Following Rachmestrivke Funeral, Chestnut Ridge Makes Bizarre Demand
by Monsey.info
The funeral of the Rachmestrivker Rebbe was a very large affair with thousands of Chassidim descending first on Boro Park, then Airmont as the procession traveled towards the final resting place in Har Shalom Cemetery.
During the massive funeral, a large amount of traffic disturbance took place. So much in fact, that an infuriated neighboring Village decided to make an absurd demand.
Alak Shah, the lawyer representing the town of Chestnut Ridge, sent a letter to the cemetery’s management in which he wrote, “We write to advise you of an unacceptable situation in Chestnut Ridge on August 16, 2023, which was the direct result of Har Shalom Cemetery’s failures.”
After initially extoling and explaining their understanding of the greatness of the event, Shah writes that “Har Shalom’s failures in properly managing his funeral resulted in an unmitigated disaster in Chestnut Ridge.”
“Har Shalom has known of the Grand Rabbi’s great influence and following, and the large crowds and gatherings that his funeral would create,” Shah wrote. “In this regard, Har Shalom timely and duly advised the Town of Ramapo (“Town”) and its Police Department, as well as the Village of Airmont in which it is located, of the Grand Rabbi’s influence and following, and the eventual great impact his passing and corresponding funeral would have on Har Shalom, Airmont, as well as the greater Town. This event was of such a magnitude that a grand plan, called ‘Operation Hillside,’ had been orchestrated by Har Shalom in anticipation of the crowds expected.”
“However, despite the foregoing, Har Shalom never took appropriate action to properly advise, notify, or consult the Village of Chestnut Ridge or Chestnut Ridge residents. Chestnut Ridge officials, including the Mayor or its Village Board of Trustees, were never consulted or even so much as provided any advance notice of the significance of the funeral event for Grand Rabbi Twersky. All of this was despite the fact that Har Shalom at all times contemplated, and did in fact, close major streets in Chestnut Ridge!”
The “disaster” was of such great proportions in the mind of Shah and the Villagers of Chestnut Ridge, that he mae the point of writing that such events would “never be tolerated again.”
To solve the problem, Shah proposed that any such funeral in the future, in which plans are made, should be reported to the Village of Chestnut Ridge six months months in advance of the date, a demand that has left pretty much everyone scratching their heads.
“Please be advised that the Village of Chestnut Ridge requires that Har Shalom provide advance notice to the Village for any and all future funerals that will require any road closures that may impact Chestnut Ridge residents,” Shah wrote. “If there is any anticipated funeral or related procession or event such that Har Shalom orchestrates a plan ahead of time, the notice must be provided at least six months in advance and Chestnut Ridge officials consulted so proper traffic plan arrangements can be made to minimize adverse impact on Chestnut Ridge residents.”
