8:00PM EST: A group of Williamsburg Yeshiva Bochrim who were on vacation in Ohio, were involved in a serious jet-ski accident earlier this afternoon – leaving one Bochur in critical condition. A Misaskim spokesman has informed Yeshivaworld that the accident took place in Put-In-Bay, Ohio. The Bochur was flown by Medevac to University Hospital of Toledo, OH – where he remains in grave condition. YW was further informed that – if needed – Misaskim has a private jet on stand-by ready to transfer him to NY for medical treatment. Please be Mispallel for Yechezkal ben Rochel.
UPDATE 9:38PM EST:Yeshivaworld is being informed that the Bochur is out of surgery and is Boruch Hashem beginning to move his hands and feet when spoken to. However, he is heavily sedated to help him breath easier on the machine.
Please continue to be Mispallel for Yechezkal ben Rochel.
25 Responses
I’m so relieved B”H that nothing worse happened and they’re all in stable condition but I really think the Gedolim need to come out with some kind of Takanah about bachurim going on trips Bein Hazemanim. They need to be more supervised and controlled. The amount of deaths and injuries worldwide this Bein Hazemanim is R”L.
Why must Yeshiva bochurim seek thrills so far away? I am all for relaxing, playing sports and exercisinmg during bein hazmanim, but things are getting a bit too wild.
This is a really tricky issue. I think bochurim seek thrills during bein hazmanim since they are basically cooped up the whole rest of the year. AT MOST they play basketball for two hours on Friday. Why not some physical activity every day? Then they might not need to seek exciting thrills once a year. Who knows? (And don’t anyone accuse me of not appreciating limud torah sufficiently – I am a very hard working kollel wife). Is it normal for young boys to sit for 18 hours a day for months on end? Give them some air in a safe, kosher manner every day.
What are Bochurim doing in the middle of Elul Jet skiing in Ohio?
I wish Yechezkel ben Rochel a Refuah Sheleima
To flatbusher and tootired:
I have read both of your comments and have really thought about them. In fact I have given these ideas much thought over the years. To be honest, the idea of how much time is “our own ‘free’ time” and how we should spend “our” time is a concept everyone should focus on regularly. The question of why we seek thrills is a second question.
Our ultimate goal as “avdei HaShem” is to direct ALL our words, actions, and thoughts towards the service of HaShem. Living in a world so distanced from monarchy and servitude makes this level of service very difficult to picture let alone achieve. It is nonetheless required. The mishnah (Avos) calles this “osei retzono”. Chumash refers to it as “kedoshim ti’hiyu” which is the mitzvah to be “mekadesh atzmo b’mutar lach.”
The challenges we face today in the arena of “tzniyus” probably has its roots here as well. Clothing covers and binds us. It teaches us that our bodies are not free to anything they want. The many freedoms we are grateful to have merited, especially in the last 60 years make this reality a difficult one to relate to.
As far as the thrill seeking. Not unrelated. MAN was meant to work — seek fulfillment if you will. When Shabbos, kashrus, taharas haMishpachah, and chinuch haBonim were difficult we lived up to the challenge. Today we have Shabbos, mehadrin min ha’mehadrin kashrus standards, mikva’os built according to exacting detail, and a aboundacne of Yeshivos, Bais Yaakovs, and day schools. Batei Medrashim are packed 22 hours a day with minyanim and shiurim.
So where do we toil? Where do we go to seek fulfillment? In our kitchens, our vacation homes, our gadgets, and our thrills.
During the remaining days of this year and in preparation for 5768, let us resolve to look for challenges in our ruchniyus. If need be let us build our own hurdles to overcome. Perhaps if we will develop our spiritual lives this year we will merit a healthier ohysical one as well. May we see an end to all the types of tragedies we saw this summer and the coming of Moshiach tzidkeinu BB”A.
Im sorry pp but jet skiing in Ohio is not all that crazy..nor is so “far away”…this is hardly “too wild”
Well said, Shuali. But what exactly did you mean by “build our own hurdles to overcome?” Yes, we do need to develop our spiritual lives this year, which is intertwined with our physical one, but I see the hurdles in front of us every minute.
To Flatbusher:
I am sure that you must agree that there have to be some limits. And, yes, when I was learning in Yeshiva, I and all of my friends managed to have wonderful vacations, without searching for spectacular thrills. All I can say is that a true Ben Torah is not interested in jet skiing in Ohio. If they are going there to jet ski, then they should have jobs and not be in Yeshiva. Obviously, if they need these thrills in order to survive Yeshiva, then learning full time is not for them.
Shauli,
Your message was so eloquently expressed, though I am not sure I got the gist of it clear.
We have an abundance of gashmiyus, and an abundance of ruchniyus. We are stressed out from working/learning/volunteering/raising families, all the everyday stresses. We do not have to “resolve to look for challenges in our ruchniyus”, those challenges threaten every parent to the core. Those challenges are on the streets (immodest dress), bus advertisements, circulars that come to our doorsteps, magazines displayed in pharmacies. They are in our homes – computers – with or without internet- are damaging, they waste precious time from learning, IPods etc. Every parent worries about raising our children in this generation, that has SO much good and so much bad. From the best of homes, we have seen children stumble- due to the challenges in our ruchniyus, that we all face.
Having said that, we do need to refocus…..something is not right. Something has got to change, if we want to raise a happy, healthy generation. Children (and adults) DO NEED an outlet. And we do NOT HAVE any KOSHER outlets!! Everything gets banned. Exercise in yeshiva is assur. Ball playing is assur. Bike riding is assur. How do we expect our children to let off steam in a healthy, productive way?
This issue has been discussed over & over, and no change has come of it, meanwhile our children are growing into frustrated teens. We must band together and demand changes. If we implement healthy, kosher changes, our children (and some
adults) wont need to look for excitement/fulfillment in other places.
the yeshiva world should make better research before they write something, these bochurim are NOT from williamsburg, it just sounds more dramatic like that
Attention all those who live in the Put-In-Bay vicinity: Move to New York – so you’ll never get hurt!
How about being dan lekaf zechus? Maybe these bochurim were there for a friends wedding and did this in their spare time. I don’t know if this is the case but if we would be dan lekaf zechus others, Hashem will be us dan lekaf zechus.
How about just accepting that accidents do, and will, occur?
Oncefrum-
We don’t accept that because we believe in hashgacha. As the gemara tells us (Berachos 5a), when people see yissurim coming upon them, they must introspect and check their deeds. As a collective group, when we see tzaros happening, we ask what Hashem is trying to tell us.
Perhaps it’s that bochrim should not be doing these types of things. (I’m not asserting this. That has been one opinion on this thread.)
But there is no “accepting” of accidents as just mikreh.
to vasertrager
I happen to know the guys and they just happen to be from williamsburg. don’t try to rip b4 u know facts
the world is bigger than brooklyn and lakewood. why shouldn’t these bochurim go to ohio?
by the way, there are plenty of yidden in ohio, and all over the world.
just look at how i sign myself here.
I made a similar comment to ‘Gingy’ but it wasn’t featured. Not sure why I have been blacklisted!?
To tomim tihye and newcomer:
I will try to address your well thought out comments and questions.
WE HAVE MANY NISYONOS AND HURDLES TODAY: Both of you see hurdles and challenges all around us. You are correct. There are many. I simply suggested that many of those who are thrill-seekers see those obstacles in a different light. Perhaps due to the complacency they feel in the (mis)belief that “achsher dara” — that our generation is better off than the past one — leads them to not realize to what extent they must fight these battles. Their natural desire to strive and grow is therefore directed towards gashmiyus pursuits. After all we have Shabbos, kashrus and taharas ha’mishpachah. We have Yeshivos winter and summer. We all go to shiurim — all except unfortunatley our brother “oncefrum”. They don’t realize that we have different nisyonos – as you both so correctly have observed.
WE NEED KOSHER RELAXATION: Yaakov Avinu is our Tatte in galus. Yaakov Avinu lived in galus. He lived outside of Eretz Yisroel and dealt with a Lavan and an Eisav. What was the Ribono shel Olam’s reply to his request to dwell in shalva? Rugzo shel Yosef.
We mustn’t assume the time has come when we deserve to sit back and relax for the sake of relaxation. Rest, yes. Bur rest to have the strength to fight further (See Chasam Sofer/Toras Moshe on the pasuk Achain yais HaShem ba’makom ha’zeh v’anocho lo yadati.”). To learn more. To do more chesed. To inspire others. To love our children. To encourage them. To instill ahavas Torah and, not only yiras Shomayim, but an ahavah for yiras Shomayim. To instill in them an appreciation for Atah b’chartanu MIKOL ha’amim and as s’iz gut tzu zein a Yid.
What lesson are we imparting to our children when we work in order to play ball, to buy that summer home, to go on that cruise? In short, when we teach them that rest and relaxation is a goal in it of itself. IS IT ANY WONDER OUR YOUTH ARE DISENCHANTED? IS IT ANY WONDER THEY DON’T APPRECIATE THE TORAH AND ITS VALUES? IS IT ANY WONDER THEY, TOO, LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR FULFILLMENT, SATISFACTION, AND GRATIFICATION? IS IT ANY WONDER THEIR HOLY NESHAMOS DON’T FIND IT?
In the past 34 years during which I have learned and worked in numerous Yeshivos and have developed relationships with many of our gedolim, poskim, and manhigim, I have NEVER heard or read about a gadol assuring “exercise in yeshiva”, “ball playing” or “bike riding”. (I have heard that perhaps our leaders or even our children’s Rebbaim should not play ball WITH their followers or students. This is a different issue.
Quite the opposite is true. Most Yeshivos have gyms. Most encourage their talmidim to get a breath of fresh air in bein ha’sedarim and surely in the summer; to play ball, go swimming, etc. Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky used to “make fun” of the American boys who could not swim or ride a bike as well as he could. Rav Hutner INSISTED a gym be built in his mesivta.
“WE MUST BAND TOGETHER AND DEMAND CHANGES.” From whom must we demand? From our gedolim? From our poskim and manhigim? Seek their advice, YES. Ask them for an explanation, YES. But demand changes?
I hope this clears things up a bit. May we all have a great year full of aliyah, simchah, and nachas and all in good health.
To oncefrum:
You write: “How about just accepting that accidents do, and will, occur?”
You are right. Accidents DO just happen. However, THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS. Wishing you an inspiring year.
To Shauli,
Thank you for clarifying your original message.
With all due respect, I still beg to differ. Firstly, vacation/relaxation is necessary for all people, whether we are on the madreiga to recognize that it is for the benefit of our ruchniyos, so that we should have more strength to do more mitzvos (learn, daven, chessed etc.) or not. Most of us are not on that level, we need vacation to recuperate from the daily stress we are all under, and to rejuvenate ourselves. (mind you I did not have a summer vacation at all). Obviously your involvement in chinuch was not in the chassidishe arena, thus you are not aware that in the chassidishe yeshiva ketanos, it IS ASSUR to drive bikes (certainly TO school) or play ball, and not one that I am aware of has a gym. Regarding “demanding” changes, I for one, respect and admire all Rebbes, Roshei Yeshivos, Talmidei Chachamim. No, I am not disrepectful enough to “demand” changes from them. I demand changes from the school system. From the principals. From the vaads. We are failing. Look back at the first generation post-war, where exercise, biking, ball playing was allowed, as was movies, Yankee games etc and they are still ehrliche yidden. In fact, many of them put us to shame. Of course the world has changed. TV is not what it was, movies are not what they were either, I understand the need to ban that.
But something like ball playing & bike riding??
Do your own research. Call Visnitz Yeshiva, call Pupa, call Satmar, call any chassidishe yeshiva ketana (and of course, Yeshiva Gedolah) and you can verify that what I am saying is correct. And after you do, maybe you will join the bandwagon and help us implement positive, kosher changes.
shuali – Unfortunately on this the Litvishe are much more on the ball than the Chassidishe.
It was to them (the chassidim) that newcomer was referring to when he said that every thing is assur. They officially discourage all physical activity like ball playing, and bike riding. In some Circles even kids before the Bar-Mitzvah are not allowed to ride a bike (they have to be happy with just a scooter).
In EY the Litvishe are just as bad as the Chassidim, and most game playing and exercise is frowned upon.
Every healthy teen needs to let off steam, why not let them do it in a positive constructive healthy way?
My point is not that going out of New york itself to vacationm is bad in some way, but when Yeshiva boys go to Ohio to jet ski, they are not so much doing it for relaxation as to escape, get away,let loose, unrestrained, let it asll hang out, and, perhaps be careless. I am just saying that we should analyze the motivation for this conduct and we will find that it is due to a lifestyle that was unhealthy for these boys both spiritually and physically.
BEING THAT I AM SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THIS BOY THAT WAS INJURED..
VASERTRAGER: YES HE IS FROM WILLIAMSBURG.
I THINK THAT ALL THESE SILLY COMMENTS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF FROM THE COMMENT PAGE, THEY ARE NOT NEED NOW ESPECIALLY RIGHT BEFORE ROSH HASHANA.. THESE BOYS WERE COUNSELORS IN A CAMP AND NOW THAT THE SUMMER WAS OVER THE CAMP WANTED TO GIVE THEM A GOOD TIME AND TOOK THEM ON THIS TRIP. PEOPLE SHOULD BE MORE CONSIDERING WHEN WRITING COMMENTS ESPECIALLY ABOUT AN ACCIDENT AS SERIOUSLY AS THIS ONE..
NEXT TIME BEFORE WRITING A COMMENT ON SUCH AN INCIDENT MAYBE YOU GUYS SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE FAMILY AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH. IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS CHAS V’SHALOM HAPPENED TO YOUR LOVED ONE. I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL RECONSIDERE WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN AND OPEN A TEHILIM AND SAY SOMETHING INSTEAD OF ALL THIS SILLINESS.
MAY YECHEZKEL BEN ROCHEL HAVE A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
Many people here have made good points: Yes, there is most definitely a need for boys who have been learning seriously in a Beis Medrash for 11 months to get out and relax. And yes, it is a terrible tragedy and we should of course daven and say Tehillim for them. But lets not kid ourselves by saying “Oy nebach it could have happened to anyone.” Like any other activity involving speed, including skiing, ATVing, and yes, even driving, one must be aware of how potentially dangerous such activities are. And as such, one must know his limitations and not assume that since other people do it, its easy. (I do not need to remind everyone here about the horrible situation of people inexperienced at driving in the mountains on unfamiliar, winding dark roads.)
My point is that if one needs a “thrill” outlet, such as jetskiing, he needs to be VERY aware of the potential danger and not overdo it the first time. As one becomes more comfortable with the situation, he can increase speed and turns. I myself have done all the “extreme sports” and I started VERY slowly. Now I am finally comfortable with expert skiing after many years of being on the bunny slope and the green (easy) trails. There is a reason why people give lessons and courses for such activities and it is not just to take your money.
But let me take this one step further: ANY activity if not done properly can be dangerous(e.g. simply driving around the block. ) Rav Avigdor Miller zatza”l used to say that if one engages in an activity without proper care and precaution, and something happens C”V, and the person says “It was the Ratzon Hashem”, he is a fool and much worse.
Lets remind our kids that we need to be responsible for ourselves and not think that we can sit in a Yeshiva all day and that allow us to take such risks without proper preparation and not
first i would like to say that i know this guys personaly, we’r good friends, they are amazingly good bochurim
being a father i know the feeling, i want my kid to sit and learn and in the same time i would like for him to enjoy him self, we have seen to many cases where the parents or ‘mechanchim’ put to much presure and we all know how it allways ends. lets use some brains “IF YOU CAN’T FIGHT THEM JOIND THEM” why should’ent the yeshiva put togather some kind of trip or why should’ent the father take his sons on a trip.
think about it!!!
i am happy to say that Yechezkal ben Rochel had fully recoverd B”H and is coming home today