The Lakewood kehilla has been plunged into mourning as news spreads of the tragic petirah of R’ Boruch Ber Ziemba Zt”l, a 39 year old Lakewood father of seven.
R’ Baruch Ber, a Rosh Chaburah in BMG, z”l was swimming with his children in the Delaware River when catastrophe struck, as one of his children went out too far and began struggling. He swam out to rescue the child and managed to get the child back to shore. Unfortunately, he was pulled underneath the water by the waves.
Rescue personnel located and pulled him from the water approximately 45 minutes later, and CPR was valiantly attempted before his petirah was sadly confirmed.
A Chaveirim of Rockland member was at the scene within minutes of the call coming in and has been assisting and accompanying the family throughout this horrific ordeal.
Multiple Hatzolah volunteers from the Catskills and Lakewood responded as well.
Misaskim and Chesed Shel Emes were working working with the local Medical Examiner’s Office to ensure kavod hameis.
The niftar, originally from Flatbush, is married to Temmi yb”l, the daughter of Rav Moshe Shimon Luria, one of Lakewood’s foremost Rabbanim located in the Ridge area.
The Levaya will be held tonight (Monday) at 10:30PM at BMG’s Yoshon bais medrash, with kevurah in Lakewood.
Boruch Dayan HaEmmes…
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11 Responses
May Hashem give an abundance of comfort to his wife and children and family and friends among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem until Mochiavh amd the resurrection of the dead
Delaware River is a death trap. Google it, multiple drownings every single week, vast majority swimmers without life vests.
Something similar happened about 5 years ago:
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/1776350/
The waves in the Delaware are bigger than the pacific ocean.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes. I can’t imagine what his wife and children are going through.
While we don’t know the details of the story and whether the niftar or his children were wearing life jackets is not the point now, please, if you are going to a lake or river this summer or at any time, all children and adults MUST wear lifejackets. Natural bodies of water are unpredictable, calm surfaces can hide strong currents, and those who aren’t trained lifeguards either may not be able to respond in time or may put themselves in danger by doing so. This should be the subject of awareness in the community like wearing helmets when biking or seatbelts in the car.
Can we just stop swimming in lakes or in Rivers, not with or without a life vest. Let’s stop stop and stop. How many people need to die? Let’s stop this nonsense now.
BDE, May the family be consoled.
I forget where but it wasn’t long ago I (& others) wrote about the lack of training about the dangers of hiking, boating & swimming (especially in lakes, rivers & oceans).
I lamented about the men a few years ago that went into the ocean at night which is bad enough but ignored the “No Swimming” signs because “What do the Goyim know? I’m sure it’s fine.” Yet here we are again.
The sad part is if a Ruv gave a shiur about drinking bottled water with only 4 Hashgachas when stuck away from home it’d be standing room only. But a trained professional giving a lecture on hiking safety, boating or swimming there’d be 3 Nebachs showing up.
When will the “Heimishe” community change the culture from what it is now which is “It’s beneath me or embarrassing or “Not cool” to attend these events?” How many more tragedies, deaths & orphans do we need to push our “Gaavah” aside & become educated consumers of the wonderful outdoors?
Baruch Dayan Haemet! What a horrific tragedy! May Hashem give comfort to the family in some unimaginable way!
BDE…..a great loss for a beautiful family…….May Hashem comfort this family…..
“Delaware River is a death trap. Google it, multiple drownings every single week, vast majority swimmers without life vests.”
I did google it. Seems like “death trap” “multiple drownings every week” is a bit of hyperbole but you are 100% correct regarding lifejackets.
“According to a July 11, 2024 statement by the National Park Service, of the approximate 80 drownings on the Delaware since 1980, 55 percent were related to swimming and none of the victims were wearing a properly fitted and fastened lifejacket at the time of their death”
Thats an average of roughly 2 drownings per year, of which only 1 was swimming-related. Even one, however, is too many when you realize a lifejacket would have likely saved that life.
So many karbanos from among the holy Klall being taken and are averting and saving us from a greater danger. May this bring zechusim and bring more light into the descending darkness…..through our learning Torah, not speaking lashon hara and genuine tzdaka to worthy causes. Amen