Tragedy struck the Boro Park community on Monday morning with the horrific petirah of R’ Nachum Yisrael Eber hy”d, 51, a beloved member of the Belzer Chassidic kehilla in Boro Park, was robbed and murdered while traveling in Colombia. His body was discovered in a remote area bearing signs of severe violence after he had been reported missing several days earlier.
According to initial reports from Colombian authorities, R’ Nachum hy”d was ambushed by a local criminal gang. The attackers, apparently seeking to rob him, killed him before fleeing the scene.
R’ Nachum had traveled to the South American country several days ago. When contact with him was lost, his family reached out to askanim and authorities for help. After an intensive search, his body was located in an isolated area.
Born into a distinguished Belzer family, R’ Nachum was the son of R’ Menachem Mendel Eber z”l, a respected Belzer chassid in Montreal, Canada, whose yahrtzeit was this past Shabbos. His mother is a daughter of R’ Yitzchak Shlomo Grunwald z”l, among the most prominent Belzer chassidim in Montreal.
Rabbi Eber is survived by his family and 16 siblings across Belzer kehillos in the United States, Canada and Israel.
Jewish community leaders in Colombia, working alongside international aid organizations and askanim from the United States, are now focused on ensuring kavod ha’meis.
Colombian authorities have opened a murder investigation, and community representatives are applying diplomatic pressure to expedite the bureaucratic process.
Levaya details will be published when they become available.
Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
