Four New Yorkers were among the 45 worshippers killed Thursday during a deadly stampede at an Israeli holy site, reports the Times Herald-Record.
Videos posted online show thousands of people struggling to run for their lives through a narrow passageway at Mount Meron, a pilgrimage site in northern Israel where tens of thousands of religious Jews had gathered to celebrate Lag B’Omer, a tradition that includes a visit to the gravesite of a renowned 2nd century rabbi where worshippers pray, sing and dance beside bonfires on the mountainside.
The gathering was the largest since the coronavirus pandemic.
The Times Herald-Record listed New Yorkers Menachem Knoblowitz, 22, of Borough Park, Brooklyn, Yosef Amram Tauber of Monsey, Eliezer Josef from Kiryas Joel, and Shragy Gestetner from upstate Airmont, among the deceased.
There were also two victims from New Jersey: 19-year-old Nachman Doniel Morris of Teaneck and 13-year-old Eliezer Yitzchok Koltai of Passaic.
Josef, 26, was a father of four. Gestetner, 33, was a rabbinical scholar and father of five who used to sing at large events. Amram Tauber was an 18-year-old yeshiva student.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday pledged to conduct ''a thorough, serious and deep investigation to ensure such a disaster does not happen again.'' He also called for a national day of mourning on Sunday.
President Joe Biden offered his condolences to Netanyahu on Friday.
''Our Embassy and Department of State will provide all necessary support to any U.S. citizens and their family members affected by this sad event,'' the president said in the statement.
"The people of the United States and Israel are bound together by our families, our faiths, and our histories, and we will stand with our friends. Our prayers are with those who were injured and all those who lost loved ones. May their memories be a blessing.''
More than 150 people were injured in the stampede.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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