9/01/08 3:12PM EST: [UPDATES IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Credible sources tell YWN that the missing body of 39-year-old Naftoli Smolyansky Z”L, who went missing while on a boating trip in Lake Piru, California has just been found. Naftoli was in a boat on the lake with his 9-year-old son and his two daughters, ages 5 and 7 last Monday afternoon, when his youngest daughter fell overboard. He jumped in to save her, and managed to push his daughter back into the boat, but he R”L went under and did not resurface. Hundreds of people joined the massive search by air, land, and on the lake – and a few moments ago was B”H found. The Levaya details will be posted as soon as they are made available to us. Sources told YWN that approximately 5:00AM on Monday morning, a group of 10 Rabbonim gathered on a boat on the lake, and performed a Segula in the hope of finding the body of Naftali Z”L. Apparently, a flat bread was baked in his Zechus, and the bread was set afloat on the lake with a lit candle on it. Certain Tehillim and other Tefillos were then said until the bread stopped moving. At that precise location a stone was dropped into the water, and shortly later the body rose to the surface! UPDATE 10:30PM EST: The Levaya is scheduled to take place on Tuesday morning at 11:00AM in the Moshe Ganz Hall – 365 North La Brea Avenue. The Kevura will be at Mt. Carmel. (Click on image to ENLARGE) NOTE (PHOTOS): Click HERE for exclusive photos of the amazing Kiddush Hashem at the search – including 30 photos taken from a search helicopter by Queens Hatzolah members joining the search. Original articles of this tragic story can be found by clicking HERE and HERE. (Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN / YW-32)

The following is a letter written by Mrs. Leah Smolyansky, the wife of Naftoli Smolyansky Z”L who was tragically Niftar this summer in a boating accident on Lake Piru. Mrs. Smolyansky requested that YWN publish the letter: To our friends, the Los Angeles Community and to Yidden around the world: The outpouring of Chesed (kindness) that you showed and continue to show our family during our recent tragedy is a Nechama (comfort) to us. The community came together for us in so many different ways; from the search teams to the meals, there is a constant presence of support. The children have been occupied with your endless generosity of toys and your attention. Moreover the Tefilos (prayers) that were and are being said on our behalf give us Chizuk (strength) during this difficult time. Words alone cannot properly thank you. The Achdus (unity) and warmth we have experienced the last few weeks are an inspiration.  We understand that this tragic event has not only affected our family but our entire community and Klal Yisroel (all Jews). (Click on image to ENLARGE letter) May Hashem give us strength and may we all be Zoche (merit) to a G’mar Chasima Tova (happy and healthy New Year) and with the coming of Moshiach, Bimheira Biyameinu (speedily in our days). The Smolyansky Family.

[PHOTO LINK BELOW] On behalf of Hatzolah of Los Angeles and the entire Los Angeles Jewish community, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors will be presenting a proclamation awarding the divers from Los Angeles County with an award of appreciation for their participation in the recovery efforts at Lake Piru in the summer of 2008..   Following the tragic incident a year ago at Lake Piru, Hatzolah of Los Angeles reached out to their friends in L.A. County for the deployment of additional resources to augment the local resources at the lake. In response, members of the divers division of the L.A. County Fire Department, the divers division of the Los Angeles Department of Park and Recreation, and divers from the L.A. County Sheriff Department’s sonar team were flown in to aid in the recovery efforts. These individuals volunteered their time to accommodate the community’s needs at the time and they deserve our Hakaras Hatov.   This award was made possible by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and Supervisor Mike Antonovic, long friends of Hatzolah and the community.   Hatzolah strongly feels that the divers’ act of volunteerism is definitely worthy of the community’s gratitude and they encourage any one who can, to please attend.   The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, August 18th, at 10:00 am, at the Los Angeles County Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street,  Los Angeles, CA 90012. NOTE (PHOTOS): Click HERE for exclusive photos of the amazing Kiddush Hashem at the search – including 30 photos taken from a search helicopter by Queens Hatzolah members who had joined the search. Original articles of this tragic story can be found by clicking HERE, and HERE. (Moshe Altusky – YWN)

(PHOTO LINK AT END OF ARTICLE) Hatzolah of Los Angeles’s Disaster Preparedness & Safety Fair BBQ which took place on Sunday was a great success. There were more than 3,500 people in attendance from all areas of the Jewish community. Additionally, several local dignitaries were in attendance including the Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief of Fire Douglas  Barry, Assemblyman John Perez and LAPD Deputy Chiefs Michael Moore and Terry Hara. Hatzolah of Los Angeles took time out during this event to remember one of their beloved community members, Reb Naftoli Smolyansky, z”l,  who was taken from us not so long ago.  This was an opportunity for the community to express its hakaros hatov to the Lake Piru Rangers and park management for their help during the search at Lake Piru, CA.  Their attendance at the BBQ was commemorated with presentations of plaques of thanks presented by Hatzolah of Los Angeles Chairman, Mr. Zvika Brenner, on behalf of Hatzolah of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Community. There was a tremendous BBQ that was enjoyed by all and a coordinated exercise which included members of the LAFD and Hatzolah working together to extract a “patient” trapped within a car.  LAFD used their Jaws of Life to cut thru the automobile…not only was this a great demonstration for the community but also provided Hatzolah with additional experience working with LAFD. PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos.

(VIDEO & PHOTO LINKS AT END OF ARTICLE) The massive search is still underway in Lake Piru, California for 39-year-old Naftoli Smolyansky, who was in a boat on the lake with his 9-year-old son and his two daughters, ages 5 and 7. At approximately 6:00PM on Monday afternoon, his youngest daughter fell overboard and he jumped in to save her. He managed to push daughter back into the boat, and she made it back safely, but he R”L went under and did not resurface. A YWN reporter on the scene reports of the amazing Kiddush Hashem which is ongoing in Los Angeles. Hundreds of people have been volunteering their time, and doing shifts in search boats on the lake. On Wednesday, there were SCUBA divers deployed in the waters from Oxnard County, Los Angeles County, and the Ventura County Sheriff Dept.   The American Red cross is there, along the Office of Emergency Management. and as well as Auxiliary Coast Guard.   There were a total of 3 choppers over the water on Wednesday: two privately funded by local Askanim, and one from Ventura County. There is also a search and rescue dog which is trained to smell bodies in the water. The Ventura County Sheriffs Department, along with the Park Rangers have been tremendously cooperative with the search efforts. They have graciously given Los Angeles Hatzolah a bungalow with a kitchen, an office area for their command center and a large eating area. A dedicated group of women continue to provide massive amounts of food to keep the volunteers going. All of the Los Angeles kosher stores and restaurants have been participating with making regular deliveries as well. Minyanim for Shachris, Mincha and Maariv are continuing at the scene (as can be seen in the YWN photos). As we prepare to post this article, we have received word that Hatzolah volunteers from as far away as Montreal are scheduled to make their way to the Los Angeles area.  The Los Angeles Hatzolah is coordinating a very organized search. They are keeping an exact head-count, and know which people are in which boat at any given time. All boats in the marina being rented by LA Hatzolah, and are out on the water from 7:00AM, until 7:30PM – which are the times when searching is permitted by the authorities. Additionally, Hatzolah is currently looking for as many volunteers as possible for the search on Thursday. Please email [email protected] ONLY if you are available to search on Thursday. Do NOT email for ANY other reason! be those volunteering to search. The following short note was written by an LA Hatzolah Coordinator:   On behalf of the family, the entire community, and Hatzolah of Los Angeles, I would sincerely like to thank all the volunteers that came down to search or offered services/items. It was much needed and appreciated. Also thanks to  everyone else that has done something to help, I can’t start singling out…   Coordinator Hatzolah of Los Angeles Maran Hagon Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita encourages the entire Kehilla of LA to attend Yom Kippur Koton Tefillos – even the Noshim Tzidkonios. If the Noshim are unable to got to Shul they should say the Selichos of Yom Kippur Koton at home with out the “Yud-Gimmel Midos”. This should be a Zechus to help Naftali ben Alexander. Please be Mispallel for Naftali ben Anna (mother) [father – Alexander] that