By COLlive and New York Daily News reporters
Photos by Zelig Shaul
“G-d gives and G-d takes. Thank you G-d, for giving you to us for nine years. We have to thank You for what You gave us.”
Standing before thousands, Nachman Kletzky solemnly thanked Hashem for the short years he shared with his now-slain son Leiby Kletzky OBM at the little boy’s funeral in Borough Park on Wednesday.
“Pray for your sisters and the rest of your family, including the entire Jewish nation, which is now part of our family,” Kletzky added through tears in Yiddish.
Frum Jews from across the tristate area attended the funeral service at Beis Medrash Heichal Hatfilah on 56th Street to offer their support to the devastated family.
“This is something that hit very close to home for me and proved to be very emotionally disturbing for everyone that I’ve spoken to, on a personal level and on a community level,” said Zaki Tamir, Chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council.
“I have the child’s missing person flyer hanging near my office desk and I did not take it down because he is very dearly missed and this tragedy is the cause of much pain that is aggravated by the fact the that the murderer emerged from within,” he told COLlive.com.
Many Crown Heights residents attended, including Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Mazkir of the Rebbe and Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch; Rabbi Yosef Braun, member of the Crown Heights Beis Din; and Chairman of Ahavas Chessed Rabbi Avrohom Leider.
Dignitaries in the crowd included the Satmar Rebbe, posek Rabbi Gavriel Tzinner, many rabbis and community leaders.
During the 30-minute deeply somber service, Leiby’s small body was brought to the podium in a casket.
The boy was brutally murdered by a stranger he had asked for directions. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the 35-year-old suspect, Levi Aron, made statements implicating himself in Kletzky’s death.
Throughout the day, crowds of mourners gathered outside the 6-story brick apartment building where Leiby lived with his parents and four sisters to offer their condolences and help one another come to terms with the brutal and senseless killing.
Leiby’s father was being spared the gruesome details surrounding his son’s tragic death, a family friend told the New York Daily News.
A sign posted outside their front door warned visitors not to discuss the issue.
“They didn’t tell him (details),” said Shia Dembitzer, 51. “It’s bad enough. The less he knows right now the better.”
VIDEO:
Bless you and your words of truth….this is not an issue of religion…it is an issue of a child and all that loved him
I AM NOT FRUM. I LIVE IN ISRAEL, AT LEAST IN A COUNTRY WHERE JEWISH PEOPLE DO NOT STAND FOR HEINOUS CRIMES AGAINST INNOCENTS!!!! PLEASE S-T-O-P P-R-O-T-E-C-T-I-N-G DISGUSTING CHILD-MOLESTORS “IN THE NAME OF THE TORA”!!! THE TORA MOST DEFINITELY DOES N-O-T WANT YOU TO PROTECT VILE MONSTERS, REPEAT OFFENDERS, WHO DESTROY LIVES!!! -(YES, YES, EVEN IN THE FORM OF “IMPORTANT” MEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY..!!!) YOU NEED TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE STATE OF ISRAEL, AND LEARN WHAT THE TORA R-E-A-L-L-Y DEMANDS THAT WE DO WITH CRIMINALS…ISRAELI PRISONS AND JUDICIAL-SYSTEM IS JUST, EFFICIENT, AND IN ABIDANCE WITH THE TORA:… Read more »
As a person of Christian beliefs, The Kletskys need the loving peace from God. My family and I wish and pray this for them. The loss a child is horrible enough but the possessed individual, a mentally deranged person to commit this type of crime on anyone and oh God in heaven on a child, I pray he rests in the arms of our loving God’s arms. Lieby, sweetheart, sleep in peace. Mr and Mrs KLetsky, may God richly and compassionately console you both through this time. God bless you both.
Dear Aibishter,
Look what a n unbelievable people you have! You give them the worst possible tragedy and they have never lost their faith in you! Listen to the heartbroken voice of this father whose heart has been ripped apart, and yet he has not lost his faith in you.
“Mi ki’amcha Yisrael!”
Enough is enough! Your people have suffered enough! You Aibishter have suffered enough with us!
It’s time you brought Moshiach and redeemed your children who you love and who have stuck by you in fire and water.
A heartbroken yiddishe Momma
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpcjcn.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fdear-leiby.html%3Fm%3D1&h=BAQAc9HPK
Also, please don’t wish this tragedy on another child or family, jewish or not, we are supposed to be role models through what we do and say. If you think such horrible thoughts, and asking Hashem why this didn’t happen to the missionaries, I think you may need to get help in dealing with this terrible tragedy. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody, the family should be consoled, their precious jewel was taken away too soon. May Leibie’s neshama rise to the highest medraga and be comforted by Hashem himself.
As we cry “AD MOSAI” non-stop in our hearts, we wonder, what can we do that has not been done before..even something simple. You touched upon utilizing the opportunity to work with the children in camps etc. We know there is strength in #s, & in the days of Mordechai, he gathered ALL the children And when they screamed out as one, Hashem answered their t’fillos!!! Can someone arrange a WORLDWIDE TELE-CONFERENCE between all camps,yeshivas kayitz programs, ALL CHILDREN under Bar/Bas Mitzvah…for a few minutes hook-up; Torah (P’sukim), Tfilla (T’hillim) Tzedaka-everyone gives simultaneously and then all the children scream “AD… Read more »
my parents both taught me that if im ever lost its always best to ask a lady with kids for help and its better not a man
besides the murder the other things he did which was kidnapping him, & disposing his body in a dumpster & fridge to hide the evidence why isn,t he facing charges for that too?also i am 100% sure that he probably molested the kid before killing him.
cher.
In todays world we have to be wary of who we ask for help or who we accept favors from even a seemingly innocent looking Jew. I was once waiting in a bus stop in Williamsburg to get to CH and the bus was not coming… for over a half hour. A very nice looking gentle zaidy type man with the long peyos, black hat, e/t, approached me and asked me if I was ok and then offered me a ride.. and I freaked out completely and said no thanks, I’ll wait for the bus. B”H the bus came that… Read more »
What? Are you saying that you wish a tragedy to fall upon a child, just because he-she is of a different persuasion? They are children, for G-d’s sake. Are you sure you mean that?
That is a very arrogant statement, in that no group in without the possibility of wrongdoing, sickness, etc. If you do not know this, I think you are sorely mistaken. It sounds like you have been spared wrongdoing in your circles, and I’m glad for you. But there have been accusations of known Jewish leaders among you , accusations of horrible abuse to children. I am sorry to put this in here, when we are mourning the passing of our precious Leiby, but it is BECAUSE of this tragedy that I feel it needs to be said. Maybe now something… Read more »
i didnt even know how to react?! i always think, ‘if i get lost, ask a jew for help.’ but now i dont even know who to trust anymore!i was just thinking to myself, ‘i guess there can be non-jews just as good as ppl thing normal jews are (thinking of that jerk!).’ you just never really know!
unbelievable-may we only hear besoroth tovoth and hashem joimar letsoreteinoe dai!
where was he buried?
Not in NY. NY requires INTENTIONAL murder—which this was, whether or not it was premeditated—plus an aggravating factor, such as felony murder (which this was, considering that the kid was kidnapped). I’m pretty sure as the details come in they’ll escalate the charge to first degree.
first degree- murder was premeditated-
second degree- murder was done on the spur of the moment
BORUCH DAYAN EMES
What a tragedy
In the past when terrible thing were happening to the Yidden, the Rabonim came out and said STOP TALKING IN SHULE! This was not just said to one group or just 10 or 20 years ago, but it has been repeated and repeated throughout history at different times. Let us all get together and take it upon ourselves to bring the Kedusha back to our Shules! let us all remember to always answer Amen and Amen Yhai Shmai Raba. May Hashem hear our cries and answer our Tefelos . Moshiach Now!
BS”D
Can anyone explain why he is being arraigned for second degree murder ????
For the people on line who advertised that they saw a rainbow: One is not supposed to tell anyone that they saw a rainbow. In the secular world a rainbow is a beautiful thing. In the Torah world it is the opposite. Please keep this in mind
Its unbelievable ..unfortunitly his neshama had to Bring everyone together. We should only hear and see simchas!
hearing grown men wail in the video is just horrifying…..
maybe 34 is right – would it be somewhat comforting to know that a Yidishe neshama is not capable of this? not so sure…and it would only become a massive racial thing.
The only way to know forsure would be to speak to the Rabbi that married him to that woman – if in fact it was a reputable orthodox rabbi!?
oy who cares anyway…it doesnt make a difference….hell rot in hell forever…
ad matay
my heart goes out to the parents and the entir family. may hashem protect them and give them kohach, chizuk and much support. we pray for little Leiby. may he rest in peace.
as jews we know that every thing that hashem does has a purpose. may Leiby pure soul be amoung the tzadikim. we muct put our energy into prayes for the family and Leiby’s soul and not to concentrate on the animal amongs us. levi aron imach shimcha.! hashem should be the one to judge him.
baruch dayan emet
i tryuly do hope that all the jail guards in rikers turn a blind eye when he is put in a cell with everyone else – especially the 6’5″ 350 lbs named tiny. 6 months in rikers will teach him.
it seems like it was raining in some pics!
was!
was it? in some pics u see these circles above the crowed! makes me wounder!!!
The 7-8 year old girls at Bais Rivkah day camp knew and were talking about the gruesome details of this murder,I didnt tell my daughter (18) the details to spare her the horror but these little girls knew,Please be careful what your children hear or overhear
We should check into his lineaGe…maybe he’s not even jewish…sick or not sick this is not the way even the sickest of sickest and lowest of lowest class thug behaves…
Ki Hayinu Laag Vakeles Bagoyim……Ulemaka Ulecherpa…. Uvechol Zois Shimchah Lo Shachachnu…Na Al Tishkacheinu!!!!! The setting is a bit different, but the message to the Eibishter remains the same…Please we have not forgotten your name,please DO NOT FORGET US!!!
Why couldn’t have been one of the missionaries children in the park
trying to convert us ?
c est un acte criminel horrible ,il n y a pas de mot pour qualifier cela ,hachem yshmor!!!! ad matai moshiah!!! courage pour les parents
bde so sad 🙁 no words
moshiach, please come ad mosai!
Please – if your child is old enough to play outside without present parental supervision, you MUST teach them to be safe. A “frum in appearance” Jew did this to Leiby. **Tell your children to scream and run away if anyone tells them they will hurt Mommy or Tatty if the child doesn’t go with them. **Tell them if they are lost, only to ask a storekeeper, policeman or someone who is “walking with their own children” for directions. **tell them to scream and run if an adult tells them a secret. **I always old my kids “many guest eat… Read more »
do a miztva for Leiby, HaYeled YEHUDA ben NACHMAN HY”D who was literally thrown out in the garbage R”L!!!!!!
So each of us should throw out something not kosher as a kaparah – a book, a non-jewish video or music cd, riped jeans, a skirt that’s to short, or other unbecoming clothing, nosh without a reliable hechsher. Anything. Just get rid of ONE THING that has no place in a torah observant home.
please
AS A CHRISTIAN THAT GREW UP IN AN ORTHODOX COMMUNITY IN LOS ANGELES THIS IS NOT NORMAL!!! JEWS DO NOT DO THIS TO ONE ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY AN INNOCENT CHILD! HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ARE IN MY PRAYERS AND ALL THE BABIES THAT WALK UP AND DOWN LA BREA AND HIGHLAND SAFELY!
From the COLlive inbox: A vehicle pulled up this morning with an African American driver trying to lure a Jewish girl to get in. Dear COLlive and its readers, Following that email you got last week about the Jewish ladies being chased by thugs in Crown Heights, I would like to share an incident that happened today. At around 9:30 am this morning, an 8 year-old Jewish girl was on her way to school, walking on Troy Avenue between Lefferts Avenue and East New York. A vehicle soon pulled up following her with the driver – an African American male… Read more »
Hashem Yerachem! There is nothing more to say!!!!!!!!!
Tough night.
Dear Rebbe, please guide us and protect us, in today’s chumash Moshe Rabenu begs Hashem to appoint a leader before Moshe’s passing so that the yidden are not left as “sheep without a shepard”
A rainbow is NOT a good signe! Hashem made a piece treaty with Noach that He will not make a Mabul again and if we ever do deseve a Mabul Hashem will show us arainbow instead. We MUST take action it’s 17 yrs. since 3 Tammuz and we can not relax ourselves! Now that most of us are busy with camp. We all know the power of children ! THEY CAN BRING MOSHIACH!!!! So lets take advantage of the fact that most of us are dealing with children on a daily basis who have a tremendous potential. May we all… Read more »
we need moshiach to come right NOW
Why would you classify that as “something a ‘sick person’ did to another Jew.” It’s simply something a ‘sick person’ did to a defenseless child. Period.
What happened is not what you should classify as something ‘a Jew would do to another Jew’ – this is not a typical or natural act of a Jew, which is why the shock is so much greater. It’s something a ‘sick person’ did to another Jew.
There was a rainbow on “Gimmel Tammuz” too… don’t know what that means, but can’t be a coincidence…
may G-d be the true judge……may his family have only blessings….. may we all know he is showering blessings on us all.. hasham would have no other. I will a torah in his memory.
Coping With Tragedy in Borough Park
Can we make peace with this?
http://www.chabad.org/1569142
I was just there at that very same corner by Dahill an hour before when I drove to Amnon’s Pizza. We now have to take a new look at crazies and low-ball people who don’t have a life and ask ourselves how to fix these people.
This is so upsetting. I have been crying for an hour now. 🙁
When the Unthinkable Happens
http://www.chabad.org/1569043
I was looking out for a rainbow, and felt like there would be one in the sky, even though i didn’t see it.
let us learn the skill of true achdus in the name of this child. thats achdus. know how, internalize it and DO IT.
AD MOSSAI
i am too far away to be there in person.. please hashem be there for us all.. what Jew would do to another Jew, especially one of our babies…….my heart is broken
What is the world coming to,really…it’s a disgrace to hashem and mankind as we know it..punish the evil doers !
I ask the chabad/ crown height community to join us in boro park for the leviah, tonight at 8:30 on 56th street and 17th. continue the achdus this yingele brought to us for one more night.
-Boro Park Viznitzer
i saw the rainbow as well and got chills.
why do people do this?
Please, what’s this comment? A levaya is not a TV show! It’s a TRAGEDY. i find your comment very disturbing.
There are 2 rainbows in the sky on the west..
you always do a great job having live feeds. there are many people who cant make it for diff reasons to the levaya but so desperatly want to be there in their hearts. can you have it run live on your site or do you know of anywere that it will be running live?
Will It Be Carried live on the internet?
will there be a bus maybe, going to Boro Park?