New Square, New York

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See related article Skver (Hasidic dynasty)

New Square (Hebrew: שיכון סקווירא) is an all-Hasidic village in the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York. Its inhabitants are Skverer Hasidim who seek to maintain a lifestyle based on Hasidic teachings.

1 History
2 Way of Life
3 Controversies
4 Geography
5 Demographics
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit] History

New Square is the anglicized form of Skvyra, a town in Ukraine, where the Skver Hasidim have their roots. The village was established in 1954, when twenty families moved from Williamsburg, Brooklyn to a 130 acre dairy farm under the leadership of their Rebbe, Yakov Yosef Twersky. In 1961 New Square was incorporated, and became the first village in New York state to be governed by a religious group. Over the years annexations have increased its size.

New Square's success motivated the Satmar Hasidim headed by their own rebbe Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum to plan and build their own version of a town governed by a religious group at Kiryas Joel, New York.

Its population increased 77.5% between 1990 and 2000. In 2005 the village contained approximately 7830 residents; 1350 families, with 5.8 persons per family. ^[1]

[edit] Way of Life

The community in New Square is made up exclusively of Hasidic Jews, mostly from the Skverer Hasidic sect, who wish to maintain a Hasidic lifestyle while keeping outside influences to a minimum. The village is self-sustainable, with its own business and shopping areas, primary and secondary schools, and charitable organizations.

The community is led by Grand Rabbi David Twersky. The village is essentially one community with a large synagogue serving the entire population. By communal ordinance, no synagogues or educational institutions may be set up independent of the established leadership. A rabbinic court, consisting of three prominent rabbis, exists for deciding day-to-day matters of Jewish law.

The village is administered by a Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and a Board of Trustees. Although elections take place, the officials generally run unopposed and actual voting is minimal. It is generally understood that officials running for office, are endorsed by Rabbi Twersky, the village's spiritual leader, who retains control of communal matters.

The village exercises its power as a voting bloc and has achieved considerable influence with officials in Albany and Washington. Residents vote for candidates endorsed by the village's leaders, with little exception. It is a frequent campaign stop for candidates for public office, both local and federal, and has been visited by such notables as Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Vice president Al Gore. New York Governor George Pataki is a frequent visitor to communal events and personal family celebrations of the Rebbe, Rabbi David Twerski.

The community maintains strict codes of behavior based on the teachings of their Rebbes, past and present. At the entrance to the village, a sign notifies of a village law forbidding entry in immodest dress. Village roads have signs for "Men's side" and "Women's Side"; of course this has no legal merit. However it was recommended by a group of residents and has been welcomed by the citizens and rabbis of the village. Women do not drive.

The community's spokesperson is Rabbi Mayer Schiller, a controversial Talmud Teacher in New York City, who, while not currently residing in New Square, is a longstanding friend of the community.

[edit] Controversies

In years past, the Rachmestrivka Rebbe lived there and gained a following among some residents. The friction intensified after his father, Rabbi Yochanan, Rebbe of Rachmestrivka-Jerusalem, died in 1986. This resulted in his move to Borough Park, and there has been no Rachmestrivka presence in New Square since then. ^{[citation needed]}

The New Square community does not allow any sub-groups to form that would undermine the homogeneity of Skver. It is for that reason that no other schools, synagogues, or even private minyanim are allowed.

In recent years, a number of scandals plagued the community. Government allegations of fraudulent colleges with bogus student bodies set up to extract PELL grants, which would benefit the schools and institutions, bristle the community. Convictions were handed down against four community members, who received prison sentences ranging from two to six years.[1] Charges of anti-Semitism and overzealous prosecution led to an eleventh-hour clemency by President Bill Clinton shortly before the end of his term in office, after he was visited by the community's Rebbe, Rabbi David Twersky. [2]

Media allegations followed, suggesting that a quid-pro-quo was arranged with Hillary Clinton, who subsequently received the vast majority of the vote in New Square (1359 out of 1369 votes)[3][4]. Investigations have not uncovered any wrongdoing, and the matter was dropped.

[edit] Geography

Location of village within the Town of Ramapo and Rockland County, New York.

New Square is located at 41°8′23″N, 74°1′42″W (41.139745, -74.028197)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.9 km² (0.4 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 4,624 people, 820 households, and 786 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,959.3/km² (12,811.8/mi²). There were 838 housing units at an average density of 898.8/km² (2,321.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.95% White, 1.64% African American, 0.89% Asian, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 820 households out of which 77.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 92.6% were married couples living together, 2.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 4.1% were non-families. 3.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 5.64 and the average family size was 5.81.

In the village the population was spread out with 60.5% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 15.9% from 25 to 44, 7.1% from 45 to 64, and 2.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 14 years. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $12,162, and the median income for a family was $12,208. Males had a median income of $21,696 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income for the village was $5,237. About 67.0% of families and 72.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 77.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.