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 The scene on Wednesday in front of the residence where Leiby Kletzky lived.
July 14th, 2011
04:53 PM ET
Child's grisly murder shocks Jewish Brooklyn neighborhoodBy Dan Gilgoff and Eric Marrapodi, CNN Brooklyn, New York (CNN) – An 8-year-old's grisly murder would shock any community, but there's an added layer of astonishment in this neighborhood because the alleged killer appears to hail from the same close-knit religious community as the victim. On Thursday, New York police charged a 35-year-old man with the killing of Leiby Kletzky, an Orthodox Jewish boy, after officers found human remains in the man's refrigerator and a trash bin. The alleged killer also appears to be an Orthodox Jew who lived relatively nearby to Kletzky, according to community members. "You can't possibly describe how tragic this is and how upset people are this boy was murdered by a person living in the community, who shares his religion and his neighborhood," said Ezra Friedlander, who lives in Borough Park, the neighborhood where Kletzky went missing on Monday. On Thursday, Levi Aron was arraigned on first degree murder and kidnapping charges in Brooklyn in connection with Kletzky's death. "It would have been extremely scary if a terrorist would have come into the community and killed a boy, but when it's one of your own you feel even more vulnerable," said Friedlander, a public relations executive who represents many Orthodox Jewish clients. "The level of fear that mothers and fathers and children here are experiencing is something that I never witnessed before," he said.  Police say the 35-year-old Levi Aron made statements Wednesday implicating himself in the death of Leiby Kletzky. Kletzky was supposed to meet his parents after walking seven blocks from his summer day camp, but became lost and asked the suspect for directions, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said. Menachem Freed, a 37-year-old Orthodox Jew whose 9-year-old son was Kletzky's classmate, said the community prides itself on its faith-based unity. Borough Park is composed mostly of Hasidic Jews and non-Hasidic ultra-Orthodox Jews of Eastern European descent. Signs for everything from pediatricians' offices to a pizza parlor are in both Hebrew and English. Families with young children are everywhere, with streams of women pushing strollers down sidewalks and bearded Hasidic men piloting minivans through narrow streets. "We all believe in the same ideas," Freed said, standing outside his son's preschool, where he showed up Thursday to help children deal with the murder. On Monday night, Freed and his family had joined with other Orthodox Jews from the neighborhood to search for Kletzky. The neighborhood's Jewish security patrol force - called the shomrim - searched for the boy through the night. Working from surveillance video that showed Aron entering a dentist's office Monday while Kletzky waited for him across the street for seven minutes, police arrived at Aron's residence at 2:40 a.m. Wednesday to ask about the boy's whereabouts. The suspect pointed them to the kitchen, where blood was visible on the freezer handle. Inside the refrigerator was a cutting board with three blood-spattered carving knives, Kelly said. "A lot of people were saying that they would think differently about what they would allow their children to do," said Josh Nathan-Kazis, a staff writer for the Jewish newspaper The Forward, who is covering neighborhood reaction to Kletzky's murder. "When you're there, it feels like a small town: Everybody knows each other," said Nathan-Kazis, describing Borough Park. "The fact that the alleged perpetrator was more or less from the same community, it's like they don't know who to trust." There are questions about how active Aron was in the Jewish community, but pictures of him that have surfaced show him in traditional Orthodox Jewish dress. New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind said the largely insular Orthodox neighborhood bred a sense of trust among adults and children. "Borough Park is a largely Hasidic, Orthodox neighborhood - most people have beards and side curls," he said. "Often kids will trust someone who looks like their father or looks like their friend or like their teachers and say, 'Oh, this guy must be safe." "This is not the case, never should have been the case," he continued. "You've got to be very, very careful. You've got to teach your kids. You've got to talk to your kids." A young father who was pushing two strollers with children in Borough Park on Thursday said his rabbis told him to explain to his children that such a murder only happens "once in 10 years or even once in a lifetime." Like many Orthodox Jews interviewed here, the man declined to give his name. Nathan-Kazis said that rumors had begun emerging in Borough Park's Orthodox community that portrayed Aron as something of an outsider. One such rumor suggested that Aron is a Sephardic Jew - meaning of Spanish of North African descent - unlike most Borough Park Jews, who are Ashkenazi, or of Eastern European descent. "You could see the community struggling with the fact that the suspect is Jewish and lived nearby and at the same time protect a sense of safety in the community," Nathan-Kazis said. Thousands of Orthodox Jews turned out for Kletzky's funeral on Wednesday. On Thursday, community members organized an effort to initiate a Torah scroll in Kletzky's name. "It's an extremely lofty way to elevate someone's memory," Friedlander said of the scroll. 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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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This Horrific Crime Shocked ALL of Brooklyn!!! I'm so sad this happened. I'm sickened by it.
very sad, Madoff hurt his Jewish friends too, bad is bad...period
Voice of Lesion. I am neither hateful nor bigoted. I am realistic. I have nothing against Jews per se, or Muslims or Chirstians until they start killing each other over their disagreements about ancient beliefs in magical beings. They are ALL full of hate for each other and they DO favor themselves over others. Neither is any better or more just or more forgivable than the other. And it is ONLY about religion. Remove that from the equation and the killing, the hate, the mistrust all disappear.
@chach – Be fair – A jewish man expresses sorrow for Leiby and ALL other children who suffer a cruel death, and you accuse him of hypocracy by suggesting he meant ALL children barring Muslim??? Man up and admit you're racist.
This is the saddest thing I have read in a long time. What a horrifying time for this community, the family of the victim and for the child in his last moment. I am not Jewish, but in all of my interactions I have ever had of a member of the Jewish Faith , I have always felt a peacefulness and love from them. The Jewish faith is the most peaceful, gentle religion. My sympathies and support go to the this old fashioned close knit community and to the family of this little innocent child. I have 3 little boys – I can feel the pain like it is mine. How can we help this family?
As a Reform Jew I can tell you this is very disheartening to see something like this happen in the Jewish community. I grieve whenever an innocent human is harmed or hurt anywhere, but us Jews at times wish to believe that others with the Jewish spirit are incapable of such a monstrosity.
Ben. I can make a pretty safe bet that you wouldn't feel as bad if it was an 8 year old Muslim boy. Religion polarizes people against one another. The only time it brings them together is when they fight.
Google ~ Censor jewish crime ~ then come back and try that obvious snow job of the truth. This poor innocent kid did not deserve this but let's not lie to the world.
Lisa and Ben – what respectful, genuine posts. Both expressing heartfelt sorrow at the horrific death of a child. Bless you.
Chach – What kind of person are you using this post to further your own selfish agenda of hatred and bigotry? To say nothing of downright lies. In war and in peace the jews in Israel treat Arab and Israeli alike in their hospitals. Jews donate blood for the victims. Why don't you go home and stay indoors till you qualify to rejoin the human race.
Voice of Lesion. I am neither hateful nor bigoted. I am realistic. I have nothing against Jews per se, or Muslims or Chirstians until they start killing each other over their disagreements about ancient beliefs in magical beings. They are ALL full of hate for each other and they DO favor themselves over others. Neither is any better or more just or more forgivable than the other. And it is ONLY about religion. Remove that from the equation and the killing, the hate, the mistrust all disappear.
"It would have been extremely scary if a terrorist would have come into the community and killed a boy"
I'm pretty sure if a Muslim had committed the crime it would be called terrorism, but otherwise not. This is why people think only Muslims are terrorists. When Christians, Jews and others commit murder, bomb, etc. its rarely if ever called terrorism. terrorism should be defined by the action, not by who does it
Well said.
Actually, by definition terrorism is not about the act *or* the person who commits it ... it is about the intent. If the intent is to terrify people, to instill fear in a community, it is terrorism. (But you are absolutely correct that many people misuse this term and specifically use it as code for group-based judgments.)
I dont see the word Muslim in that sentence.
I am sorry this happened, his first day going home on his own, supposedly? But I don't feel sorry for his group – they would think an American who lived in NY all his life was a terrorist. They hate everybody who isn't "pure" – so the boy can have my sympathy – the rest can take a flying leap.
OMG – really? really? really? you need to educate yourself and stop being a racist. your post makes me sick.
Hasidim are the real racists: "You could see the community struggling with the fact that the suspect is Jewish"
I am amazed at the bigotry of someone who cannot "feel sorry" for an entire group of people, claiming they are all prejudiced, and yet is completely oblivious to the racism inherent in their own statement. Furthermore, I think it is completely human and normal for members of a tight knit group to be shocked when one of their own kills another of their own. Who would not be?
The guy was obviously a pedophile. There would be no other reason for him to try to take this kid home with him. Instead of people spewing their hatred of different religions or the Atheists spewing their hatred of all religions, maybe we should redirect the anger where it belongs and that is at people who pray on children. No mater what religion or non-religious group you belong to, I think we should all agree that anyone who prays on children does not belong as a member of society. They should be locked up for the rest of their lives at best.
Insteresting mis-spelling. Prey not Pray. Prayer doesn't work and it doesn't keep psychos from PREY-ing on the defenseless.
@; Chach – When you've got nothing intelligent to offer and you're desperate for attention because you have no friends and you are unattractive so you don't have a partner – pick on someone's spelling to stroke your ego! Classic.
Voice of Reason? ha. Wow, you described me so precisely it's utterly amazing......NOT Sounds like you're the one with "lonelines" issues that you found it necessary to so vehemently bash me. I am leaving soon to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary with my loving wife and 6 year old son. Not that it's any of your business. Go take your frustrations out on someone else.
@Chach – anyone can say anything here. No-one can prove otherwise. Dream on.
There is no such thing as monsters.
Those committing these heinous crimes are men (and, unfortunately, women). Whether in Brooklyn or Florida, evil, sick people exist. It's a sad fact of life.
What is interesting is the emphasis that they were from the same religion. We read the same thing when Bernie Madoff swindled many Jewish investors, being Jewish himself, there was a huge uproar. The insinuation is that those from the same religion were supposed to act ethnocentrically or tribal towards one another, and so to commit a crime like this is even more shocking...
And your response to the gruesome murder and dismemberment of an 8 year old boy has ...........what?.. to do with Madoff
Be honest you didn't read the article > saw 'Jew' and in you wade with your size 11 boots. You are a treacherous little termite aren't you.
Now you notice I'm leaving a space between you and the innocent victim? I separate you out of respect for the child. May God hold you in the palm of his hand, little one and may you rest in peace.
Unbelievable. White on white crime, black on black crime, Christian on Christian...... alll that is just crime. But this is shocking? Shocking enough that we are actually writing articles about it? News falsh: Jews are human. They aren;t any different of better than the rest of us.
I agree humans are humans, jews are no different. The reason this is making news is because these communities are tight-knit and for the most part extended families where this sort of gruesome crime is not very common. You don't hear on CNN about car accident deaths everyday, why? They are common. If a plane goes down in the Atlantic you're sure gonna hear about it.
So true.
but, but, but... jews are the chosen people
Jews (just like the rest of the White race) are not humans. They are descendants of a giant, war-mongering alien race known as the Annunaki. Yes...I said it. Archeologist already proved that giants roamed the Earth. It's in the bible (and no, I'm not religious. To me, the Bible is a history book, but many misinterpret it and take it literally. The Bible contains the story of mankind, including the arrival of the Annunaki in the "Garden of Eden" (Where the Euphrates and Tigris river meets in Iraq). Ashkenazi Jews are a direct descendant of the Annunaki. Why is it that when a Jew dies, they have to be buried the next day? And don't give me that bull about it's tradition. NOT TRUE. There is a scientific reason why they have to be buried the next day. Their body starts decomposing immediately and no amount of embalming fluid can change this. Latinos, Asians and Blacks can last for up to a whole month. Why is it that Jews start decomposing the next day? The reason is because they contain blood that is not native to mother Earth. Their ancestors are from planet X, also known as planet Nibiru. Check out this website called RH-Negative registry in which a Geneologist does studies on the Ashkenazi Jews bloodline. Don't be mad. It's the truth.
http://www.rhnegativeregistry.com/Rh_Negative_Factor_Blood_Origin_Theories_Migration.html
@MN – I can't stand the way snipers like you can completely disregard a human tragedy, like the dreadfully painful death of a child. Don't , whatever you do, let decency and humanity get in the way of your bigotry. Shame on you.
@Akeelah – Are you for real????????? Have you read recent reports in medical journals about decomposition after death? No, thought not. Scientists say that ALL nations who live on ready made foods, processed foods etc [ which are chock full of preservatives] keep us in tip top condition after death. The more junk we eat, the less we need embalming. Undertakers back this up and They should know. Jewish people eat freshly cooked food so, maybe they decompose faster. See.
Now we've got over the stupidity – do you have NO compassion for this child or his parents? I feel sick, it is so bizarre. Some of you bigots need to take a reality check.
@voice of reason: so jews aren't the chosen people?
Jon Durham, You are right, the murder of an 8 year old followed by the subsequent hacking up of his body by a deranged killer is not news. It would NEVER have been reported but for the religion of the victim and the perpetrator. The media in the USA NEVER reports on things like this if Jews are not involved. A recent trial in Orlando that preoccupied millions of people and the Media and did not just happen. If it makes you feel good to believe that then believe it, but why can't you just go somewhere else. There are plenty of places on the internet for you to spew that crap. Why here in the shadow of a tragedy?
The saddest thing is that the boy probably approached the man because he was wearing a yarmulke and felt he could trust him. He should have approached a woman, especially a woman who had kids with her. That is what I have told my son to do if he is ever lost. I wish all adults could just keep kids out of their weirdnesses. Whatever your perversion is, leave children out of it! And if a person thinks they could hurt a child or is thinking about hurting a child, just get a gun and kill yourself. Seriously. Children deserve a childhood and it's the least we can do to allow them a lovely, unmolested childhood. I feel bad for this community; they are tight-knit and faith based and have a very special type of community going on. And like the Amish who also experienced tragedy, they seem to have a lot of dignity and will work together to get through this.
well said!
I tell my kids the same thing... If, for any reason, they must talk to a stranger for help, find a women – especially one with kids.
Pedophiles and child killers share one common trait; they are human. Their religious upbringing has absolutely nothing to do with the sick thoughts they entertain, or their diabolical urges. And if he were Sephardic, so what of it? What are you suggesting? It would be easier for him to kill an Ashkenazi child? Labels are very deceptive, and now they rationalize to cover the bare truth that Orthodox Jews are not morally superior to everyone else.
This is sick. No child should experience anything but trust and love from the adults around him. I think about this man and I wonder about his humanity. I'm a gentile so I can't begin to imagine what pain and suffering people must feel. I know that for Orthodox Jews the community is even closer knit than for many of us. I can't imagine having to distrust your neighbors. The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" doesn't begin to describe it. This man must be truly mentally ill. I hope that they figure out what is wrong with him and heaven forbid but that this might be one of many grisly incidents this individual perpetrated. I hope this is the end of it for the community. I'm very sorry to those of you who live there.
Yes, tell your kids to ask directions from a woman with a kid. But make sure they ask if the woman's name is not Casey Anthony and she is not carrying a black bag. Much safer taht way.
An eight year old's life was taken in the most horrific way possible. Please show respect and refrain from making ignorant or crass comments.
I think CNN should just DROP this "story" NOW! Just take it out of the media. I don't understand why they have to report this. This is VERY damaging to the Jewish community. The ADL should get involved and stop this MADNESS.
Oh yes Dan, we wouldn't want anybody to see that the Jewish community is really no different than any other.
Dan you are a classic example of evil. Portray the jews as innocents, even victims, but never perpetrators. Disgusting!! The world is watching!!!
Normal people react in normal, respectful ways, thank God. I applaud your post. I will pray specially for Leiby; may he rest in peace. I hope his family find the strength to carry on without their son.
It would have been a little more respectful if CNN gave the child his given name instead of referringto him as Kretsky. Just a thought.
Dan, your statement is the reason why some people think the news is manipulated and/or distorted to favor one community over another. CNN needs to pull this story? ARE YOUR SERIOUS??? The news is the news, no matter how unfortunate it is; no matter which community it highlights. An innocent child is gone; this news is tragic, and hopefully parents will protect their children and teach them the ways of the 2011 world.
DAN you are a Troll, why don't you tell everyone you are a Hamas member or a KKK trailer trash trolling as usual trying to push your evil propaganda. It's obvious what you are doing, drop dead.
Two common beliefs in any religion is that there is a God and that evil does walk amongst us....this religon/neighborhood is no exception!
Brandon... no one is being racist here. You must be an overly sensitve, drama king looking for an argument. You probably don't even know about all the different sub groups within Judaism and furthermore, you probably had no clue the word Ashkenazi or Sephardic existed before reading the article. This is a horrible tragedy, these parents are devastated and the community is in fear! No one cares really who did it, someone's baby was murdered! Don't use this article as a venue to vent your anger in life.
Judging from your comment, I'm going to assume you are White. Thats why you are blind to the silent racism that is still alive in America. By this reporter mentioning that this man is Northern African instead of "European" is racist. It shoudn't matter what kind of Jew he was. The fact remains that he is still a Jew. Furthermore, of course I've heard of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews. In fact the Ashkenazi are said to be descended from the Annunaki. Read about it.
this is a terribly sad story, but are plenty of rediculous statements or questions raised in this article. why is it focusing so much on the religion of the neighborhood and the suspect? it's like saying, OMG the killer is the citizen of the same country as I am. it's also common knowledge that crimes upon yourself or your family are often commited by people who know you to some degree. what does his being of a specific sect have to do with him allegedly being a psychopath? what does how involved he is in the community have to do with being a killer? is there some correlation? OMG the neighbor is a baptist but everyone on the block is evangelical, he must be a murderer. if i don't attend tomorrow's little league game in the park across the street, am i more likely to be a child killer?
Wow! Well said. That is exactly what I was thinking. I was asking myself: what??? Because you are jewish you don't have psychos in your community, are u that pure, really? Oh it's that he is not our type of Jewish..that explains it. Really hateful and ethnocentric article. We are people it does not matter what religion we practice, people have a nature inside that no religion will stop.
No one is saying that this is a shock because the murderer is a fellow Jew. This particular Orthodox Jewish community is incredibly tight-knit. People tend to know each other and trust each other, such that it usually was no problem to have children go unsupervised. That is where the shock comes in, not from there mere fact that he is a Jew.
I think people are forgetting that this is the RELIGIOUS BLOG of CNN: THAT IS WHY WE ARE DISCUSSING RELIGION AS IT RELATES TO THE STORY!!!
May GOD bless and keep this child!
Amen, Grandpa.
Reading these comments, I feel like I dropped in to a different planet. Has anyone heard of MENTAL ILLNESS??? This man is a lunatic. He could not possibly have lived all of these years in that-or any other community-without having shown that he's wired wrong. Relatives, teachers, doctors, store-keepers, religious leaders could not have missed his psychosis throughout the years. There absolutely have to be an enormous amount of people in that community who have always been aware that "...one day we're going to read about him in the papers." What has happened is a tragedy way beyond words. For people's focus to be on "what kind of Jew he is-Ashkenazic or Sephardic..." is as shocking as has been this tragedy. This level of mental illness isn't restricted to one neighborhood or another. It is... wherever it is. Has it dawned on anyone at all-to ask how this psycho has been living under the radar in that community for all these years??? Do they really think that knowing his ancestral bloodline will explain this horrific tragedy??? I can't help but wonder who's more crazy: this lunatic, or that whole community. My heart goes out to this poor child's family.
Cool-boy, psychosis is experiencing either hallucinations or delusions. It does NOT mean homicidal or violent. Please consult a dictionary. Also, the majority of people with mental illness aren't violent at all and we certainly don't have a brand on our forehead identifying our diagnosis. Many of us are very talented people and we are your doctor, lawyer, congressman, pastor, scientist or we designed the building you work in and nobody knows we have a diagnosis. We are very "normal" looking and we contribute much to society, much more than most "normal" people in some cases. I suggest you do some reading and think about your views before spewing phobic filth like you have here. I'm glad you won't be on this guy's jury because your mind is clearly already made up. The X-Men is all about this topic. Did you watch the movies? Did you learn anything?
You misunderstand. No one, not even in that community, is saying that this is a shock because the murderer is a fellow Jew. This particular Orthodox Jewish community is incredibly tight-knit. People tend to know each other and trust each other, such that it usually was no problem to have children go unsupervised. That is where the shock comes in, not from there mere fact that he is a Jew.
We all need to be in prayer with the families and freinds of this child.
Oh he is probably a North-African or Spanish Jew??? Like really?!! Like White-Europeans [-Jews] aren't capable of such crimes? That's really sad that a little boy is killed and people are bringing up race to say "they are genetically different and thus capable of this". Pathetic.
So... we read a statement and then twist it into what we would have rather it said?
Why don't you read the article again!
It is truly sad....CNN has made a huge mistake by giving every moron on this planet a chance to comment on all of its stories....these people are sick in the head and i wonder if they would say the same comments if it was one of their loved one....truly sad indeed
It's not about race, not at all. It's that this is a community of Ashkenazi Jews that have different traditions than Sephardic Jews. They believe the same basic things, but do things differently. They're saying he was an outsider because he follows different practices. You have to understand that the Rebbe for these Chasidic and other very observant sects of Judaism control a lot of what people do and how they behave down to the smallest details of the home. That is their culture. For this man to be a part of their community raises eyebrows because almost all of these people have lived this way and possibly in this community for all of their lives. It's not that his race is different. It's that his practice is different and that makes him stand out in a community where being the same as everyone else is important.
So true....that just shows how narrow minded people are....it shows a great deal of ignorance for any one person to think that his/her race is greater than another...simpletons. The most important issue here (and the simple can't seems to follow along) is the fact that a little innocent child was murdered!!
He's probably not a real Jew, but some imposter trying to use the community as cover for his perversion or possibly a more sinister plot to discredit Jews. The media should show more respect for the Jewish community during such a tragic event and just drop this story quitely, NOW, and move on to something that's actually newsworthy.
It is very sad that this reporter wants to talk about race when a child was murdered by a White man. This is the kind of world we live in....where Whites think that only Blacks and Hispanics are capable of commiting crimes. White are the only people I know that like to chop people up and store body parts in the freezer. D@mn sickos.
Akeelah, jews are not whites. They look white but they are semites. They can't have it both ways, white when thing are going well, then cry anti semite when people are bashing them. Think before you post!!
an innocent little child was tortured and dismembered!!! and yet we have other sicko's posting comments such as franky
who says "gas them all. shower time" CNN needs to remove such idiotic forums. realize the gravity of such sickness that grows prevails in our society. how offensive. all of this.
Sincere thanks Jessi, your post hit the nail on the head. I am British and have just discovered CNN. I read because I want to see how bad it can get. I have never seen so much hatred, bigotry or filth in my life on a public forum. It should be moderated or closed down.
May this child's memory be a blessing for all time
Amen. God love him.