A terrible tragedy struck the Boro Park community on Tuesday, when word spread of the drowning of a young child.
Tzvi (Hersh) Elimelech Yechiel Michel Grossman Z”L (son of R’ Moshe and Mrs Shaindel), 9-years-old, was on a camp trip with the Belzer Talmud Torah to the Sahara Sam’s Water Park in West Berlin, NJ, where the tragedy occurred at around 7:30PM. The park had been rented out, and there were multiple camps at the park (Vien, Pupa and others).
Emergency personnel did everything they could to save his life, and Paramedics transported the child to Virtua Voorhees, where he was unfortunately Niftar.
Misaskim of Philadelphia, Lakewood, and NY are working closely with law enforcement to ensure proper Kavod Haniftar.
Law enforcement kept the other camps as well as all staff members at the scene (in their buses) as they determine how this tragedy happened. They were finally released at around 10:30PM. The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office is on scene investigating.
LEVAYA INFO UPDATE: The Levaya will be held at 1:00PM at the Belzer Bais Medrash at 18th Avenue and 51st Street. The Kevura will be in Long Island at the Belzer Chelka.
In response to tonight’s tragedy in the Water Park, Chai Lifeline’s experts of Project Chai will have a conference call available to you in understanding how to respond to your children and yourself.
For Yiddish with Harav Moshe Yoel Gertner call (605) 313-4102; Access code 125482; Reference number 2#.
For English with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox call (605) 313-5112; Access Code 429088; Reference – 1#.
To reach a Project Chai interventionist call our Crisis Line @ 855.3.CRISIS.
Boruch Dayan HaEmmes…
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14 Responses
עד מתי
“A terrible tragedy struck the Boro Park community”? No. A tragedy struck all Yidden. We’re in this together. BDE. My heart breaks for this family and the camp.
Well said Gishmakyid
Chazal says aneeye irchu kodem means the poor of your town comes before the poor of another town
When tragedy strikes in Boro Park hashem is demanding tshive from Boro Park and we all have to better ourselves for this korben bp suffered so tragically
Nesaah Tokef comes to mind “mi bamayim”. Especially since is the second drowning death in the month of Tammuz, one involving that Rebbi and now this involving someone’s talmid.
Sobering thought
I agree 100% with the comment that “A tragedy struck all the Yidden”. This is the real truth.
I heard by the Levaye that the pool, where he drowned, was only 5 feet of water. A Real Gizaireh!!!
WHERE WERE THE LIFE GUARDS ?
5 feet of water is deep for a 9-year-old
WHERE WERE THE LIFE GUARDS?????
i am saying for years since i have lost my son the same way in a water park in the 3 weeks , i beg the camps do not trip in the 3 weeks a private pool is ok because is less children to watch verse a few camps with hundreds of kids which is impossible to watch each one. sad
They didn’t notice or had left w/o checking the pool if anyone stayed in there. I think according to law they aren’t allowed to leave until they see the pool completely empty. & I doubt after it was empty this kid just went into the pool. This kid was in the water for a while it seems, cuz they couldn’t revive him not even a bit.
They didn’t notice or had left w/o checking the pool if anyone stayed in there. I think according to law they aren’t allowed to leave until they see the pool completely empty. & I doubt after it was empty this kid just went into the pool. This kid was in the water for a while it seems, cuz they couldn’t revive him not even a bit.
They probably know they are in big trouble so they are doing an “investigation” to find excuses or to find someone else to blame besides themselves That’s why everyone was held 3 hours there. To try to find any other reason why this kid was in the water. Like maybe they can get a witness, like another camper, that saw this boy going into the water after it was empty “to have an extra swim”. If course this didn’t happen, but maybe they were hoping that it did.
Conservative1, it takes only a few INCHES of water for a child to drown. Such heartbreaking news, I am so upset to read of this. I guess in a crowded pool no one noticed this child struggling. As my husband says, the 9 days haven’t even begun, please be vigilant not just next week but every single day, summer & winter.
There are so many tragedies with water this summer: the rebbe from virginia,the boy at the water park, a boy at a pool and in EY a bachur in a well used as a mikva.
I feel like this is a message for all Jews. Does anyone know which avaira is punishable by mayim, drowning?