה כי הפרשה מגיעה לסיומה.
שופט במחוז רוקלנד יגזור ביום שלישי הקרוב את גזר דינו של שאול שפיצר, בחור הישיבה בן ה-18, המואשם בתקיפה מדרגה ראשונה נגד רוטנברג, חסיד סקווירא, שהתגורר בעיירה והקים מניין נפרד בקריה, בניגוד להוראתו של האדמו"ר.
כפי שדווח ב'בחדרי חרדים', צפוי שפיצר לספוג עונש של חמש עד 10 שנות מאסר מאחורי סורג ובריח.
תקיפתו של רוטנברג אירעה לפני כמעט שנה. ב-22 במאי, בשעה 4:15 לפנות בוקר (שעון ניו-יורק), השליך שפיצר בקבוק תבערה לעבר ביתו של רוטנברג, וגרם לו לכוויות בכל חלקי גופו, מה שהותיר בגופו של רוטנברג צלקות חמורות עד היום. הוא נזקק לטיפולים רפואיים רבים.
במהלך הימים האחרונים הביעו עורכי דינו של שפיצר תקווה בראיונות לכלי התקשורת, לגבי גזר דינו: "אנחנו פונים בימים הללו לבית המשפט בבקשה לגזור את דינו בצורה המינימאלית ביותר - חמש שנים", אמר קנת' גריבץ', אחד מפרקליטיו של שפיצר. "חמש שנים הם עונש קשה, במיוחד עבור נער כל-כך צעיר".
גריבץ' אף הביע תקווה כי הוא ישוחרר בהקדם בשל התנהגות טובה, המאפיינת אותו.
עוד הוסיף הפרקליט, כי מרשו מביע חרטה מלאה על המעשה: "הוא יודע שאין תירוץ הגיוני על מה שהוא עשה", אמר גריבץ'. "בלי להיות דרמטי מדי, הוא בוכה ומתפלל כל בוקר במהלך התקופה האחרונה שהנפגע יתאושש".
New Square arson attack: Spitzer faces 5-10 years at sentencing Tuesday, supporters seek leniency
Spitzer accompanied by his lawyer relatives as he was arraigned in Rockland County Court on charges of attempted murder, attempted arson and assault. June 24 2011
New Square, NY - A follower of the New Square grand rebbe knows he’s going to state prison for severely burning a village dissident during an arson assault, but the number of years behind bars will be revealed by the judge during Tuesday’s sentencing at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City.
Shaul Spitzer, 18, faces five to 10 years for first-degree assault in the attack on Aron Rottenberg at 4:15 a.m. May 22 during an attempt to burn down the family’s home on Truman Avenue in New Square.
Spitzer’s lawyers optimistically hope for five years, allowing Spitzer to get out earlier with good behavior. He’s being represented by former Rockland County District Attorney Kenneth Gribetz and former prosecutor Deborah Wolikow Loewenberg of New City, as well as Paul Shectman of Manhattan.
“We’re appealing to the court and will be asking the court to render the minimum sentence of five years,” Gribetz said. “Five years is a hard sentence for anyone. But for a young man who has lived in New Square for his entire life, the sentence will be even tougher.”
Prosecutor Stephen Moore will call for the 10-year sentence agreed to when Spitzer pleaded guilty, District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said.
New Square, NY - Rottenberg Says Car Was Set Ablaze By Drunken Purim Reveler
New Square, NY - A village dissident once set on fire for bucking rabbinical orders said his car was torched Thursday night by a drunken Purim reveler who was angry when he was denied more booze, according to Ramapo police.
Based on those circumstances, Aron Rottenberg doesn’t believe the arson fire to his car at 10:40 p.m. resulted from his previous problems with the New Square theocracy, police said.
“We’re looking to talk to that young man,” Ramapo Police Chief Peter Brower said.
Brower said Rottenberg told investigators that he “tried to counsel the young fellow against the dangers of drinking.”
“That led to some words along the line of ‘Don’t Tell me what to do’ and he left,” Brower said. “The next thing you know the car is ignited. Mr. Rottenberg stated there is no nexus between the incident last year and the incident last night.”
NEW SQUARE — A car belonging to Aron Rottenberg -- the dissident member of the Hasidic community targeted and seriously burned in a May arson attack -- was intentionally set ablaze Thursday night, law enforcement officials told The Journal News.
Hillcrest firefighters responded to Jefferson Avenue about 10:40 p.m. to find the rear of Rottenberg’s 2003 Mazda in flames, Ramapo Police Sgt. Blaine Howell said.
By the time police arrived moments later, the fire had been extinguished. No injuries were reported.
The Ramapo Police Department and the Rockland County sheriff’s arson unit are investigating the incident. Neither department offered much additional information early Friday morning.
Howell would not say who owned the car that was the center of the attack, but officials close to the investigation confirmed it to be Rottenberg’s.
The attack follows what many believed was the conclusion of difficult ordeal for the Rottenberg family.
On May 22, the Rottenberg home in New Square was attacked because Aron Rottenberg refused to pray in Grand Rabbi David Twersky’s Truman Avenue synagogue.
Rottenberg suffered third-degree burns to over 50 percent of his body as a result of the attack, burns that left him hospitalized for weeks.
Shaul Spitzer, who has admitted to throwing an incendiary device at Rottenberg, setting him on fire, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, a felony, on Feb. 7.
Spitzer’s plea came as part of an agreement that ended Rottenberg’s civil lawsuit. It is believed that another element of the agreement includes Rottenberg receiving about $2 in compensation from supporters of Spitzer and Grand Rabbi David Twersky.
Spitzer, 18 at the time of the attack, lived with Twersky, working as a type of butler.
Spitzer, still being held, is to be sentenced by state Supreme Court Justice William A. Kelly on April 17. He faces a maximum of 10 years in state prison. Kelly has already indicated that Spitzer will likely receive a sentence of at least five years in prison.
White Plains, N.Y. - A teenager was sentenced today to seven years in prison for the firebomb attack that badly burned Aron Rottenberg during a dispute.
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