Monday, December 15, 2008
Hasidic dad 'lost it' in beating of boy, 13, say cops
A top Brooklyn rabbi has been forbidden from being near his 13-year-old son after the teen called the cops on his father for beating him.
The son of Rebbe Sholom Twersky, 49, told police that his father scratched and slapped him on Oct. 28, hurting his arms, according to court records. The boy was taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
"He lost it and started slapping the kid around, and the kid wasn't going to take it," a police source said.
The Brooklyn district attorney's office charged the father of 12 with assault, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.
The city's Administration for Children's Services is investigating the case, police sources said, and a temporary order of protection is keeping the dad away from his ninth child.
Twersky, leader of the Foltishen Hasidic sect, is allowed to run his congregation - Beth Hatfilah on 49th St. in Borough Park - but is not permitted to have "incidental contact" with his son inside their home located above the synagogue, according to court records.
Twersky's political influence was well-known in Borough Park, but became apparent within City Hall inner circles after the arrest.
Fred Kreizman, assistant commissioner of the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit, went to Borough Park to help the influential rabbi.
Cops kept Twersky out of the 66th Precinct's holding cell while Kreizman sat with him waiting for word on the arraignment, police sources said.
"Kreizman is a Jewish community liaison and it is not unusual for him to be present when a Jewish leader is involved in an incident," a City Hall spokesman said.
According to family, police and City Hall sources, Twersky went to upstate Monsey after his son phoned police.
Kreizman, who serves as the top Jewish liaison for Mayor Bloomberg, is a longtime associate of Twersky, and convinced the patriarch to turn himself in to police.
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/12/15/2008-12-15_dad_lost_it_in_beating_of_boy_13_say_cop.html
Comments:
It is not unusual for some people to be more equal than other people.
See if a Giant football player goes to jail, even though it's mandatory. See if a prominent member of a prominent Jewish family gets more than a slap on the wrist.
Same old, same old.
See if a Giant football player goes to jail, even though it's mandatory. See if a prominent member of a prominent Jewish family gets more than a slap on the wrist.
Same old, same old.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: December 15, 2008 7:08 PM
: December 15, 2008 7:08 PM
How about we comment on the fact that it is NOT ok to hit a twelve year old child. As a leader, Rabbi Twersky should use a more appropriate form of discipline.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 15, 2008 11:24 PM
: December 15, 2008 11:24 PM
stop being so judgemental and prejudice. No one knows exactly what happened and a 13 year old can make up stories. What would you do if you have a child all day at home doing nothing?
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 12:56 AM
: December 16, 2008 12:56 AM
Damn! it brings me back those old memories of Viener Yeshiva. Any of you guys remember the old days? The kid with the broken arm,the broken tooth from being slapped in the back of the head,and slamming your face into those old wooden decks? or how about the old arm twist(boy that one hurt)or the wooden or METAL sticks that the rebbe kept on the towel on top of his table? cmon, you guys didnt forget already,or have you? Look,a parent or Rebbe is allowed to give a slap(not on the face)if the situation calls for it,or if a kid is a me chitev but in a normal manner. not crazy. The torah gives the rebbe this option.Do you know that if a Rebbe kills a student by accident,he does not go into a Aura Miklot? Look at the halacha. I am not making this up. ok in another time and era. i am just stating the facts. NOT condoning it. By the way I NEVER,EVER hit my kids. A stern or serious look from a respected rebbe or parent will do the trick. IF the child or student is a yirei shomyamim.and brought with up love,torah,and yirei.it should be enough.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 3:13 AM
: December 16, 2008 3:13 AM
Oy! The father may have really messed up, but the kid also messed up. He just disgraced his father, and mother, and his entire family. He will now make is harder for his siblings to find a shidduch, and he himself will suffer within the community.
To turn one's own father in to authorities?
Sure, the father went overboard. He "lost it" and maybe needs help with his self control. But, the son has some obvious decision-making problems, and may have pushed his father just a little too much. It happens.
No, it does not "justify" abusing a child, but it can be understood. Who CAN have perfect self control at every minute if you have someone pushing and pushing.
I feel bad for the kid and for the father. But, most importantly, I feel worse still for the damaged innocent other family members. Their lives will never be the same from now on.
I also fear for this boy's future. His siblings will be so angry at him as their lives go down the drain, that they are sure to punish him for his deed.
They may push him entirely out of the community.
We can all scream, "Not Fair" that this boy's actions should hurt his siblings' chances for a good shidduch, but fair or not, that is the way it is.
To turn one's own father in to authorities?
Sure, the father went overboard. He "lost it" and maybe needs help with his self control. But, the son has some obvious decision-making problems, and may have pushed his father just a little too much. It happens.
No, it does not "justify" abusing a child, but it can be understood. Who CAN have perfect self control at every minute if you have someone pushing and pushing.
I feel bad for the kid and for the father. But, most importantly, I feel worse still for the damaged innocent other family members. Their lives will never be the same from now on.
I also fear for this boy's future. His siblings will be so angry at him as their lives go down the drain, that they are sure to punish him for his deed.
They may push him entirely out of the community.
We can all scream, "Not Fair" that this boy's actions should hurt his siblings' chances for a good shidduch, but fair or not, that is the way it is.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 6:52 AM
: December 16, 2008 6:52 AM
CHILDREN RARELY TESTIFY AGAINST THEIR PARENTS. BUT THIS WILL DEFINATELY TEACH THE FATHER A LESSON.
SLAPPING AROUND CHILDREN WAS VERY CONNON AMONGST REBBES. OR MELAMDEN UNTIL PARENTS WOULD REPORT THEM TO AUTHORITIES. TODAY IT IS STILL HAPPENING BUT NOT AS MUCH.
SHILDREN NEVER LEARN FROM BEING HIT, THEY LEARN FROM BEING TALKED TO. APPARENTLY THIS FATHER IS BUSY RUNNING HIS CONGREGATION TO TALK TO HIS CHILDREN.
SLAPPING AROUND CHILDREN WAS VERY CONNON AMONGST REBBES. OR MELAMDEN UNTIL PARENTS WOULD REPORT THEM TO AUTHORITIES. TODAY IT IS STILL HAPPENING BUT NOT AS MUCH.
SHILDREN NEVER LEARN FROM BEING HIT, THEY LEARN FROM BEING TALKED TO. APPARENTLY THIS FATHER IS BUSY RUNNING HIS CONGREGATION TO TALK TO HIS CHILDREN.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 8:05 AM
: December 16, 2008 8:05 AM
It was worth it, just for the privilege of being called a "top Brooklyn Rabbi" once in a lifetime!
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 9:50 AM
: December 16, 2008 9:50 AM
I know Rabbi Twersky since he was a baby. He happens to be a very pleasant person and is not easily angered. Our society teaches that everything kids say is holy. Children know that. It's very easy for a child to make up a story to " teach his parents a lesson". My own son also used to like to threaten me that he'll go to the authorities.
BTW where is the child now. (i ain't takin' him to my house.)
BTW where is the child now. (i ain't takin' him to my house.)
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 2:46 PM
: December 16, 2008 2:46 PM
As per NYS Penal Law §35.10: “A parent, guardian or other person entrusted with the care and supervision of a person under the age of 21 … may use physical force … upon such person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it necessary to maintain discipline.”
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 5:00 PM
: December 16, 2008 5:00 PM
Interesting how a Rabbi who hardly has more than a Minyan is suddenly a "top Hasidic Rabbi"
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 5:32 PM
: December 16, 2008 5:32 PM
did the boy also make up his injuries?
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 6:40 PM
: December 16, 2008 6:40 PM
who said there were injuries. it say "treated and released". Go in to the hospital and anything they do for you is called treated and released. So all of you who jump to cnclusions, sit back take a chill. Remember you too may one day be zocha to be the subject of this blog.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 16, 2008 11:51 PM
: December 16, 2008 11:51 PM
since when is it not good to hit your children, i guess you are the parents of the teens at risk. There is NOTHING WRONG with hitting your children if they deserve it. And you know what, if you hit them they will realize that they can't do what they just did, and they won't do it again
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 17, 2008 1:36 PM
: December 17, 2008 1:36 PM
Oy your poor kids.....I sincerely hope you're not planning to have kids......
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 17, 2008 6:06 PM
: December 17, 2008 6:06 PM
There is everything wrong with hitting your children.
It shows that you have lost control over the situation. It shows that you have not had control for a long time, if the only way the child knows to obey is from fear of being hit.
Children need to know that they are loved unconditionally. They also expect, and absolutely, need to be taught boundaries appropriate for their age from the time they are babies. That gives them comfort, knowing that someone cares enough to set boundaries.
I have two children, aged 5 and 3.5. I have only hit my son once my whole life in anger, not hard, and he immediately began crying that Aba hit him. It was so sad that I apologized and made him feel better, using the opportunity to show him that even Aba is human and does things that are not right.
But the rest of the time, he behaves. If he stops behaving, a tern look, and a raised voice conveys all that is needed.
I once told him that I would give him Petsch (he knows what this is from Yeshiva, where some boys probably get it from their parents) and he just smiled and said "ok."
This is what raising children is. Ignoring kids to the point that they need to be hit to gain attention is absolutely not raising kids correctly.
It shows that you have lost control over the situation. It shows that you have not had control for a long time, if the only way the child knows to obey is from fear of being hit.
Children need to know that they are loved unconditionally. They also expect, and absolutely, need to be taught boundaries appropriate for their age from the time they are babies. That gives them comfort, knowing that someone cares enough to set boundaries.
I have two children, aged 5 and 3.5. I have only hit my son once my whole life in anger, not hard, and he immediately began crying that Aba hit him. It was so sad that I apologized and made him feel better, using the opportunity to show him that even Aba is human and does things that are not right.
But the rest of the time, he behaves. If he stops behaving, a tern look, and a raised voice conveys all that is needed.
I once told him that I would give him Petsch (he knows what this is from Yeshiva, where some boys probably get it from their parents) and he just smiled and said "ok."
This is what raising children is. Ignoring kids to the point that they need to be hit to gain attention is absolutely not raising kids correctly.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 17, 2008 6:28 PM
: December 17, 2008 6:28 PM
hitting a kid dosen't mean you don't love him you idiot, it means that if he knows that what he is doing deserves a good smack, and he gets the smack, then he won't do it again. Just to make something clear of course you shouldn't hit your kid out of anger, but you should hit him to teach him what's right andhopefully he won't do it again
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 17, 2008 6:42 PM
: December 17, 2008 6:42 PM
No child deserves "a good smack."
Just because people used to do it, and low-class people still do it. If you are lower class, you should probably still do it. Put fear into them. Yes, that's the way to go.
Hey, I have an idea. In the 60's, they used to give little children aspirin if they had fevers. Why don't you do it for your children today?
I'll look for you and them on www.darwinawards.com
Just because people used to do it, and low-class people still do it. If you are lower class, you should probably still do it. Put fear into them. Yes, that's the way to go.
Hey, I have an idea. In the 60's, they used to give little children aspirin if they had fevers. Why don't you do it for your children today?
I'll look for you and them on www.darwinawards.com
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 20, 2008 10:51 PM
: December 20, 2008 10:51 PM
It is Ikvoso DeMeshicha, where everything is Venahafoch hu, children are disrepectful to their parents and parents have no authority over them.As terrible as this may be, the good thing is, that the worse things get, the closer Moshiach is to coming, May he come speedily.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : December 25, 2008 4:01 PM
: December 25, 2008 4:01 PM
Wow! Nice 2 c what ppl. Say about my family;) the boy deserved a patch but the tatty went a little too far. So ppl. Stop judjing don't believeeerything u hear and live a happy calm life. Btw it didn't affect anyone besidws for that boy. His siblings are b"h doing gr8 shiduchim r not looked upon as outcasts and about hitting children?? Never ever show ur child that u r out of control, don't know what to do and hit. It's very wrong, not cuz it hurts but the fact that daddy lost it tjat hirts.
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: May 23, 2011 10:02 PM
