The levaya of the unidentified man who collapsed in a Yerushalayim mikve a few weeks ago and subsequently died in Hadassah Hospital was delayed late Thursday night. The reason for the delay was the uncertainty surrounding his identity. Vehicles circulated through the street of Geula and Meah Shearim on Thursday calling on anyone with information that may help identify the anonymous niftar to step forward. Towards evening, the Chevra Kadisha and other officials appeared satisfied that his identity was established, but as the kvura was about to get underway, it was learned that the man the niftar was thought to be was alive in Beit Yisrael.
The unidentified elderly yid was niftar on Rosh Hashanah, and since then, Zaka has been circulating his photo and working to find someone who can make a positive identity. After the witnesses came forward, police were satisfied and they ‘identified’ the man and issued a burial permit. The testimony from witnesses was also enough for the Chevra Kadisha to determine he was shomer shabbos, and therefore, could be buried in the shomer shabbos section in Har Menuchos.
About an hour before the levaya was to begin, scheduled for 10:00pm, the witnesses phoned to explain that the niftar is “not Aryeh” as they thought since they learned Aryeh is still alive, seen in Beit Yisrael.
Zaka and Chevra Kadisha officials are working to arrange for kvura for an anonymous yid. In the meantime, the body was returned to the refrigerator pending a police decision.
Zaka is calling on anyone who can identify him to call 1220 (without the asterisk) from any telephone in Israel, or call Bentzion Oiring 057-775-2045.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
This isn’t a mais mitzvah. Nowadays -he colapsed-someone called EMS -he died in the hospital. He should have been buried right away -family or not.
The only ones who turned this into a mais mitzvah were the Tzionim- Israelie gov., by refusing to bury someone until we know who his family is!
oy… Hashem yerachem! can’t they just bury him and continue to circulate photos to find out his identity? just bury the poor man!
As #2 and #3 say. Bury him, after that we’ll establish his identity. Take tissue samples for DNA matches, write down / photograph every single thing that could be used to identify him, and then bury him. Shouldn’t take more than a few hours.