A Shabbos afternoon is supposed to be filled with peace – families
walking to Shul, parents pushing strollers, children skipping ahead on
quiet streets. Instead, for many families on Hempstead Road in Spring
Valley, a recent Shabbos turned into a nightmare: flashing lights,
police tape, and an armed suspect barricaded inside 122 Hempstead
Road. What should have been the calm of Shabbos was shattered by
chaos, fear, and the painful realization of how close violence had
come to our homes.
That single house, 122 Hempstead Road, stands as more than just a
crime scene. It is a symbol of something far deeper, and far more
dangerous: a breakdown of communal responsibility driven, in no small
part, by the very people who for decades have held themselves up as
providers for Klal Yisrael.
For generations, Monsey Trails has been a name synonymous with
reliability and service. The Lunger family built a business that
transports tens of thousands across the Tri-State area each month.
Yidden of every stripe—yeshivish, chassidish, modern orthodox, board
these buses with confidence. One can even say that Monsey Trails is a
quiet but powerful symbol of achdus.
And yet, that very same family now stands accused of actions that
threaten to unravel the very fabric of our neighborhoods. Reports and
public records show that the Lungers have aggressively acquired more
than 20 homes within the so-called “Skver Mile.” These houses, instead
of being maintained as respectable single-family residences, are being
rented out illegally, overcrowded, and mismanaged, inviting
instability, crime, and fear right into the heart of otherwise
peaceful communities.
The case of 122 Hempstead Road, owned by a member of the Lunger
family, is only the most visible and tragic example. Police records
cite repeated incidents – domestic violence, drug activity, assaults,
property damage, and criminal weapons possession. Each report is more
than an entry on a blotter; each one represents shattered trust,
wounded neighbors, and families forced to live with fear.
And here lies the unbearable contradiction: can a family continue to
profit off the loyalty of Klal Yisrael through Monsey Trails, while
simultaneously fueling the very instability that displaces frum
families and desecrates the values of our community? Can we ignore the
plain truth that illegal rentals, overcrowding, and crime are not just
“business decisions” or acts for Kavod within the Skver community, but
rather choices that corrode the dignity of our neighborhoods and
endanger lives?
This is not simply about zoning codes or housing disputes. It is about
achrayus. It is about whether we, as a tzibbur, are willing to hold
accountable those who would exploit us, whether for a bus fare or a
rental check. The Lungers, who once built for Klal Yisrael, must
choose whether they will be remembered as builders or destroyers, as
unifiers or dividers.
We cannot, and we will not, remain silent. Every home used to
destabilize a neighborhood, every illegal rental, every corner cut in
pursuit of supporting these ridiculous mortgages must be exposed. This
is not lashon hara – it is toeles, a matter of communal survival and
need for basic safety.
The message must be clear: you cannot ride under the banner of Monsey
Trails while owning properties that endanger the very families who
fill those buses. You cannot profit from Klal Yisrael while betraying
its trust.
The choice belongs to the Lunger family and the many other families
that, for now, find themselves on the wall of shame. But the voice
belongs to us. And our voice must say, with unity and with strength:
we will not allow our neighborhoods to be bought, sold, and broken
from those who learn from the same Shulchan Aruch we do and who are
obliagated to follow the same local and federal laws we are.
26 Comments
Here is the paragraph you wrote, slightly polished for impact, to add to your previous message. It’s direct and powerful.
This is so tragic, especially coming from a so-called “frum” website with rabbinic backing. You’re destroying a family, a business, and a reputation all in the name of “truth”? This is absolutely horrible and represents the worst level of Chillul Hashem.
Also see my yesterday’s reply to your previous post.
First, let me introduce myself. I am a Skver Chassid, living far from the Skver shtetl, but I am an ardent follower of my Rebbe. The constant smearing happening here—about a Rebbe, a Beis Din, and Yidden in general—is just horrible. You say you tried to reach out to them and clear things up civilly, and that they didn’t respond. If that’s true, it’s frustrating, but it’s no reason to smear an entire holy community. What’s happening here is a massive Chillul Hashem!
To be clear, my Rebbe is a holy Yid. The Chassidus and the shtetl are filled with pure kedushah. Everything the Rebbe and the Beis Din do is for the sake of adding kedushah for their Chassidim. That said, there are some things the Rebbe and the Beis Din say that I have a hard time understanding. This is one of them. It’s not a new thing—in every generation, Rabanim have said things that were incomprehensible to the masses. But to create a platform just to bash an entire community and their Rebbe is simply inexcusable.
Our Rebbe is not a tyrant or a cult leader, Heaven forbid. Anyone who is part of the Chassidus or has ever been to him for advice or chizzuk knows what a pure and kind person he is, and that kedushah radiates from him.
Now, for those of you who want to try and understand why this subject is so important to the Rebbe, here’s some context. The Rebbe’s father started the shtetl in 1956, almost 70 years ago. He moved close to Monsey because there were a few frum families nearby, but he explicitly chose a location far from others because he wanted a shtetl life, not a city life, which he despised and was looking to run away from. He wanted to have a spiritual influence (hashpa’ah) on his Chassidim. (Side note: hashpa’ah doesn’t mean controlling them. Everyone who moved there wanted to be under his influence and accept his derech Hashem.) He understood that if his community was among other Yidden, he wouldn’t have the same influence, because others would bring their own flavor of Yiddishkeit, and that’s not what he wanted. Now, we can understand a bit more why the Rebbe is so insistent that this community stays an enclave, away from outside influences, and not in a bad way—in a spiritual way.
Most people living in the shtetl want to live there. It’s a magnificent, peaceful, and friendly place. The lies being spread here are just not true. Sure, there might be some people who aren’t happy, but the door is open for them to leave whenever they want.
The people who mentioned feeling hated when they came to Skver—that’s such a lie! I don’t know if there’s another place in the world that hosts as many guests as Skver does every single Shabbos. I could go on and on, but I think I’ve made my point. Hopefully, this helps you understand the full picture a bit better.
I know this and have seen the chesed and believe the rebbe is holy. He’s still human and can make a mistake.
The first bobover rebbe on zionism said “der tzil kahert nisht der mittel” you can’t go against halacha and yashrus (I understand your cause) – to keep a mile – especially when there were yidden there before. Btw – even one yid – you have no right to call him to leave.
The tactics are horrible and it causes chillul Hashem when yidden get cold and question gedolim due to such tactics you employ.
If you find a place far away that’s bigger (maybe another state) – wouldn’t this be more yosher?
NS legabai the place most yidden lived after the war – could be seen as going to another state – possibly.
I have skver cousins and they are very nice and baalei sechel. There is such a thing though – as losing seichel when it applies to the chassidus.
You might want lifnum neshuras hadin from the neighors. When it regards oneself – this is what we we thought – when it comes to other – we were taught to respect the shilchun orach.
I’d love to discuss this with someone.
you have a point . but the same for your side of the fight please “der tzil kahert nisht der mittel” you can’t go against halacha and yashrus (I understand your cause)
That’s exactly why we don’t hire half naked woman to march in skver every Shabbos afternoon like skver does here.
We’re above that. We follow daas torah.
And they do too. Why do you assume that your Rav’s daas Torah is superior to theirs?
When one side sends criminals and half naked women to the other side you know at which side the daas Torah sits.
If Skver wants to be saved from the influence of other Yidden, they are welcome to move away. They don’t get to move others away.
The idea that Monsey today is like Willimasburg of the 1950s is also ludicrous. But I don’t have to argue this point.
I live within the mile and trust me if there was another way to solve this without smearing NS that would be much easier for all invovled. But what is the alternative you suggest? I can personally attest that everything said is so far true. And why shouldn’t a family with 20 houses destroying our neighborhood be held accountable? Just like leadership should be held accountable too. We should just let them trample over us for the sake of a gentle request from many years ago? Hundres of famiies should suffer in silence? You seem like a reasonable person and what they are doing is unjust and not ok. There are no two ways about it.
just go back 30 yrs when Monsey trails had it’s coemption and the fight ended with a killing of someone in their own community
@Aron Mendy & Eitzy, The hate you’re expressing seems to come from a place of deep pain.
Smearing your ex-community won’t erase what happened to you.
The real way to heal is to get professional help. Therapy has helped so many people work through these feelings.
It’s tragic that a website backed by Rabbanim would post something like this, but it’s also comical at the same time.
When reading this, it can seem like you’re the daily wire calling for a boycott of coors light, and millions of your followers will eagerly comply.
Monsey trails is a booming company. You have 50 readers on this website. Do you seriously think thousands of riders that have used their services will suddenly boycott them because of an angry person writing on some unknown website???
In any case, it is cute. Keep on providing entertainment. It’s amusing. Who’m are you going to cancel next, ostricher cookies? Ner mitzvah? Refuah medical center? Cheeses 24? Devash?
You better start building alternatives, because I think the “hundreds of thousands” there are going to join this boycott are going to be hungry, thirsty, and walk from Brooklyn to monsey.
My friend, you missed the point… This is about calling out people who are working hard to destroy a community, not about boycotts…
“ can a family continue to
profit off the loyalty of Klal Yisrael through Monsey Trails, while
simultaneously fueling the very instability that displaces frum
families and desecrates the values of our community?”
“ The message must be clear: you cannot ride under the banner of Monsey
Trails while owning properties that endanger the very families who
fill those buses. You cannot profit from Klal Yisrael while betraying
its trust.”
These paragraphs seem to me as a call for a boycott and financial retribution. Nuta, or whatever your name is, I know you run this site. Why do you censor certain comments? In fact, you’ll probably censor this one as well, but I’ve screenshot it, as have I all the other rejected ones, and I’ll spread them on x.
You claim you’re not a hater. However, while you continue to post vile comments by “Aron Mendy eitzy” that have nothing to do with “the mile,” simply because “we do not censor and control,” you block comments that you don’t feel feel confident enough to reply to.
What a joke.
I love to hear that i run this site because I probably have to most comments here… I think I’d start posting 1000 daily tweets on x and become its ceo in two days…
All jokes aside, I got no clue what your talking about censored comments, of what I see here there’s almost more pro skver vs pro mile comments (maybe skver runs this site…:) and sorry, I don’t have access to X and wont be able to see what you post. But please don’t keep yourself back of posting anything on there, doesnt even have to be true.
You didn’t address the boycott part.
About the boycott part, when the daily wire campaigns for a boycott it means bringing down that business, here its about letting people know that when you ride with monsey trails, you help him doing more harm to the community.
That doesnt mean anyone thinks it will bring down his business, its about expressing pain and exposing cronies.
Since you obviously consider other peoples’ anguish entertaining, the real tragedy is that there are too many like you whose attitudes smack of Eruv Rav. Just to be quite clear, E.R. are not just zionist. And btw, speak for yourself, because, comically speaking, many of us can do just fine without “ostricher”, ner, refuah, and all the rest you mention. So since you covered both tragedy and comedy, there you go – a different twist on both tragedy and comedy.
I think you should go ahead and boycott then. You’ll look like the Palestinians boycotting cocoa cola. Ostriecher cookies will see a reduction in sales of two bags of cookies per week. Ner mitzvah will sell 10 less bottles of oil Chanukah. I’m not sure how chessed 24 will manage if three people stop using their facilities, and monsey trails will have 3 less riders per year.
Way to go.
You have to admit, the methods being employed by people like yourself are quite comical.
Now, in terms of your plight, I would generally feel bad for you. However, after witnessing the vile hatred, Mesira, slandering, and bullying coming from your side, I don’t feel bad at all. You guys are mosrim and rodfim. Whatever the other side does, it does not changed the fact of מורידים ואין מעלין.
I’m going to take the approach here of כל המרחם על אכזרים סופו להיות אכזר.
We, just any other jew, hates an attempt to destroy a Frum community.
If you define exposing what’s going on here slandering, so let it be.
And you want to talk about mesirah? Your Mr Eisenberg who owns a house on 21 Westview and rents it out illegally, called the cops today on a yid living next door due to a legal sign he up in his own property stating that its illegal to rent out to multiple people in a single family home.
Give me a break, you don’t care about anything the torah stands for and just use nice phrases to defend Skver in their crimes against humanity and the Torah.
Nuta, read the following quote: “I’m a tiny bit curious, why do you have a problem with inspections if everything you’ve done is so righteous?”
Recognize it?
It was posted by someone that calls himself Nuta on another article.
Why are you attacking Mr. Eisenberg for calling the cops for a “legal sign”? According to your own logic on the posted quote, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I guess you’re talking so much shtussim that you’re already confused by your own nonsense.
P.s. Nuta, please don’t post this comment, like you didn’t post the one calling out Aron Mendy & Eitzy on his trauma-induced hate, yet you post all his vile commentary.
My comment was directly directed on his cry about mesira, dont cry mesira when your guy – who also cried bout mesira in another comment, simply called the cops on a fellow jew.
And just to set the record straight, the mesira you alleged we do is calling the authorities to remove criminals and pritzus of our neighborhood, while Eisenberg called the cops for a sign someone put up in his own property.
Baruch Hashem, my brain has the capacity to grasp the difference, sadly, it doesnt look like yours does at this given moment in time…
I think it’s obvious that a boycott could be down the line as this continues to grow. Isn’t it amazingly that only “50” people know about this site and you still found out about it. Closer to 10s of thousands of unique visitors have already been to this site and it continues to grow not to mention the 800 people on the WhatsApp group
Calling for a boycott in the name of ahavas yisroel is like supporting Hamas in the name of human rights.
Also, now I’m utterly confused. Is it or isn’t it about a boycott.
Please see the following by Nuta, and then get your stories straight:
“My friend, you missed the point… This is about calling out people who are working hard to destroy a community, not about boycotts…”
I dont give much hope for the boycott bt I’d thrasher compare it to the boycott of nazi Germany made cars.
Got it.
10,000 people visited the site (that’s bs, but truth doesn’t matter to you anyway).
What percentage of these people use the monsey trails bus? (0.1?)
Of those, how many would join a boycott?
Will they all lease cars?
You guys are delusional. Thanks for confirming.
I’m a bochur.
Don’t drive.
Have used Monsey Trails in the past.
And don’t plan on ever using them in the future.
How will I get places?
I’ll figure it out.
Either way, it’s pretty interesting that evewn though “this site only has 50 visistors”, skver concerned about it enough to send teams here to post comments that are pro-skver.