It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports that the body of Rabbi Reuven Bauman z”l, who was swept out to sea last week in Norfolk, Virginia has been found.
The discovery was made early this afternoon and Rabbi Bauman’s family was notified a short while ago.
The news comes after days of intensive searching that involved volunteers from the local community and far beyond, and the participation of the Coast Guard, police, fire personnel, and others. Organizations including Hatzolah, Misaskim, Shomrim, Chai Lifeline and Achiezer were involved in the effort.
This saga began last Tuesday when Rabbi Bauman, on a trip with a group of 20 boys, spotted one of his campers, an eleven-year-old boy, struggling in the water, so he went to help. The camper was able to exit the water, but Rabbi Bauman was swept out to sea. His whereabouts were unknown and a massive searched was launched. The sand news confirming his petirah came a short while ago after his body was discovered by Misaskim volunteers off the coast of North Carolina, dozens of miles from where he first went missing.
Rabbi Bauman was an alumnus of Yeshiva Bais Moshe of Scranton, PA, and was a rebbi and a teacher at the Yeshiva Toras Chaim elementary school of Norfolk. He was 35 years old.
He is survived by his parents, his wife, and his five children.
Levayah details will be posted once they are finalized.
May Reb Reuven be a meilitz yosher for his family and all of Klal Yisroel. Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}