In a vehicular accident that took place at Kanot Junction in the Shvelah region at about 07:00 on Thursday morning, 9 Elul 5773, a chareidi man, 40, was killed. The Rehovot family was all dressed in Shabbos clothing as they attended a chasenah in Bnei Brak. Immediately after leaving the wedding, the husband/father z”l drove to the airport so his wife and daughter could catch a plane to Switzerland. They were traveling for medical reasons, tickets that were arranged by Ezra L’Marpeh. The niftar then traveled to Ashdod to drop off a son in yeshiva and then head back home to Rehovot. Four of the children who were still with him were injured in the accident.

Ichud Hatzalah and Magen David Adom emergency medical personnel operated on the scene. The driver was dead when he body was extricated from the mangled remains of the vehicle. The others suffered various degrees of injuries.

The injured were transported to Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot. The older daughter and two other children are listed in moderate-to-serious condition. The 3-year-old girl is listed in light condition.

A feeling of mourning prevailed when the Vishnitz/ Dzhikov communities heard of the tragedy. It is reported the Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita burst into tears when his gabbaim informed him of the loss. The rebbe ordered the chassidus’ tzedaka to launch an immediate emergency appeal to assist the family, well aware of their staggering debt due to the illness of one of the daughters.

The niftar is survived by his wife who is pregnant and 12 children. The tzibur is asked to be mispallel for the family bsoch kol cholei Am Yisrael.

אסתר בת פרידא

רבקה גננדל בת פרידא

שמעון בן פרידא

רחל בת פרידא

UPDATED:

The levaya of Reb Yosef Wiesel z”l will begin at 18:30 at the home of the Dzhikov Rebbe Shlita in Kiryat Vishnitz in Rehovot. At 20:15 it will proceed from the large beis medrash in Kiryat Vishnitz in Bnei Brak and kvura will be in Har Menuchos in Yerushalayim.

The announcement of the niftar’s name was cleared for publication after the widow was reached. She and her daughter are on their way back from Switzerland to Eretz Yisrael. ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.

Police are still investigating towards determining the cause of the fatal collision.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)