YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Reb Boruch Bendet Fischman Z”L, who was struck and killed by a vehicle on the first night of Rosh Hashanaha. Police say a car struck him as he walked along Haverhill Road in West Palm Beach, Florida, at around 8:45PM. The crash report did not indicate that its driver is facing any charges. The Niftar was from Boro Park and then Lakewood, and had a condo in West Palm Beach where he was for Yom Tov. The Niftar was a legendary Baal Chesed. He was one of the very first Misaskim volunteers after the organization was founded, and ran a major Bikur Cholim room in Florida. Additional information will be published when it becomes available to us. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Shmuel Dovid Weissmandel ZT”L, who was Niftar while driving during the floods last night. The Niftar was travelling on the NY State Thruway from Monsey to his home in Mount Kisco, when he encountered flood waters near the Tappan Zee Bridge. Unable to drive any further, he contacted his family to try and rescue him. His son, Moshe Elya, posted on his WhatsApp status at around midnight looking for for anyone with an SUV in that area to help evacuate his father. Unfortunately, he was Niftar before anyone was sable to rescue him. It is unknown if he drowned in the waters, or he suffered a fatal heart attack in the vehicle. The Niftar was 69 years old, and was the son of Hagaon HaRav Michoel Ber Weissmandle ZT”L.

A tragedy occurred on Tuesday morning in Uman when a 60-year-old Breslover chassid suddenly lost consciousness in his apartment and passed away. Hatzalah paramedics who were called to the scene carried out resuscitation attempts but unfortunately, it was too late and they could do nothing but declare his death. The niftar was later identified as Reb Tuvia Berkowitz, z’l, who was born in the US and was a resident of the Har Nof neighborhood of Yerushalayim. Reb Berkowitz had traveled to Uman together with his entire family over a month ago to ensure he could spend Rosh Hashanah by Rav Nachman’s kever. About two weeks ago, Rav Berkowitz, z’l, felt unwell and was hospitalized in a local hospital and later released. Askanaim are making arrangements to fly the niftar to Israel for burial.

Sergeant Barel Shmueli, the Border Police officer who was critically wounded by an Arab during a riot by the Gaza border last Shabbos died of his injuries, a Saroka Hospital spokesperson said on Monday. Barel, 21, who was shot in his face at point-blank range, had undergone multiple surgeries but on Sunday he suffered a serious deterioration in his condition. “The medical staff fought for Shmueli’s life as he underwent several surgeries. But despite all the efforts and due to the complexity of his injury, we were forced to determine his death,” a statement from Soroka read. Shmueli, a resident of Be’er Yaakov, served as a sniper in the undercover Yamas Border Police unit and was slated to be discharged in only two months. Yehi Zichro Baruch. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

“There’s a huge outbreak of COVID in the yeshivah world,” a senior Health Ministry official warned on Wednesday in an interview with Kikar H’Shabbat. “Many yeshivah bochurim from abroad who live in the Beis Yisrael neighborhood of Jerusalem contracted COVID in recent days,” he said. “Each one is infecting others. They’re walking around freely and infecting the residents of the neighborhood – it’s crazy.” “[Israeli] yeshivah bochurim diagnosed with COVID are sent home and infect their entire family,” he added.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Rebbitzen Sara Finkel A”H, who was the mother of the late Mir Yerushalayim Rosh Hayeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Noson Tzvi, ZATZAL. She was approximately 101. The Rebbitzen, a’h, was clear-headed until her last day and living at her home in Gush Shemonim, where she collapsed before her death. Rescue forces performed resuscitation but ultimately were forced to declare her death. The nifteres was born in Poland, to her father, HaRav Shmuel Rosenbloom, a Gerrer chassid, and moved with her family to the States when she was one year old. She married Rav Eliyahu Meir Finkel, a great-grandson of the Alter of Slabodka. They originally lived in Detroit and moved to Chicago in 1947 and opened a catering business, which they successfully operated for decades.

A terrible tragedy occurred in the Chareidi community in Antwerp, Belgium on Tuesday morning when two sisters crossing the street in the Jewish quarter were run over and killed by a truck. The accident occurred when a truck turned onto a main street lined with shuls and Jewish stores and failed to notice the two sisters in the crosswalk, crossing the street after the light turned green. The sisters were identified as Hindel Adler, a’h, age 9, and her sister Gittel, a’h, age 1.5, from a well-known family of six children belonging to the Gerrer community in the city. Their father, Reb Gavriel Adler, is one of the heads of the kehilla. Hatzolah of Antwerp quickly arrived at the scene but sadly could do nothing but determine the girls’ deaths.

YWN regrets to inform you of the sudden Petira of Dr. Joshua (Yehushua) Weinstein Z”L the founder of Shema Kolainu-Hear Our voices, a school and center for children with autism, who was suddenly niftar on Erev Shabbos in Yerushalayim after suffering a massive heart attack. The news came as a shock as Dr. Weinstein was as vibrant as ever and in the midst of his myriad activities on behalf of the community. Dr. Weinstein was the founder of various community based organizations including Shema Kolainu, Icare4Autism and most recently Emunas Bais Yaakov High School and was a bal tzedakah who cared deeply about every individual. As a respected member of the Ungvarer Beis Medrash for many decades, Dr.

Tragedy struck the Satmar community on Tuesday evening, as word spread of a tragic accident which resulted in the Petira of a Yeshiva Bochur. It happened at around 9:30PM when a vehicle travelling southbound on Forest Road in Kiryas Joel struck the victim. Kiryas Joel Hatzolah rushed him to Westchester Medical Center, where doctors tried to save his life. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. The victim was later identified as Habochur Aaron Friedman Z”L. He was 16. The Levaya was held on Wednesday in Kiryas Yoel. The NY State Police is investigating the incident. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The bitter news of the petira of HaGaon HaRav Avraham Dov Auerbach, z’tl, of Teveria at the age of 86 spread throughout Israel on Monday morning. HaRav Auerbach, z’tl, the son of HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, z’tl, served as the Rav and Av Beis Din of Tiveria for over 40 years and was the mechaber of the Pitchei Avraham sefarim. Rav Auerbach was born in the Shaarei Chesed neighborhood of Jerusalem and learned in Eitz Chaim Talmud Torah and in Yeshivas Slabodka as a bochur. As a bochur he was already known for his bekius in all of Torah, his hasmada, and his refined middos, especially his anava. He married Yaffa Miriam Werner, the daughter of the previous Av Beis Din of Tiveria, HaGaon HaRav Asher Zev Werner, z’tl.