On the eve of the beginning of his trial for attempted murder and arson, the New Square beit din acting in the name of the Skvere Rebbe, Rabbi David Twersky, asked hasidim to pray for mercy for Shaul Spitzer. Spitzer tried to burn down the home of New Square dissident Aron Rottenberg just after 4:00 am, Sunday, May 22, while Rottenberg's family was asleep. Rottenberg grappled with Spitzer, and Spitzer's firebomb exploded, seriously burning Rottenberg over more than half of his body, leaving him disabled. Spitzer was charged with attempted murder and arson and faced as much as 25 years in prison if convicted. He pleaded guilty this morning to a lesser charge of aggravated assault and will face a much reduced sentence, perhaps one that allows him to serve prison time on house arrest. No similar prayer requests were made for Rottenberg, even when he was in critical condition in the hospital.