Leiby Kletzky Killing Prompts Questions of Prevention in Borough Park

By Nick Pinto Wed., Jul. 20 2011 at 3:26 PM

The parents of Leiby Kletzky, the 8-year-old Borough Park boy who was killed and dismembered last week, stopped sitting shiva this morning. The grand jury investigating Kletzky's alleged killer, Levi Aron, is expected to announce his indictment today, according to the Brooklyn Attorney's office. And the Medical Examiner's office has revealed that the boy was drugged as well as asphyxiated.

But as the new details and pending trial keep the focus on the gruesome killing itself, the death of Leiby Kletzky is also starting conversations about what can be done in the future to prevent similar horrors from taking place.

The murder has shone a bright light on the Shomrim, the neighborhood security forces who serve many of the functions of police in New York's Hasidic neighborhoods. The Shomrim and NYPD officials are quick to say the two organizations work well together. But a story in Jewish Week suggests the relationship is uneasy at best, and quotes unnamed NYPD officials complaining the Shomrim keep information from the police.

The Brooklyn South Shomrim waited two hours to call the police after being notified Kletzky was missing, but that probably wouldn't have made a difference in this case.

More disturbing is the revelation that the Shomrim keep a list of suspected child molesters, but don't share it with police out of respect for mesirah, the prohibition on informing on another jew.

"The community doesn't go to the police with these names because the rabbis don't let you. It's not right," Shomrim member Jacob Daskel told the Daily News.

The Jewish Week says there are plenty of rabbis who say it's alright to call the cops, but the Shomrim are cherry-picking inflexible rabbinical advice so as to protect the community's reputation.

It's unclear how these concerns of privacy will jibe with a couple of other proposals stemming from the Kletzky killing:

The NYPD is urging the community to consider issuing their kids Operation Safe Child cards, carrying the kids' fingerprints and vital statistics.

Further, as it was the unblinking eye of a surveillance camera that ultimately led police to Levi Aron, now Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind wants a tax rebate to encourage business owners to fill the neighborhood's streets with closed-circuit cameras.

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Mary Ann Benton

My prayers and thoughts are with Leiby Kletz's parents. No parent should ever have to grieve the loss of such a special child. Be strong through your tough times. Leiby is with the angels and God is protecting him.

Shira

I live in Borough Park but am not a member of the orthodox community and I have to say that the action of the Shomrim was swift and thorough. They went door to door in the neighborhood with posters of the boy on the day he was lost. As soon as it was found out he was missing. When was the last time a member of the NYPD knocked on your door with a poster of a missing child? Have they ever? I have lived in NY for 6 years (until recently, in a few different neighborhoods) and I have NEVER had my door knocked on when a child has gone missing before living in Borough ParkIn spite of this recent tragedy, I still think that it is the safest neighborhood in New York and I think the Shomrim have a lot to do with that.

Zittisl

Unfortunately, the delay in having the police called, by the PARENTS, could very well have led to a delay in finding a live child. Once the police were finally called, the videos were reviewed and they knew almost immediately where to go. Levi was at work all day Tuesday; if the police were notified immediately, as they should have been, they most likely would have found that child at the Levi home before he was murdered. Minutes, let alone, hours, are crucial when a child is missing. "Door to door" wasted valuable time. There was no reason not to call the police immediately and the Shomrim could have still done their useless "door to door" anyway, if that's what made them feel useful. A delay in calling the professional NYPD was a delay in saving that precious boy's life.

Joanne R. Pacicca

A six year old child was stabbed to death in Sherill, NY yesterday. The mother's boyfriend moved the heavy dresser in front of the door as to block any interference. The girl's mother awoke to hear her six year old's twin screaming. By the time she summoned the strength to push the door open, the little girl was dead. This type of hideous child murder is taking place everywhere. No community is safe. Either law enforcement or the justice system must change in order to balance the horror. Obviously these people have no sense of reason.