The following are the latest YWN updates on Friday morning (11:30AM) from the ongoing search in Virginia for Rabbi Reuven Bauman.
The Virginia Beach Police and Virginia Beach Fire Department are both using their Marine Units again on Friday and searching the waters. There are several areas that they will be focusing on. Police had five boats overnight searching, and have five boats again on Friday.
Numerous volunteers from the local community are going to be assisting until Shabbos, and if Chas Vesholom the body of Rabbi Bauman is not located before Shabbos, the Achiezer Organization along with local community activists have arranged for a few non-Jewish boat captains to patrol and scan the waters over Shabbos.
Highly credible sources tell YWN that local police are so inspired by the flood of personnel from out of the area to come and help, that it has kept them continuing their search — despite it being three days since Rabbi Bauman went missing.
Local resident rented special bikes that have fat tires designed to ride on the beach, and are riding the shorelines searching until Shabbos.
Additionally, YWN has learned that multiple K-9 dogs which specialize in locating bodies who were in saltwater are being brought it to assist.
It should be noted that among the volunteers and organizations assisting Achiezer in a major way has been Yossi Margareten, coordinator of Rockland Chaveirim.
PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the day, YWN is updating this developing tragedy on our WhatsApp status. Click this link – or send a message to 1-888-4-YW-NEWS (888-499-6397) – to see our status posts.
As YWN has been reporting, Rabbi Bauman, 35-years-old, was at the beach at False Cape State Park on Tuesday with around 20 campers from a local day camp when a 13-year-old student was caught in a sudden rip current. Rabbi Bauman immediately entered the water to save the boy who was able to make it out of the water. Unfortunately, Rabbi Bauman was swept out to sea and has not been seen since.
Rabbi Reuven Bauman is a Rebbi at Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Norfolk Virginia.
Emergency personnel from various organizations in the new York area are on the scene, and others are in the process of deploying.
On Tuesday, the Achiezer Organization, Hatzolah Air and other organizations were on the scene searching, including Misaskim of Maryland, Shomrim of Baltimore, and others.
YWN will continuing to bring our readers the latest and most accurate information as we have been since we broke the tragic news three days ago.
A Charidy campaign has been set up for the family.
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6 Responses
Obviuosly the cops are inspired- they won’t give up as long as there’s a chance that the amatuer will ‘win’ the search. Keep at it, Chevra!!!
Why don’t they post an award for sunday, and have tons of goyim go all out with drones and boats and walking the beach with 10,000 dollars for the finder!!!
Yossi Margaretten. A true Tzaddik. Literally gives his life for the klal in such a sincere way. A true example of what a leader of a volunteer organization should be like!
Important Update from Norfolk’s Rabbi Sender Haber
By: BJLife/Rabbi Sender Haber
To our distinguished community,
As friends, admirers, and students of Rabbi Bauman and his family, we have all experienced a very difficult week.
My goal with these words is to clarify some facts and perhaps answer some questions.
As you know, Rabbi Bauman was caught in a riptide in the Sandbridge area of Virginia Beach in the early afternoon on Tuesday. The force of the water was so strong that nobody present was able to save him. The rescue crews were nearby and on the scene immediately.
It is true that Rabbi Bauman entered the water to rescue children in distress. Those children were rescued by a heroic bystander and are safe. The nature of the riptide was such that the bystander either did not see or could not reach Rabbi Bauman. We do not know the identity of the bystander.
The Coast Guard immediately set up a command center to coordinate local, state, and federal assets including military. Our area is home to the world’s largest Naval Base and some of the best trained and equipped Search and rescue teams in the world. I was personally on the scene with the command center all afternoon and they went above and beyond the call of duty. My wife, Rebbetzin Chamie, was with his wife, Tzivia who was obviously in distress.
We were immediately in touch with countless Chesed organizations. Achiezer was on the scene quickly and worked with the Coast Guard command to involve the various Hatzalah, Chaveirim, Misaskim and other organizations with experience in water search and rescue. It was and remains a true Kiddush HaShem.
Chai Lifeline immediately sent a crisis expert to speak with the family, the children who were present, their parents, and the community at large. They have been working in concert with myself, the Jewish Family Services, and several highly qualified local professionals.
At this point the search continues. As ma’aminim (believers) we remain hopeful for a miracle, a neis. The Coast Guard Command Center stretched their typical time for Search and Rescue Operations beyond what is typical and well into yesterday morning. They have, at this point, begun the process of phasing out several of their assets and many of those assets are being replaced by skilled and trained volunteers and volunteer organizations.
We have received encouragement and blessings for strength from the Gedolei Haposkim and some of the holiest people in our generation. It is our prayer that Rabbi Bauman will be found over the next few days at which point we will proceed as appropriate. Despite reports to the contrary, the family has not begun to sit Shiva. We are still searching for Rabbi Bauman and davening that he will be found. It goes without saying that our Torah and Jewish Law have contingencies for every eventuality.
How can you help?
You can daven. The hundreds of thousands of tefillos (prayers) from all of Klal Yisrael have given our community, the family, and our children unnatural strength during this difficult time.
You can volunteer. The contact person for volunteer efforts is Mr. Blau at 347-986-9482. Volunteering includes going out in boats, walking along the shoreline and supporting others as they search. After careful consideration and discussion we have determined that we will not have Jewish volunteers searching over Shabbos.
You can take care of yourselves, your children and each other. We are all hurting and we all need to be talking to someone to help us process this trauma. It can be a friend or a professional, but please recognize this need.
This is not a fundraising letter, but many people have asked where they can send funds. A fund has been set up and is currently managed and endorsed by myself and Rabbi Teichman, Shlita, of Monsey. All monies in the fund will go directly to the needs of the family during this difficult time.
You can avoid rumors. Misinformation about possible rescues, decisions, and storylines are not helpful and can cause great pain. Even true information and decisions need to be communicated in a responsible fashion. We are dealing with a family and community in distress.
You can continue to be who you are. Klal Yisroel – the Jewish nation – is amazing and these past few days have brought it out. We are all one, and we all feel each others pain. We act on that pain and we never forget to turn our minds and hearts to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
May these remarkable aspects of our community and Klal Yisroel be a zechus for Rabbi Bauman and for all of us until the day that HaShem wipes away all of our tears.
On behalf of the family and the community, thank you.
Rabbi Sender Haber
B’nai Israel Congregation
Norfolk, VA
Please continue to add Rabbi Baiman’s name, Reuven Tzvi ben Esther Baila to every post. There are people who still just tuning in, and having his name right there creates a push for some otherwise distracted people to immediately daaven for him, with genuine raw pain in their hearts.
We need those Tefillos!
Sha’arei Dima Ainum Ninalu. [In Heaven} “The gates of tears are NEVER closed.”
To Thinking out loud: it would be Reuven Tzvi ben the father name not the mothers
Sadly it is time to give up the search for remains for Shabbos