Modiin Illit, Israel – Reuven Nadel was killed today following a toxic fumes blast as he prepared tefillin (phylacteries). The incident took place in the hareidi-religious city of Modiin Illit.
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Nadel, 37, is survived by a wife and eight children, the youngest of whom is just four months old.
Police said Nadel’s death was caused by fumes from chemicals that he used to soften leather. He was working privately in the basement of a building to supplement the family income; during the day he studied Torah.
The deadly fumes were formed after two chemicals were mixed, resulting in a small explosion. Nadel was apparently knocked down by the blast, leaving his face above the chemical mix, where he inhaled a large quantity of fumes.
Six paramedics who attempted to revive Nadel suffered light injuries from the fumes and were taken to Tel HaShomer hospital.
Residents of the building were evacuated, and firefighters and environmental protection workers neutralized the remaining fumes.
oy nebech, such a bizarre and tragic story. BDE.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes
Boruch Dayan Emes. I was a personal friend of the niftar. He was a grandson of Reb Gedalia Nadel, one of the greatest talmidim of the Chazon Ish. Reb Gedalia was a firm believer in not taking money for learning torah and his grandson Reuven, worked hard to make a parnossa an not to rely on handouts or a kollel check. He was a talmid chochom who did side jobs to support his family. May his mishpacha know from no more tzar.
Nabach. BD”E. May We Only Hear Besuros Tovos!
This is such a terrible thing. In most cases שלוחי מצוה לא נזקין.
Undertaking such an enterprise which involves caustic fumes and flammable materials is best done in a safe premises and following professional standards. It was a נס that his family and neighbors escaped unharmed. His family should have a נחמה.
This is terrible. BD”E.
Baruch Dayyan Haemes.
Is this the Nadel who makes the mehudardike klaf or was he making battim?
I remember a similar story with the famous Teffilin maker Harav Amrom Koihen shlite from Monroe who almost passed away from the Acid fumes in his place, and בחסדי השם he got out alive.
batim machers sjould be required to take a course in chemical mixing . this is not the first time of accidental mixups
#5 : Knowing Reuven, he was a very careful person, always worried about safety first. This is a shock to his family and obviously if it is time for you to return your neshomo, no safety measures will help. Please, be sensitive at this time in a families life. They just lost a beloved father and husband.
I guess there is a need for OSHA after all….sorry but a lack of safety kills
Is anyone starting a fund for the family?
Its not worth risking the loss of even one more ehrliche yid by adhering to the use of dangerous chemicals traditionally used in softening and processing the leather for teffillin. There are many less toxic and less dangerous ways to do this and blindly following some minhag is itelf contrary to halacha if it puts the sofer at risk. We don’t need OSHA, just some common sense among those who do this work. The R’BSO should grant rachmonic to the family of the niftar.
very admiral to find a working kollel person, this was truely a traggic accident
BDE — May HKBH comfort his mishpucha and chaverim. Let’s say tehillim for his neshama. Rabosai, wear a mask if you are working with strong chemicals. They sell them at Home Depot and online at industrial supply companies. No accidents should ever happen again. BAH. HKBH !!! Yirachem Aleinu !!!
Boruch Dayan Emes! May his entire family be comforted with the mourners of Zion.
I am sure that Hashem didn’t give the mitzva of tefilin to cause danger to one’s health. There must be a better healthier alternative to making Tefilin.
Baruch dayan haemes! Some of the chemicals used can be lethal, depending on what part of tefillin he was making. A very good exhaught system is needed as well as a professional mask. However, from what First Hand says above, even safety precautions would not have helped.
As a zechus for the niftar we should be mechazek our committment to mitzvas tefillin and gain a better understanding/knowledge of the halachos. http://www.stam.net has some excellent educational articles, etc. about tefillin.