Perm, Russia – Following the burials of two of their own, the Jewish community of Perm joined family members of the deceased in mourning the loss of an estimated 119 people in one of Russia’s worst civil accidents in recent memory.
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Rabbi Zalman Deutch, the region’s chief rabbi and a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary, confirmed that local residents Edward Hertz, 43, and Vadim Shpinov, 36, were among those who perished when a pyrotechnics display set fire to the Lame Horse nightclub early in the morning on Dec. 5. The men, whose burials were arranged by Deutch, left behind their wives and, between them, three children.
“We have offered full assistance to their families,” said the rabbi. “If they need anything, we are here.”
In the wake of the tragedy – which stunned a populace already reeling from last week’s attack on a high-speed train between Moscow and S. Petersburg – Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar sent a letter of condolence to the local government in Perm, the country’s third-largest city.
Described as a raging “inferno” by witnesses and news reports, the Perm fire apparently began when a performer threw pyrotechnics in the air, thereby igniting a ceiling covered with wooden twigs. More than 100 people remain hospitalized.
The disaster came a little more than a year after a Boeing 737-500 crashed on final approach to the local airport, killing all 88 people onboard, including a Jewish family of four.
Deutch said that once again, his community is grappling with the loss of life.
“There are no words,” stated the rabbi. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ loved ones.
Its very sad. I hope vin posts the names so people can learn for their neshamos. Its tragic. People please have a heart and think before you post. They are tinokos shenishbu. You don’t know how long you get on this world so you know better than those who aren’t frum. Use your time right. I speak to myself as well.
Barouch Dayan HaEmes – may their souls have an alyiah in Gan Eden! and may their families be truly comforted with Moshiach now!
Boruch Dayan Ha’emes. May Hashem console them among the rest of the mourning on Zion and Jerusalem!!! And Hashem should erase the tears from all the faces…
They were mamash tzadikim since they perished in a meesa meshuna (even though it was Shabbos), they should be a mailitz yoisher when they go directly up to the kisai hakoovid. BDE.