Power cut to New Square main synagogue for not paying $78,000 bill

The congregation must pay a minimum of $46,500 for power to be restored, O&R spokesman Michael Donovan said.

"We warned them this was going to happen," Donovan said. "We just didn't decide one day to cut of their power."

New Square Deputy Mayor Israel Spitzer said today that he and other community members are negotiating a payment plan with the utility to get power restored.

Spitzer said the community's main synagogue has never before failed to pay its bills, adding he and others were surprised the Truman Avenue synagogue had fallen far into arrears.

"We're trying to work out a reasonable, acceptable payment plan for both parties," Spitzer said. "We're not happy this was allowed to happen."

Spitzer said New Square always has had "a very, very strong relationship with the senior people at O&R and have always worked together.

"I am confident O&R and the congregation will reach an agreement and will get this resolved in a short time," Spitzer said.

The synagogue's power was cut off on Monday morning. Some residents tried hooking electrical wires from other buildings into the main shul, where Grand Rabbi David Twersky holds services.

Spitzer blamed the tough economic times cutting into the donations from supporters.

"Donations are slow," he said. "In these tough economic times people don't have the money they had in the past."

Spitzer said the lack of power has not stopped services.

Several days ago the big Skvere shul in New Square NY was plunged into darkness.

It turns out that the Skvere shul did not pay their electric bill to Rockland electric well over a year.

Sources say that a feud broke out between the shul administration and the Skvere rebbe as to who is responsible to pay the electric bills.

A source said that the administration outright demanded the rebbe pay the electric bills from his personal

account.

The rebbe is demanding to raise funds for the electric bill from his hasidim.

Some hasidim are quoted as saying that they are fed up with paying high taxes to the rebbe from their low incomes, so they will not contribute any funds to pay for the electric bills.

Some in village are angry as the rebbe is forcing them to pray only in the main shul and now they are asked to give away more funds from their low or no income.

Skverer Rebbe’s estate auctioned off on eBay

by Heshy Fried on November 29, 2010 · 6 comments

With the success of last week’s eBay auction of the Skverer Rebbe’s matzo, many in the community have expressed hope that other items owned and used by the Skverer Rebbe can get a pretty penny at auction to help raise money to feed all those New Square community members who have been forced into unemployment by the rising rates of Monsey Trails. Many of the items that may be put up for sale have been deemed priceless and will provide certain segulas for those who purchase them, beyond the simple fact that your purchase goes to help perpetuate the welfare state within the Charedi community.

The Rebbe’s Washing cup: The Skverer Rebbe’s washing cup which he used for negel vasser on the weekdays will be unchained from the sink at the Skverer bais medrash and sold at auction. The washing cup is dented and dinged from the many falls it took into the long and narrow sink. It has lost its shine from so much use. Bochrim would line up after using the beis hakisei to use the Rebbe’s washing cup. The cup will come complete with the chain that prevented its theft from the washing area for many years.

The Rebbe’s never ending towel: After the Rebbe washed negel vasser, he used to use this never ending towel that would keep going around and around after the rebbe pulled on it. We cannot include the entire machine at this time, but since it was never washed, it may even contain hairs from the Rebbe’s knuckles – a real zechus.

Lekach from the Rebbe: The vintage of these lekach is unknown, but based on the type of kugel used it is thought to be from the 1985 tish in Boro Park. Lekach can provide you with more than stomach ulcers. They help with shidduchim, parnassah and health. Lekach will not include original tin foil.

Water from the Rebbe’s mikvah: If Chabad can sell it on the streets of crown heights, there’s no reason that Skvere Town cannot auction some vials of the water from the Rebbe’s mikvah to supplement its government programs. Each vial comes with the special mikvah bracha and a certificate of authenticity.

The Rebbe’s food stamps: It was said that the Rebbe zt”l was so holy that he had never even purchased bread. Fortunately, we have these very special items from before food stamps switched over to a debit card which would have provided the Rebbe’s servants much less busha when buying his bread for him. This will be a zechus for you not to know what it is like to buy bread.

The Rebbe’s gartel: It is black on black with little tassels on the end. There is a legend that anyone who kills themselves with this gartel will be transported straight to hell without having to watch the video of your life.

The Rebbe’s last cholent: The last cholent before the levaya is permanently encrusted in the bottom of his Rebetzin’s crockpot. Rumor has it that it still smells fresh despite all this time.  Should be a zechus for healthy children.

Apparently there are more items, such as gemaras, pictures, dolls, scrolls and those pajamas with the socks built in.