Three Jews among the 'Sandy' victims • house of Mordechai Ben David was flooded

Residents of the United States continue to be exposed today to the enormous destruction impact 'Sandy' had on the east coast.

Today it was reported that the number of people killed in the storm stands at 50. Among the victims there are three Jews.

One of them, who died as a result of the hurricane is Shalom Yechezkel Shraga Rubin z"l, great grandson of the Satmar Rebbe, the 'Baruch Moshe' zt"l. Shalom was born with a defect, and lived in the big building of the institution of 'HaMaspik' in Kiryat Yoel, for children with disabilities. Yesterday when the power was cut during the storm, and the building of the Institute used a generator exchange, one of the machines the boy was connected to was disconnected, and as a result he lost consciousness and died.

The funeral left at noon from his uncle, the Satmar Rebbe's home in Kiryat Yoel, where he was eulogized by his uncle the Rebbe, his father, and CEO of 'HaMaspik', Rabbi Meir Wertheimer. He was buried in the cemetery of Satmar in New Jersey, where the coffin was brought by a special convoy, led only by a minyan.

At the same time it became clear that in Flatbush, Brooklyn Yaakov Wegelman and Jessie Streich-Kast, a 23 year old Jewish couple, who walked on East 18th Avenue and Ditmas Avenue, were buried underneath a tree which collapsed on them. Only a few hours later did municipal inspectors discover the couple who had been wallowing in their blood for hours, and took the bodies away.

Nostalgic hit tapes were destroyed

One of the Brooklyn neighborhoods which suffered a serious blow as a result of the storm is the prestigious neighborhood of Seagate located on the beach in Brooklyn, which is also home to many Orthodox families. Neighborhood residents vacated by the order of the Municipality of New York, returned to their home after the storm to find the dimensions of the destruction.

One of them is the renowned singer Mordechai Ben David Werdyger resident of the neighborhood, who returned home after the storm - and discovered destruction.
Ben David's yard was flooded with water, and whatever was left outside was completely destroyed. The basement of his home, which housed his years long recording material, including tapes of nostalgic hits, which left their mark in Jewish Music – were washed out completely, and the materials were destroyed.

Radio Broadcaster Menachem Tocker, told B'Chadrei Charedim that he spoke with Ben David as soon as he entered his home. "He has a lot of faith," said Tocker. "He told me from the first second: The main thing is that we are alive and well."

Prior to the storm Ben David managed to rescue several items, "such as the microphone which he has been using for years."

According to information received at B'Chadrei Charedim, also the home of Yossi Green, one of the greatest composers in Jewish Music – was hit by the storm.
Some of the houses in the neighborhood were severely damaged, such as the home next door to Ben David's which was completely destroyed. The estimate is that it will take a long time to make repairs and restore them. It is estimated that the insurance that each and every one of those landlords had, also covers such instances, and financial losses - will be paid.

Participated in the article: Yoel Bitelman

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!