By: Edward Webstein
The body of Rav Reuven Bauman, zt’l has been found.
Bauman is said to have leaped into the sea in an effort to save the life of a student. He was located at around 1:00PM by a boat of volunteers from Misaskim of Maryland searching off the coast of North Carolina, and positively identified by authorities, it has been reported by theyeshivaworld.com.
“The tragic story united Klal Yisroel, as Jews around the globe Davened, gave Tzedakah, and learned – first for a miracle of finding him alive, and then for the miracle of locating his body so he can be brought to proper Kevuras Yisroel,” according to the web site.
“As YWN had reported earlier, dozens of volunteers traveled hundreds of miles to search all day Sunday, with boats, jet skies, and helicopters,” yeshivaworldnews.com added. “Yossi Margareten, Coordinator of Chaveirim of Rockland along with the members of the Achiezer Organization had been coordinating the search, and worked tirelessly all day and night since Rabbi Bauman was swept out to sea last Tuesday.”
Writing at aish.com, Dr. Yvette Alt Miller wrote that “When Rabbi Reuven Bauman saw an 11-year-old student struggling in rough choppy water off the coast of a state park in Virginia Beach on July 9, 2019, he didn’t hesitate. Rabbi Bauman, a 35-year-old father of five, jumped into the water and swam towards the student to save him.”
Miller continued, “It seems that as Rabbi Bauman struggled to reach the swimmer at least one other passerby jumped in to help as well. The student made it back to shore (some news reports say that there were several children), while Rabbi Bauman was swept out to sea. The Coast Guard searched the rough seas all day for Rabbi Bauman, then reluctantly, after many hours, they called off the search. “It’s always a hard decision, and it’s not one we make lightly” explained Coast Guard Lt. Steve Arguelles at the time. The likelihood that Rabbi Bauman was still alive in the rough, dangerous seas was nil.”
A search ensured. On Sunday, Bauman’s body was found by volunteers from Misaskim, a Jewish organization that aids people in crisis based in Brooklyn. After days of agony, Rabbi Bauman’s family will be able to make plans for his funeral and begin to sit shiva.
“He acted heroically,” said Coast Guard Lt. Arguelles, who led the Coast Guard’s search. Giving his own life to save others, Rabbi Reuven Bauman exemplified all that’s best and most noble. He lived and died a hero. May his memory inspire us all.”
Yeshiva World News reported that a levaya for Rabbi Bauman, zt’l, was held on Monday morning at Bnai Israel Congregation at 420 Spotswood Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia.
A flight by Hatzolah Air transported the niftar to Teterboro Airport and landed at 2:30 pm. Rabbi Abe Friedman, NJ State Police Chaplain, worked along with the Achiezer Organization to have the NJ State Police as well as the Passaic County Sheriff Police escort the niftar in a timely fashion to the cemetery for burial.
