The following article appears on the WCBSTV website:
As YWN had reported yesterday, a 5-year-old boy on his way to school R”L died tragically Tuesday when he fell 10 stories to his death in a Brooklyn apartment building elevator shaft.
According to published reports Wednesday morning, the elevator that claimed the boy’s life had failed its most recent inspection and had malfunctioned at least five times since February.
There was plenty of grief outside the funeral service which was held in accordance with Orthodox Judaism, just hours after young Jacob died.
“He’s a special boy, a special, special boy. He was very good hearted,” said neighbor Pessie Gelb.
The boy, identified as Jacob Neuman Z”L, who was in the elevator with his older brother, fell after the elevator he was in became stuck between floors and he apparently tried jumping out of the elevator onto the tenth floor.
Wails of sadness and disbelief were heard outside the chapel where the funeral was being held for the boy, whose orthodox Jewish religion dictated that the funeral be held immediately.
“He’s a special, special little boy, good boy, very good-hearted.He was very good with my child,” said Pessie Gelb, who lives in the building.
Police say the two boys were being watched by their 14-year-old sister while their parents were out shopping. It was during that time Jacob and his 8-year-old brother, Isreal, stepped onto the elevator to go to school. But once inside, the elevator became stuck between the tenth and eleventh floors. The 8-year-old pressed a button and the doors then opened while the elevator was in between the two floors.
That’s when Jacob jumped out. He landed on the tenth floor, but then slipped back and fell between the floor and the bottom of the elevator into the shaft.
“Well, its not understandable, but its possible because the elevators are malfunctioning all the time,” said Andrew Gross, a resident of the building.
Residents of the Taylor Wythe Houses say there are constant problems with the elevators in the building, which is run by the New York City Housing Authority.
“We really got stuck a lot of times.T his is not the first time, not the second time,” said Gelb.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Housing Authority offered its condolences for the Neuman family’s loss and said that the circumstances of this tragedy are under investigation by several different agencies.
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7 Responses
Why does it always take something like this to get “several different agencies” to “investigate?” Does preventive measure mean nothing to them???
what difference does it make that the parents were shopping and a 14 year old sister was babysitting it would have happened even had the parents been at home. May it be the last of all tradgedes to klal yisroel and may we be able to see moishiach very soon
i am so upset what i just heard about the boy you mussed watch where your kids going may god blessed every one
may hashem confort the parents
The entire chassidic community in Wmsbg should stage a mega protest outside the “NYC Housing Authority” offices, and continue massive protests until “heads will roll”, meaning they will fire a significant # of their “officials” who have any resposibility connected to this tragic event.
Please understand that the only lame straw that they’re trying to hold out to (as a defense) is that the chassidic families are too overloaded with too many little children to take care of. This is why they constantly tout the line that his 14- year-old sister was watching him while the parents were gone. As # 2 accurately points out – the parents being home would not have been able to avoid this horrible tragedy. Even if his mother would have been in the elevator with him she could not have stopped him. This is a case of tghe worst negligence imaginable, and the onus of blame lies squrely on the shoulders of the incompetent, lazy and selfish City employees.
GO GET’EM!
to number 2 i would love to know what the point of your insolent comment was? how do you have the heart to say what you said that is ruthless!!!!!!!!! are you trying to confort the parents?actually the people that confort the parents are the ones that are quiet know that?and not only that you are poring more salt into the wounds!!!!!! well another thing i know many social workers that can deal with your issues and may you learn how to think before you speak!!!!
To commenter # 6: Comment # 2 is very well written, & I fail to see how this offends the feelings of the bereaved parents or family in any way. As I stated in comment # 5 – the evil City officials & the criminal Press are trying to shift the blame of this tragedy onto the fact that the chassidic families are too large for the parents to look after their children properly. # 2 is only addressing this matter in the most sensitive way possible.
Your tirade against him is completely out of place.
You also rant away, with poor spelling & grammar, so that it is really hard to understand your point clearly.
Maybe YOU could use a social worker, or perhaps some tranqulizers, to deal with YOUR issues.