Squadron of Skverer Rebbe Receives Nine Traffic Tickets in New York, Officer Apologizes
A traffic incident involving the Skverer Rebbe's motorcade in New York concluded late Saturday night with an unexpected apology from the local police officer who issued nine traffic citations. The event began last Thursday when the Rebbe returned from a month-long rest in Malibu, California, landing at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey at 7:25 a.m. As the motorcade proceeded on highway NY-17, a local traffic officer stopped the Rebbe's vehicle and issued nine different tickets, including speeding, illegal entry into a construction zone, driving on the shoulder, unauthorized use of sirens and lights, tinted windows, and unbuckled passengers.
The delay caused the motorcade to arrive about 25 minutes late to the Skverer neighborhood, prompting the Rebbe to change his prayer plans from the main synagogue to his residence. Initially, the Hasidic community tried to downplay the incident, attributing the delay to travel fatigue. However, the story quickly spread on social media, leading community leaders with strong connections to U.S. law enforcement to pressure authorities over the incident.
Their efforts resulted in the officer personally calling the Rebbe's home to apologize for the distress caused. There has been no official update on whether the tickets will be rescinded. Notably, the Rebbe remained deeply engrossed in Torah study throughout the incident, unaware of the traffic stop until informed of the delay. His vehicle is specially equipped with a large light to facilitate study during travel.
This is not the first time the Skverer Rebbe's motorcade has faced road difficulties. Two years ago, the Rebbe was involved in a car accident en route to a wedding in Monsey, and in 2022, his vehicle was in a serious crash in Monroe that resulted in a fatality on the opposing side. In both cases, the Rebbe was unharmed and continued his journey in a replacement vehicle. This recent episode ended without accident but with multiple citations and an official apology from the officer, reportedly prompted by requests due to the Rebbe's spiritual stature.
