After days of pressure from the media and with a criminal investigation that is closing in on him, the Skvere Rebbe makes a brief statement to his yeshiva students about the attack carried out by his butler that almost killed the entire Rottenberg family – and that left Aron Rottenberg severely burned and fighting for his life in a hospital.
Please click the gray bar to listen. An English translation is posted below.
Skvere Rebbe Rottenberg Attack 5-26-11
This is a rough translation cobbled together from translations done by two readers and myself:
"I want to announce something. We’re going through agmas nefesh [a painful time]. We should really not have to say this. We know from all the years, I spoke many times about this, not to go [out] with power or fight, and even more so, not to hurt any Jew. It against our ways. Everyone knows the way of Skvere is Torah, and all its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace. I really should not have to say this. But because this terrible thing happened, maybe it's good to say it again and let everyone know that, God forbid, do not fight with koach [power], it makes agmas nefesh [troubles, irritation]. Its against our way, the way of Skvere. This [incident] brought a lot of tears and pain. Whoever needs healing, God should send them healing, and they should come home healthy. Now is a time of healing. God should help that the shtetl [the village of New Square] should be at peace with one heart, with Torah and mitzvos and good deeds. The Me’or Einyim says that on Shavuos we accept the Torah [all over again].… God should help that my father, zt"l, should make his merit be a shield and we shall receive the Torah physically and spiritually, exclusively with happiness."
Update 5:18 am CST Tuesday, May 31 – This appears to be the Rebbe's statement in print:
[Hat Tip: Burich.]